Dalian Jinzhong has successfully achieved the delivery and application of a domestically produced million-ton-scale methanol synthesis reactor.

Recently, the domestically produced million-ton-scale methanol synthesis reactor manufactured by Dalian Jinzhong has been successfully delivered to the site of the Guoneng Baotou Company’s coal-to-olefins upgrade demonstration project, marking a significant advancement in China’s research and manufacturing of such reactors and helping to enhance the level of equipment self-reliance in related fields.
Coal-to-olefins represents one of the key directions in China’s energy‑structure transformation. As an industry that optimizes the energy mix and promotes the clean, efficient utilization of coal resources, it places high technical demands on core equipment. The methanol synthesis reactor, a critical piece of equipment in the coal-to-olefins value chain, significantly influences project operational efficiency and stability. Previously, the international community had accumulated relatively mature experience in reactors with capacities exceeding one million tons per year, while domestically, related equipment development has been steadily advancing, continuously enhancing indigenous design and manufacturing capabilities.

The first domestically produced million‑ton‑class methanol synthesis reactor has been completed and shipped.

            The million-ton-scale methanol synthesis reactor is one of the key achievements Dalian Jinzhong has attained by focusing on addressing industry needs. The first- and second-stage synthesis reactors of this equipment are designed for a pressure of 8.8 MPa, with a shell-side hydrostatic test pressure reaching 13.1 MPa, and its overall performance stands out among similar domestic units. To tackle the manufacturing challenges posed by the equipment’s large size and thick walls, the team developed a forming process for large, thick-walled Cr-Mo steel heads, a weld‑replacement fabrication scheme, and related heat‑treatment technologies, thereby enhancing precision control over core components. Additionally, they engineered a high‑temperature differential expansion joint that effectively accommodates temperature fluctuations during operation, helping to extend the equipment’s service life; and they formulated an oversized‑container transportation protection plan, ensuring the safe delivery of this large‑scale equipment from the workshop to the installation site.

Installation site of the first domestically produced million-ton-scale methanol synthesis reactor.

This technological breakthrough not only brings the equipment’s performance in line with international standards but also delivers a decisive economic advantage: compared with imported counterparts, the manufacturing timeline is shortened by 12 months, and the per‑ton cost is reduced by more than 20%, significantly cutting both time and capital expenditures for customers’ project implementation. Upon delivery, the equipment will effectively support Guoneng Baotou Company in achieving efficient, low‑consumption production, enabling the stable conversion of coal resources into high‑quality olefin feedstocks each year and ensuring a reliable supply for downstream industries such as plastics, rubber, and fibers, thereby establishing a benchmark for the domestic coal‑to‑olefins upgrade initiative.