Basf styrene catalyst Industry 4.0 program for Sinpo Chemical

StyroSimTM, the styrene catalyst industry 4.0 solution launched by BASF, has been successfully applied in the Styrene plant of Xinpu Chemical recently, realizing the functions of simulation and optimization of operating conditions, big data analysis, automatic data transmission of the system, and effectively improving the efficiency of production operation and maintenance.

As the inventor of styrene catalyst and industrial production process, BASF is committed to the innovation and development of catalyst products and services. Since 2018, BASF has taken the lead in exploring the application of industry 4.0 in the field of styrene catalysts. Based on the actual catalyst running experience accumulated by decades, by matching the appropriate machine learning model, and using big data analysis techniques, such as prediction in different operating conditions to achieve the conversion of styrene selectivity and the desired operating temperature, StyroSimTM aims to provide customers with more accurate operation adjustment guide and catalyst performance prediction.

In February 2022, StyroSimTM was officially launched in Sinpo Chemical, which is the first successful application of industry 4.0 solution in styrene plant in China. The device can adjust operating conditions under different production objectives independently by using simulators, thus greatly reducing the probability of trial and error based on personal experience and realizing accurate adjustment of working conditions.

In addition, StyroSimTM includes automatic online transmission of data, which optimizes the cumbersome process required for data analysis and greatly improves the timeliness of data. The product's operational and analytical data are encrypted and automatically pushed to basF servers for real-time monitoring of catalyst performance. Data push mechanism and security verification measures also ensure the security of customer device data. StyroSimTM also has an online interaction function to facilitate immediate communication.

Sinpo Chemical has been using BASF styrene catalyst since it was put into production. Regarding the digital application of StyroSimTM, Li Jian, manager of Sinpo Styrene plant said, "The online operation of StyroSimTM is the joint efforts of experts from both sides. It has been online for only three months, which greatly improves working efficiency while improving operation accuracy. I am confident that the long-term benefits of this digital solution will help us better cope with today's volatile market environment."

Dr. Wei Guohui, Global Vice President of BASF Chemical Catalysts, said, "BasF styrene catalysts are favored by major chemical companies around the world for their excellent product stability and professional technical services. Today, StyroSimTM's innovative solution has been successfully implemented in China. With digitalization combined with technical expertise, we will help more local customers maximize their economic benefits. I also look forward to the possibility of extending this solution to other products to create broader value for customers."

                             Excerpt from China Chemical Industry Information Weekly