HOHHOT, April 13 (Xinhua) -- The operation time between overhauls for the world's first megaton coal direct liquefaction equipment has been extended from the designed 310 days to over 400 days.
The equipment, located in the city of Erdos in northern China's Inner Mongolia Autonomous Region, succeeded in a pilot run in 2008 and was put into commercial use in 2011.
As the only industrial demonstration plant for direct liquefaction of coal in the world, the equipment was developed by the China Energy Group's Erdos branch. Over 10 billion yuan (about 1.5 billion U.S. dollars) was invested.
Thanks to technology optimization and equipment upgrading, the recent three operation periods for the equipment were 420 days, 410 days and 415 days, said Wang Jianli, general manager of the branch.
Coal liquefaction is an important process for the clean and efficient use of coal. The finished products of diesel and naphtha are as pure as purified water and can meet the highest eco-conscious standards.
Last year, the branch produced nearly 850,000 tonnes of diesel and other oils, as well as 700,000 tonnes of by-products such as asphalt.
China is rich in coal but lacking in oil and gas. The extensive burning of coal has brought huge pressure on environment protection.
