Operation Started Since Last Month
Cost Savings of 19.1 Billion KRW
SK Energy announced on the 13th that it has newly installed a gas engine combined heat and power (CHP) system in the power boiler of SK Ulsan Complex (hereinafter SK Ulsan CLX), which was shut down four years ago, and has started full-scale operation. This is expected to reduce annual carbon dioxide emissions by about 48,000 tons and save approximately 19.1 billion KRW in costs through boiler operation efficiency.
The gas engine CHP system, designed by SK Energy in 2019, recovers the exhaust heat generated from the gas engine generator and supplies it as fuel to the power boiler. After technical review and trial operation, its effectiveness was recently verified. The system uses 50 tons per hour of high-temperature exhaust gas from the gas engine generator as fuel for the power boiler, reducing the use of the existing fuel, liquefied natural gas (LNG).
In addition, installing distributed power generators such as gas engine generators around processes with high electricity demand within SK Ulsan CLX not only enables stable electricity supply but also increases self-generated power, leading to cost savings. SK Ulsan CLX plans to produce 75.6 GWh of electricity annually through the gas engine generators.
Members of SK Innovation Ulsan Complex are inspecting a gas engine generator. [Photo by SK Innovation]
The power boiler is a key facility that produces steam necessary for the operation of the entire SK Ulsan CLX process. Steam is one of the power sources required throughout petrochemical processes, such as electricity and water, produced by burning fuel in the boiler. Currently, SK Ulsan CLX has 10 power boilers. Among them, power boiler B101 started operation in 1971 but stopped running in 2020 due to decreased efficiency caused by aging. SK Energy sought ways to improve the efficiency of B101 and restart it, leading to the conception of the CHP system that utilizes exhaust heat from the gas engine generator.
SK Ulsan CLX expects effects such as increased self-generation ratio through the installation of new gas engine generators, improved boiler efficiency, and enhanced value of idle boilers. It also anticipates reducing surplus steam loss by about 20,000 tons annually during summer, when steam demand decreases due to reduced operation of existing steam turbine generators. Going forward, SK Energy plans to consider expanding the system to the remaining nine power boilers within SK Ulsan CLX.
Kim Jong-hwa, Head of SK Energy Ulsan CLX, said, "SK Energy is significantly reducing carbon emissions through the gas engine CHP system, which can be utilized as a distributed energy system. It improves process efficiency and reduces power costs for electricity and steam." He added, "We will continue to contribute to carbon reduction and asset value enhancement for SK Innovation affiliates through process efficiency improvements."
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