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PetroChina Urumqi Partners with Runpower for Cutting-Edge Circulating Water System Control

Updated: Jan 8


Runpower PLC Drives Circulating Water System Modernization at Urumqi Petrochemical


Beijing RUNPOWER Technology Co., Ltd. (hereinafter referred to as "Runpower") has achieved a significant technological breakthrough in the modernization of the circulating water control system at the refinery of PetroChina Urumqi Petrochemical Company (hereinafter referred to as "Urumqi Petrochemical"). Runpower successfully deployed its independently developed RPC3000 Programmable Logic Controller (PLC) system in the actual production environment of Urumqi Petrochemical, marking a new milestone in the application of China industrial control systems (ICS). This achievement positions Runpower as a leading PLC China manufacturer and highlights its growing influence among China PLC companies.


Runpower RPC3000 Delivers Enhanced Efficiency and Cost Savings at Urumqi Petrochemical


The RPC3000 control system demonstrated exceptional reliability, precision, and adaptability during its implementation. The system’s seamless integration with the existing refinery automation infrastructure not only enhanced operational efficiency but also optimized resource utilization, contributing to a substantial reduction in energy consumption and operational costs. This achievement underscores Runpower's commitment to innovation in industrial automation solutions and its ability to meet the rigorous demands of the petrochemical industry. As a premier PLC China company, Runpower is redefining automation standards in the petrochemical sector.


Navigating Challenges in Refinery Automation


The project at Urumqi Petrochemical involved overcoming multiple challenges, including the complex requirements of the circulating water system and stringent safety and environmental standards. Runpower's engineering team leveraged advanced process control technologies and their extensive expertise to design a solution tailored to the unique needs of the refinery. The RPC3000's advanced features, such as real-time data processing, intelligent fault diagnosis, and system redundancy, played a critical role in ensuring the success of this transformation. The RPC3000 PLC controller exemplifies the cutting-edge capabilities of China PLC companies in addressing complex industrial challenges.


Urumqi Petrochemical: Integrated Energy Complex


As one of the pilot restructured enterprises under PetroChina, Urumqi Petrochemical has evolved over 40 years into a modern petrochemical complex integrating refining, fertilizers, and chemical fibers. It operates 10 secondary units, including a refinery, fertilizer plant, chemical fiber plant, thermal power plant, water purification plant, and raw material division. The refinery houses 13 major production units with a crude oil processing capacity of 5.5 million tons per year. The fertilizer plant, one of the largest nitrogen fertilizer production bases in China, has four major production units and supporting utility systems. The chemical fiber plant, the largest in Northwest China, operates three major production units: oxidation, polyester, and short fiber. The thermal power plant, a cogeneration unit, operates with three boilers and three turbines, producing 900 tons of steam per hour and generating 100,000 kilowatts per hour.


Circulating Water System - Runpower
Circulating Water System - Runpower


The Significance of the Circulating Water System in Refining Operations


The circulating water system stands as a cornerstone within modern refineries, serving as a vital utility that underpins numerous critical processes. Beyond simply cooling equipment, this intricate system plays a multifaceted role in optimizing operations, minimizing environmental impact, and ensuring a sustainable future for the refining industry.


Key Functions and Significance:


· Cooling and Temperature Control: The primary function of the circulating water system is to provide efficient cooling for various process units within the refinery, including reactors, distillation columns, and heat exchangers. Precise temperature control is crucial for optimizing chemical reactions, maximizing product yields, and ensuring the stability of the overall refining process.


· Purification and Water Conservation: By incorporating effective purification technologies such as filtration, sedimentation, and chemical treatment, the circulating water system minimizes the need for fresh water replenishment. This significantly reduces water consumption, a critical factor given the escalating global water scarcity.


· Environmental Stewardship: Minimizing wastewater discharge is paramount for modern refineries. The circulating water system plays a vital role in this regard by minimizing the need for fresh water makeup and effectively treating any discharged water to meet environmental regulations. This aligns with the growing emphasis on green production and sustainable practices within the refining industry.


· Process Optimization: Beyond cooling, the circulating water system can act as a reaction medium in certain processes, influencing reaction rates and product yields. Precise control over water flow, temperature, and chemical additives within the system can optimize these processes, leading to improved efficiency and reduced operating costs.


· Safety and Reliability: A reliable circulating water system is crucial for ensuring the safe and uninterrupted operation of the refinery. Inadequate cooling can lead to equipment overheating, potential equipment failures, and even safety incidents. By maintaining a stable and efficient cooling system, operational reliability and safety are significantly enhanced.


Breaking Free from Import Reliance:


Historically, the control systems for critical utilities like circulating water systems in the refining industry relied heavily on imported technology, often from Western countries. To break this dependency and foster domestic technological advancement, Urumqi Petrochemical embarked on a collaborative effort with Runpower, a leading Chinese PLC company. This collaboration aimed to explore and implement China-developed PLCs within the circulating water control system.


Benefits of this Collaboration


  • Technological Advancement: This initiative fostered the development and application of cutting-edge PLC technology within the Chinese refining industry, demonstrating the capabilities of domestic companies in advancing automation and control systems.

  • Reduced Import Reliance: By successfully implementing China-developed PLCs, Urumqi Petrochemical reduced its reliance on imported technology, contributing to greater self-sufficiency and technological independence within the refining sector.

  • Cost Optimization: Utilizing domestically produced PLCs can potentially lead to cost savings compared to imported solutions, enhancing the overall economic competitiveness of the refining operation.

  • Enhanced Technological Innovation: This collaboration fostered a spirit of innovation and encouraged further development of advanced control systems within the Chinese industrial sector


The circulating water system is an indispensable component of modern refineries, playing a critical role in cooling, purification, and overall operational efficiency. By embracing domestic technological advancements and fostering collaborations with leading Chinese companies like Runpower, the refining industry can enhance its operational efficiency, reduce environmental impact, and strengthen its position in the global energy landscape.


Advanced Features of RPC3000 


The RPC3000 is a next-generation control system designed for medium to large engineering projects and high-end equipment integration. It achieves international standards in performance, stability, openness, and ease of use. Key features include:


High Performance: Multi-processor architecture with a 1GHz core controller CPU, capable of processing over 120,000 I/O points with a single instruction execution time of 10 nanoseconds.

Redundancy: Comprehensive redundancy options, including CPU, communication, and power supply redundancies. The CPU redundancy offers both single-rack and dual-rack configurations, with switching times of less than 20 milliseconds.


Runpower PLC RPC3000 architecture diagram
Runpower PLC RPC3000 Architecture Diagram


Successful Implementation and Recognition


In September 2024, Runpower successfully completed the circulating water control system upgrade at Urumqi Petrochemical’s refinery. After more than three months of continuous operation, the system has proven to be stable and reliable, with key control parameters meeting precise standards. The RPC3000’s superior performance and stability have perfectly aligned with the high-standard control requirements of the circulating water system.


Urumqi Petrochemical has highly praised Runpower’s control system, noting its compatibility with the China petrochemical production environment. The software interface and operational logic are well-suited to the preferences of engineers, significantly enhancing upgrade and operational efficiency. As a PLC China manufacturer, Runpower has set a benchmark in delivering tailored automation solutions.

Runpower PLC solution

Advancing China Automation Capabilities


The successful application of Runpower’s PLC in Urumqi Petrochemical’s utility system marks a significant step forward for China industrial automation control systems in the process industry. By integrating high-quality domestic resources, this achievement strengthens the petrochemical sector’s ability to select and implement control systems.


Future Prospects


Looking forward, Runpower will continue to uphold its innovation-driven development philosophy, breaking technical bottlenecks and enabling more enterprises to achieve product upgrades. Together, Runpower and its partners aim to lead China’s industrial automation industry toward the global forefront, reinforcing its position as a leading China PLC company.


About Runpower

 

Runpower is a high-tech enterprise in automation industries, specializes in a multitude of core technologies including computing, communication, signal processing, embedded software, system monitoring software, industrial internet, and automatic control. Renowned for our RPC3000 series PLC, RPC2000 series PLC, and various dedicated controllers, our solutions find widespread applications across industries such as coal, metallurgy, power, petrochemicals, municipal services, transportation, environmental protection, construction, water conservancy, and agriculture. Emphasizing independently developed automation products and an in-depth understanding of industry applications, Runpower offers comprehensive automation solutions encompassing system planning, design, product development, and technical services. Leveraging our technological strengths, we foster deep collaboration with clients and partners, collectively enhancing competitive advantages within the industry chain. Committed to delivering high-quality products and efficient services, we strive for sustainable and healthy company growth, continuously elevating core competitiveness and brand value. Awarded the title of "Top Ten Emerging Companies in China's Automation Field" by the China Automation Society in 2016 and listed in the Ministry of Industry and Information Technology's comprehensive application program for Programmable Logic Controllers (PLC) in the Industrial Foundation Strengthening Project in 2018, Runpower possesses a rich technical background and extensive work experience in product development, production management, quality control, market promotion, industry application, and technical services. Learn more

 

CONTACT US


Beijing RUNPOWER Technology Co., Ltd.

Address: RM1007, No.666 JINYU ROAD, YINZHOU DISTRICT, 

NINGBO CHINA

P: +8619941145645

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