Chinese refinery switches automation technology

Austin, Texas -- Dalian West Pacific Petrochemical Co. Ltd (WEPEC) -- a joint venture between Sinochem, PetroChina and Total -- has selected Emerson Process Management to automate a 1,500-kilotonnes-per-annum (kpta) hydrotreating unit at its Dalian, China refinery.

The WEPEC facility is currently one of the few refineries in China to process sour crude. The hydrotreater investment is the second phase in a five-year plan to upgrade to increase crude oil processing capacity by 20% to 10,000 ktpa.

WEPEC will apply Emerson's PlantWebR digital plant architecture at the refinery, which was previously standardised on other older automation technology, according to an Emerson press statement.

The investment includes three DeltaV systems for the hydrocracker (1,500 ktpa), diesel hydrotreating (2,000 ktpa), and hydrogen production units (60000 Nm3) units.

Other PlantWeb technologies being employed include the AMST Suite: Intelligent Device Manager, RosemountR smart temperature and pressure transmitters, and DeltaV OTS operator training system.