BP has started full-scale commercial
production from its new Avada(
ethyl acetate
production unit at its site at Saltend, Hull, UK. The 220,000 tonnes a year capacity
unit is the world's largest single ethyl acetate production unit.
The Avada plant was initially commissioned in June 2001 with on-specification
product being produced only two weeks after start up. Plant production rates were
increased to 75 per cent during the third quarter of the year and the plant is now
undergoing its final high rate performance-proving trials.
Andrew Channell, Product Manager, BP Acetate Esters, said: "We are very pleased
with the way the plant has started, particularly that it took just two weeks to get to
on-specification ethyl acetate. Product quality is exceptional, and we are confident
that the Avada process is producing the best ethyl acetate ever made by BP."
Dave Smith, General Manager, BP Solvents, added: "The new Avada unit is a world
class manufacturing unit which is now delivering leading product quality - we're
delighted with the success of the technology. We are just as pleased with the
excellent
safety record of the project, with over three million man-hours completed
without a lost time accident."
The plant is the first to use BP's proprietary Avada technology which produces ethyl
acetate directly from
ethylene and acetic acid. Ethylene is supplied to the plant
through the recent extension of the UK ethylene pipeline system, linking Hull to BP's
Grangemouth complex, and acetic acid is supplied from three
plants on the Saltend
site itself.
The latest control and on-line
analysis technologies are employed in the operation of
the unit, allowing it to be efficiently managed by a small team of operators. The new
plant is the first to be controlled from the Saltend site's new Central Control Room. It
is intended that all plant operators on the site will eventually be located in this single
state-of-the-art control room.
Production from the new plant has replaced ethyl acetate production from the
existing
Esterification unit at Hull and that toll-manufactured for BP by Enichem on its
unit at Porto Marghera,
Italy, which closed in January 2001.