On November 10, 2017 the scientific research project“Development of PDP of 2.0 Mt/a RMAC (Residue Upgrading to Maximize Asphaltene Conversion)technology” jointly undertaken by the SINOPEC Research Institute of Petroleum Processing (RIPP) and the Sinopec Engineering Incorporation (SEI) has passed the appraisal and review organized by the SINOPEC Science and Technology Division. This technology can convert the inferior residue into the qualified FCC feed through a green and effective way to maximize the production of high-octane gasoline component.

The RMAC technology can organically incorporate the mild hydro-thermal conversion process with the extractive separation in the presence of the self-developed highly dispersed nano-scale catalyst to achieve the high-efficiency transformation of asphaltenes in order to turn inferior residue characteristic of high asphaltene and metal contents into a metal and asphaltene-free high-quality FCC feed to maximize the yield of high-octane gasoline component.

This process design package (PDP) adopts the domestically developed RMAC technology using the residue derived from the Arabian heavy crude (AH) as the feedstock containing 14.2% of asphaltenes, 26.3%

of Conradson carbon, and 300 μg/g of Ni+V, and this technology can achieve a 98 % conversion of residue,with the metals removal reaching over 99%, the yield of light asphaltenes exceeding 90%, the sulfur removal rate equating to 80%, and the nitrogen removal rate reaching 35%. On the basis of processing the fresh residue, this unit can achieve a 6.7% yield of naphtha (C5—180 °C),a 19.1% yield of diesel (180—350 °C), a 61.6% yield of heavy upgraded oil (containing ≯0.1% of asphaltenes and ≯1.0 μg/g of Ni+V), and 2.0% of discharged oil bottoms coupled with a chemical hydrogen consumption of 2.5%. This PDP features an advanced technical level,a reasonable process flow design, an appropriate design and type and materials selection for fabrication of main equipment, coupled with a safe and reliable process control scheme to meet the requirements for safe and smooth operation as well as the environmental protection needs.

The contents and depth of this PDP prepared thereof can comply with the requirements of “Stipulations on the contents of PDP of petrochemical facilities (PDP of package technologies)” to serve as the basis for engineering design (SPMP-STD-EM2001-2015).