Page 172 - CW E-Magazine (11-6-2024)

News from Abroad News from Abroad

PLANT AUTOMATION were commissioned by RCI to develop carbon or has been substituted in the combines them into a new label. It was
Eneos & PFN begin AI-based autonomous operation the certifi cate that shows the extent to production process. This is the sum developed by TÜV Austria which also
which substitution has already been of bio-based, CO -based and recycled carries out the certifi cations.
2
of crude oil processing unit achieved at product level. carbon in the product. This new certifi cate will be presen-

The certifi cate and label indicate This “OK renewable carbon” certifi - ted during the Renewable Materials
Japanese oil major, Eneos and Pre- what percentage of the carbon in the cate is a so-called meta-label, as it builds Conference taking place from June 11-13
ferred Networks Inc. (PFN), a Japanese product already consists of renewable on other established certifi cates and in Germany.
startup focused on the R&D of deep
learning for IoT applications, announced PETROCHEMICALS
that they have started continuous auto-
nomous operation of an atmospheric LyondellBasell acquires stake in Saudi’s NATPET
distillation unit for processing crude oil
in January 2024. The unit, currently ope- Chemicals major, LyondellBasell by gaining access to advantaged feed- through a new long-term partnership,”
rated autonomously with an artifi cial (LYB), has acquired a 35% interest in stocks and additional product market- said LYB’s CEO, Mr. Peter Vanacker.
intelligence (AI) system, is located in Saudi Arabia-based National Petro- ing volumes.”
the Eneos Kawasaki Refi nery in Japan. chemical Industrial Company (NATPET) Mr. Mohammed Bin Saleh AlKhalil,
Alujain Corporation. NATPET currently has approxi- Chairman of Alujain, said the invest-
Jointly developed by Eneos and PFN, mately 400-ktpa of PP capacity and ment marks a signifi cant stride toward
the AI system automates large-scale, Alujain is a Saudi petrochemicals, produces a wide range of PP product enhancing the propylene downstream
complex operations of oil refi nery plants energy, mining and metals company mixes. LYB will market the majority of sector in Saudi Arabia, in full alignment
that required human operators with years and a majority owner of NATPET. the volume of the joint venture’s pro- with the nation’s ‘Vision 2030’.
of experience. Since 2018, Eneos and The company is a longtime licensee of duction through its global network.
PFN have been co-developing AI systems LYB’s Spheripol polypropylene (PP) Alujain and LYB are also jointly
for improving safety and stability of plant technology in Yanbu Industrial City. “This investment in NATPET re- assessing the construction of a new propy-
operations by reducing dependence on fl ects our commitment to grow and lene via propane dehydrogenation (PDH)
technicians’ varying skill levels. LYB said the “the joint venture po- upgrade our core businesses and and PP facility at the NATPET site, subject
ing to a consulting fi rm Globe-ing Inc. stability and effi ciency compared with sitions it to expand its core PP business strengthen our presence in Saudi Arabia to a fi nal investment decision.
With 24 key operational factors to The AI system for the atmospheric distil- manual operations, the companies said.
control and as many as 930 sensors to lation unit continuously monitors 24 key ANTWERP ETHANE CRACKER
monitor, the atmospheric distillation unit operational factors and adjusts 13 valves Eneos and PFN plan to deploy the TÜV SÜD supporting Ineos in developing risk-based
especially requires a high level of skills at the same time to stabilise fl uctuations co-developed AI systems to other Eneos
and experience. AI-based, continuous resulting from crude oil switching as refi neries and later provide them as a inspection plan
autonomous operation of an atmospheric well as changes in crude oil throughput. packaged solution to external parties as
distillation unit is the world’s fi rst accord- The AI system has demonstrated higher well. Germany-based certifi cation, test- cal industry in the last 20 years. The the engineering phase. It also allows
ENABLING DEFOSSILISATION ing, auditing, inspection and training cracker’s carbon emissions are expec- a transparent, traceable and seamless
company, TUV SUD, has said it is sup-
ted to be three times lower than that periodic inspection concept to be deve-
TÜV Austria and RCI to introduce new ‘OK renewable porting UK’s chemicals major, Ineos, of average European crackers and half loped for the following years.
carbon’ certifi cate with the development and implementa- that of the currently best-performing “RBI offers the opportunity of im-
tion of a plan for risk-based inspections crackers in Europe.
(RBI) of its upcoming mega cracker in proving plant and equipment availability,
The Renewable Carbon Initiative mass, CO and recycling. RCI’s aim is Antwerp and associated process equip- TÜV SÜD is supporting Ineos with limiting risks and reducing operating
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(RCI), an initiated by German research & to defossilise the chemicals and plastics ment. The cracker and associated pro- the development and implementation and inspection costs by adopting a tar-
consultancy fi rm, nova-Institute, and industry and transform the entire sec- cess equipment, referred to as ‘Project of an RBI concept for all pressure ves- geted and predictive approach. To this
TÜV Austria, are set to introduce a new tor into a renewable carbon economy. ONE’, is slated to be operational by the sels and piping. Instead of only starting end, critical and uncritical components
certifi cate called “OK renewable carbon” The “OK renewable carbon” certifi cate, end of 2026. risk-based inspection in the cracker’s are identifi ed on the basis of the iden-
certifi cate. which shows the renewable carbon share operational phase, in this concept inte- tifi ed risk. Their damage mechanisms
in the product, is intended to support and With a budget of over €4-bn and a grated risk-based maintenance is directly are then determined, and the necessary
The RCI, founded in 2020, has set visualise this development. capacity of 1,450-ktpa of ethylene, Pro- implemented right from the planning actions planned, taking operational
itself the goal of developing concepts politically in order to replace fossil car- ject ONE represents the single largest stage. This approach enables any nec- requirements into account,” said Dr.
and strategies, and implementing them bon with renewable carbon from bio- The nova-Institute and TÜV Austria investment in the European petrochemi- essary corrections to be initiated during Robert Kauer, RBI expert at TÜV SÜD.

172 Chemical Weekly June 11, 2024 Chemical Weekly June 11, 2024 173

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