Hyundai Infracore, a subsidiary of Mgen Solution, is set to secure core technologies for the carbon-neutral transition of South Korea's petrochemical industry.
On July 14, Hyundai Infracore announced that it would participate in the national research and development project led by the Ministry of Trade, Industry and Energy, aimed at developing "carbon reduction innovation process technology for naphtha cracking (NCC) based on carbon-free fuels" at the Yeosu National Industrial Complex in Jeollanam-do.
This project aims to develop innovative NCC carbon reduction process technology using carbon-free fuels such as hydrogen and ammonia. It involves building a pilot naphtha cracking plant with a capacity of 120 kg/h and advancing to the design of a commercial NCC process with an annual capacity of 600,000 tons. The large-scale project has a total budget of 41 billion won (29.3 billion won in government funding and 11.7 billion won in private investment). The research will be conducted over three years and nine months, from April 2025 to the end of 2028. Twelve industry, academic, research, and government institutions are participating, including Hyundai Infracore, the Institute of Advanced Technology, Ajou University, KAIST, Jeonnam Technopark, Korea Conformity Laboratories, Daon HNS, and Yeosu City.
In this project, Hyundai Infracore will develop artificial intelligence (AI)-based high-temperature prediction and disaster response technologies. The company aims to develop thermal imaging recognition technology to precisely measure the internal temperature of NCC cracking reactors, achieving a thermal imaging camera recognition rate of over 95% and ensuring high communication stability.
Hyundai Infracore will also develop an AI disaster response system capable of detecting and responding to hazards such as fires or fuel leaks in real time. This advanced safety system goes beyond simple detection functions by analyzing accumulated process data to identify abnormal signs early and respond proactively.
This technology development is expected to become a turning point in achieving carbon neutrality by converting existing fossil fuel-based NCC processes to carbon-free fuels such as hydrogen and ammonia using purely domestic technology. Through pilot demonstration, the company plans to produce more than 50 kg/h of light olefins and reduce nitrogen oxide (NOx) concentrations in exhaust gases to below 20 ppm, thereby ensuring both environmental friendliness and safety.
In particular, the company plans to verify process reliability through more than 1,000 hours of cumulative operation and, based on this, contribute to establishing global-level safety design and environmental, social, and governance (ESG) management foundations.
A Hyundai Infracore representative stated, "We are very pleased to participate in this project," adding, "By developing NCC process technology based on carbon-free fuels and securing AI-based safety solutions, we will contribute to carbon reduction and enhanced process safety."
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