August 30, 2025 – Good news emerged from the on-site air separation unit of the Tarim Phase II Ethylene Project on August 7: the main heat exchanger cold box skid of Cold Box No. 2 was successfully hoisted and positioned. With the completion of this critical step, all “eight major hoisting operations” for the cold boxes—core equipment of the air separation unit—were successfully concluded, laying a solid foundation for the unit to meet the scheduled handover target.
Known as the “heart” of the air separation unit, the cold box’s core function is to achieve the rectification and separation of oxygen and nitrogen. Each of Cold Box No. 1 and Cold Box No. 2 consists of four sets of skids, each with distinct parameters: the main tower cold box skid weighs 125 tons, the main heat exchanger cold box skid 90 tons, the auxiliary tower cold box skid 65 tons, and the oxygen tower cold box skid 18 tons. These skids not only feature large volumes and high centers of gravity but also demand extremely strict installation precision—horizontal deviations must be controlled within the millimeter range. Even minor errors could adversely affect the operational efficiency of the entire subsequent unit.
According to the Color Masterbatch Industry Network, the successful positioning of Cold Box No. 1 and Cold Box No. 2 holds great significance. In the subsequent production process, they will continuously supply sufficient industrial gases such as oxygen and nitrogen to various units of the project, serving as a crucial guarantee for the stable operation of the entire ethylene project. In accordance with the construction plan, after the cold boxes are positioned, the project will enter the stages of pipeline welding and instrument commissioning, and is expected to be ready for operation by the end of November.
Currently, the overall progress of the air separation unit of the Tarim Phase II Ethylene Project has reached 61.06%. The project team is adhering to the spirit of “daring to take on tough battles and being capable of winning them” to fully advance various subsequent tasks. With a total investment of 29 billion yuan, the project includes the construction of 11 major production units, such as a 1.2 million tons/year ethylene unit, two sets of 450,000 tons/year full-density polyethylene units, a 300,000 tons/year low-density polyethylene unit, and a 450,000 tons/year polypropylene unit. Meanwhile, supporting green and low-carbon demonstration projects will also be built.