Optimal integration of Topsoe's ammonia, methanol, and hydrogen technologies at ShchekinoAzot, Russia

摘要

JSC Shchekinoazot is one of the oldest methanol producers in Russia with production of methanol since 1966. In 2007, the cooperation between Shchekinoazot and Topsoe started by the replacement of Shchekinoazot's old methanol plant to a modern production unit. The Topsoe-designed methanol plant based on a two-step reforming front-end with a capacity of 450,000 MTPY was successfully commissioned in October 2011. This paper will describe the industrial experience of three years of operation. In the course of further development of Shchekinoazot's production site and as part of the modernization of the caprolactam production, a new hydrogen plant with a capacity of 26,000 Nm~3/h was constructed and commissioned in 2012. This hydrogen plant is based on Topsoe's HTCR modular concept providing Shchekinoazot with an efficient hydrogen production. The purge gas of the methanol plant is used as partial feedstock for the hydrogen plant, and this integration has resulted in a considerable reduction of investments and operating costs. The success of the cooperation between the parties is further enforced by currently implementing a new project for the co-production of ammonia and methanol. This new plant is based on Topsoe's cutting-edge MAP (Integrated Methanol-Ammonia Production) technology with a production of 450,000 MTPY of methanol in combination with 135,000 MTPY of ammonia. The new ammonia-methanol plant is expected to get on-stream in 2017. This new project is an excellent example of Topsoe's constant striving for optimizing the performance ofShchekinoazot.