University of Nottingham Butanol Project - ITB
1. Project Scope
1.1. Company History
New China PetroChemical Company (NCPCC) is a company founded in November 2014. NCPCC is
based in the north east of China and focuses on the refining, marketing and sales of petrochemicals
and chemicals.
1.2. Objective
NCPCC intends to construct a plant for the production of n-butanol. The technology must be based on
an oxo process and a hydrogenation process. NCPCC invites n-butanol technology licensors to submit
a proposal to bid for this project. The selected bidder, given a successful proposal, will then be
responsible for providing a technology licence, process design package and basic engineering
package. NCPCC aims to begin construction of the plant in September 2016.
1.3. Project Name
NCPCC Qiqihar 120,000 MTPA N-Butanol Project.
1.4. Location
The plant will be constructed approximately 20 miles west of Qiqihar, Heilongjiang province,
People’s Republic of China.
2. Design Basis
2.1. Plant capacity
The plant is to be designed to produce 120 kta (kilo tons per annum) of n-butanol.
2.2. Operation time
The plant will operate for 8,000 hours per year.
2.3 Feedstock specification
Large propylene and syngas feedstocks are available and are supplied by the buyer. The specification
for each feedstock is given below.
2.3.1. Propylene specification
Item Unit Specification
Propylene Min. vol% 99.5
Propane Max vol% 0.5
Ethane Max. ppm vol. 10
Ethene Max. ppm vol. 10
Methyl Acetylene Max. ppm vol. 2
Propadiene Max. ppm vol. 2
Butenes + Butadiene Max. ppm vol. 5
Carbon Monoxide Max. ppm vol. 5
Carbon Dioxide Max. ppm vol. 5
Oxygen Max. ppm vol. 1
Water Max. ppm wt. 5
Sulphur Max. ppm 1
Temperature °C 30
Pressure MPag 2.9
2.3.2. Syngas specification
Item Unit Specification
Hydrogen Vol% 47
Methane Vol% 2.8
Water Vol%. 0.8
Carbon Monoxide Vol%. 47
Nitrogen Vol%. 2.4
Temperature °C 20-30
Pressure MPag 2.9
2.3.3. Hydrogen specification
Item Unit Specification
Hydrogen Vol% 99.5
Oxygen Vol% 0.001
Carbon Monoxide Vol% 0.0003
Carbon Dioxide Vol% 0.002
Methane + Nitrogen + Argon Vol% Balance
Temperature °C 35
Pressure MPag 2.9
2.4. Product specification
2.4.1. N-Butanol product specification
Item Unit Specification
N-Butanol Min. vol% 99.7
Butyraldehydes Max. vol% 0.05
Water Max. vol% 0.1
I-Butanol Max. vol% 0.2
2.5. Utilities specification
The following utilities will be supplied by the buyer. The conditions at the battery limits are given
below.
2.5.1. High Pressure Steam Battery Limit Condition
Item Unit Min Normal Max
Pressure MPag 3.2 3.5 3.7
Temperature °C 380 390 400
2.5.2. Medium Pressure Steam Battery Limit Condition
Item Unit Min Normal Max
Pressure MPag 1.2 1.4 1.6
Temperature °C 230 250 290
2.5.3. Low Pressure Steam Battery Limit Condition
Item Unit Specification
Pressure MPag 0.4
Temperature °C 160
2.5.4. Cooling water supply
Item Unit Specification
Pressure MPag 0.45
Temperature °C Supply 32°C Max Return 42°C
2.5.5. Nitrogen supply
Item Unit Specification
Pressure MPag 0.5
Temperature °C Ambient
Purity % 99.9
Oxygen content ppm mol 10
2.5.6. Plant air
Item Unit Specification
Pressure MPag 0.7
Temperature °C 40
Oil content % 0
Dust content mg/m3 1
Dew point at 0.7 MPag °C -40
2.5.7. Instrument air
Item Unit Specification
Pressure MPag 0.7
Temperature °C 40
Oil content % 0
Dust content mg/m3 1
Dew point at 0.7 MPag °C -40
2.6. Storage
Feedstocks storage facilities are provided outside of the battery limit by the buyer. Storage facilities
for the products, intermediate products, waste liquids, catalysts, chemicals and additives must be
described.
2.7. Transport Limitations
Maximum width of transport by road: 5.2 m
Maximum width of transport by river: n/a
2.8. Climate Data
Condition Unit Specification
Annual average temperature °C 9.9
Highest annual temperature °C 28
Lowest annual temperature °C -23.7
Annual average precipitation Days 80.9
Highest precipitation per day mm 60
Average humidity % 61
Annual average atmospheric pressure kPa 100.5
3. Proposal Requirements
The bidder must provide an inquiry book containing the following items.
• Process Flow Diagram
• Material and heat balance
• Equipment list including
o Sizing (diameter and height)
o Design temperatures and pressure
o Materials of construction
• P&IDs
• HAZOP
• Cost Estimate
• Plot Plan
• Environmental assessment and sustainability statement
4. Environmental Requirements
Waste gas must be used as far as possible to save energy and decrease pollution. Waste water must be
recovered as far as possible and sent to outside battery limits if not. Solid waste must be collected and
managed according to national regulations. Noise must be kept to a minimum. Isolation and insulation
must be taken for high noise equipment.
