aspenONE Advanced Process Control for Polymers Solution Delivers Major Performance Improvements at PetroChina Polyethylene Plant

11-01-2007: Aspen Technology, Inc. announced that PetroChina has achieved significant financial and operational benefits from implementing AspenTech's aspenONE Advanced Process Control for Polymers solution on its Mitsui high density polyethylene (HDPE) unit in Daqing, China. The solution has delivered annual savings of $640,000 - equivalent to $8 per tonne - through increased yield and reduced usage of key reactor consumables. These savings, combined with a 28 percent decrease in off-specification material produced during grade transitions, have provided PetroChina with a rapid return-on-investment.

The aspenONE solution formed the basis of a comprehensive optimization strategy on the 80kt/yr HDPE unit. PetroChina's project objectives were to maximize production yield and production rate, stabilize the reactor operation, reduce catalyst consumption, minimize venting and reduce the amount of offspecification product manufactured during product grade transitions. A key requirement was to automate and optimize the challenging product transitions which are typical of the Mitsui HPDE process. The solution was implemented by advanced process control consultants from AspenTech's Professional Services group. Following completion of the project, PetroChina Daqing has realized significant performance benefits including successfully optimizing transitions involving a parallel-to-series reactor configuration change.