- First domestically produced slurry pump for slurry-process polyethylene completed over 4,000 hours of engineering verification at the 100,000 t/yr ultra-high molecular weight polyethylene (UHMWPE) unit in Tianjin Nangang Ethylene.
- Unit adopts Sinopec's ethylene slurry polymerization technology.
- Pump outperformed imported units on key indicators and resolved clogging and wear issues in high-solid-content slurry operations.
- Tianjin Petrochemical collaborated with domestic design and manufacturing partners to replace prior dependence on imported slurry pumps.
Project summary
The first domestically produced slurry pump for slurry-process polyethylene completed over 4,000 hours of engineering verification at the 100,000 t/yr ultra-high molecular weight polyethylene (UHMWPE) unit in Tianjin Nangang Ethylene.
Technical context
The UHMWPE unit, reported as China’s first with independent intellectual property rights, uses Sinopec’s ethylene slurry polymerization technology; the slurry pump is core dynamic equipment operating under high-solid-content, wear-prone conditions.
Development and verification
Tianjin Petrochemical, together with domestic design and manufacturing partners, addressed key issues of clogging and wear in high-solid slurries; the localized pump outperformed comparable imported equipment on key indicators during verification.
Implications
Successful localization removes prior dependence on imported slurry pumps and is expected to reduce procurement and maintenance costs and strengthen supply-chain resilience for polyethylene production.
