SINOPEC Research Institute of Petroleum Processing (RIPP), founded in 1956, is a comprehensive research and development organization specialized in petroleum refining and petrochemical engineering subordinated to SINOPEC Corporation. It is mainly devoted to the development and application of petroleum refining technologies, while laying stress on petroleum refining-petrochemical integration and focusing on the R&D of corresponding petrochemical technologies as well. In the recent years, it has been reinforcing its innovation in new alternative fuel and energy sources. It is now in the process of transforming itself into an all-directional energy R&D organization mainly engaged in petroleum refining and in petroleum refining-petrochemical integration as well. In the recent years, it has been reinforcing its innovation in new alternative fuel and energy sources. It is now in the process of transforming itself into an all-around energy R&D organization mainly engaged in petroleum refining and in petroleum refining-petrochemical integration as well. During the passing years, in aspect of technology innovation RIPP not only attaches great importance to the cooperation with enterprises and designing institutes, but also lays stress on the market demands. Moreover, it devotes much attention to the guided basic research and applied basic research. Meanwhile, it accumulates scientific knowledge and its experience in process and engineering, so as to exert the effect of knowledge innovation to promote technology innovation. RIPP has the solid R & D capability and advantages to develop integrated technologies for the whole refinery based on its strength in crude oil evaluation, R&D of petroleum processing technologies, related catalysts, and petroleum product preparation and evaluation. Its research involves ten fields such as clean gasoline/kerosene/diesel production technology, deep processing technology for heavy and inferior crudes, petroleum refining-petrochemical integration technology, aromatics production technology, petroleum product production technology, petrochemical production technology, alternative fuels research, fundamental research on refining and petrochemical engineering technology, applied computer technology and associated analysis technology.
RIPP consists of 17 research departments nurturing a high qualified research team with prominent technological advantage. 1312 people are sharing the same future with RIPP. There are 962 technicians. Among them are 6 Members of Chinese Academy of Sciences and Chinese Academy of Engineering, 105 senior engineers with professorship, 454 senior engineers and technicians，207 with PhD degree including and 247 with Master's degree. Approximately 1,000 sets of laboratory scale and pilot plant scale refining and petrochemical test units together with a large array of advanced analytical equipment are engaged in the research and development of oil refining technologies, petrochemical, fine chemicals, additives, and petroleum product applications, etc.. RIPP has divisions of National Engineering Research Center for Petroleum Refining Technology and Catalyst (NERC-PRTC), the State Key Laboratory of Catalytic Material and Reaction Engineering, Lubricant Evaluation Center, and Water Treatment Technology Service Center, etc. It is also designated as the organization responsible for domestic Petroleum Products Standardization. In addition, the National Supervision and Testing Center for Petroleum Products Quality and the Petroleum Refining Division of Chinese Petroleum Association are all based in RIPP. Three professional journals related to petroleum refining and petrochemicals, i.e. “ACTA PETROLEI SINICA”, “Petroleum Processing and Petrochemicals” and “China Petroleum Processing and Petrochemical Technology” (in an English version) are edited and published by RIPP. In terms of education and training, RIPP has a post-graduate division and a post-doctoral research station, which is authorized by the state to confer PhD degrees in chemical technology and applied chemistry as well as Master’s degrees in chemical technology, applied chemistry, industrial catalysis and chemical engineering.
Through the construction and development for 54 years, with a research team of prodigious expertise in various disciplines and fully equipped with advanced instruments, RIPP has become a comprehensive R&D organization integrating technology licensing, technology consulting and technical service with petroleum refining and petrochemical engineering development. Ever since its foundation, RIPP has made 861 scientific and technical achievements with awards on a ministerial level as well as 120 State Prizes. Among them are 1 State Top Science and Technology Award, 2 State Invention Awards (First Class), 1 State Special Prize for Science and Technology Advancement Award, and 7 State Prize for National Science and Technology Advancement Awards (First Class). By the end of 2010, RIPP has applied for 3325 sets of domestic patents with 1890 sets granted and 637 sets of foreign patents with 339 sets granted. RIPP won 5 Gold Prize Awards jointly issued by the State Intellectual Property Office of P.R. China (SIPO) and World Intellectual Property Organization (WIPO). In the year of 2010, RIPP applied for 410 sets of domestic patents with 160 sets granted, and applied 62 sets of foreign patents with 35 sets granted. In recent years, the number of patent applications by RIPP has always ranked first among research institutes in China.
In different historical periods, RIPP has developed outstanding technologies that had an important role and greatly accelerated the evolution of Chinese refining industry. In 1960s, RIPP was engaged in the development of Fluid Catalytic Cracking, Delayed Coking, Catalytic Reforming, Urea Dewaxing and new types of catalysts and additives, which were praised as the Five Golden Flowers in China and marked the great breakthrough in the development of modern technology for Chinese oil refining industry from nothing. Meanwhile, jet fuel and special type of lubricating oil and grease for military purposes developed by RIPP had addressed the urgent needs for national defense industry at that time. In1970s, RIPP developed Riser Catalytic Cracking Process, Zeolite FCC Catalysts, Semi-regeneration Reforming Process, Bi-metallic Reforming Catalysts that maintained the advancing trends of Chinese oil refining technology. In 1980s, a large amount of technologies and catalysts were developed. Among them are new generation of Resid FCC Catalyst, USY Zeolite and REHY Zeolite, RN-1 Hydrogenation Catalyst, Pt-Re Series Reforming Catalysts, SKI Xylene Isomerization Catalysts, Full Daqing AR RFCC Technology, Needle Coke Production Technology, High Power Tank Engine Oil, etc. RIPP began to establish its own dominant technical areas, and many technologies approached the international level. RIPP played a key role in self-supporting the Chinese oil refining technologies and catalysts. In 1990s, RIPP developed its FCC family technology. Among which DCC technology won the only First Prize of National Technology Invention Award in the year of 1995, and fulfilled the exportation of Chinese oil refining technology since then. Besides, a series of technologies were developed as new type of ZRP zeolite, Heavy Oil Processing Integrated Technology, Medium Pressure Hydro-Upgrading Technology, Medium Pressure Hydrocracking Technology, Low Pressure Combined-bed Catalytic Reforming Technology, Aromatic Extraction Technology with New Solvent, special type of lubricating oil and grease used in Shenzhou series of manned spacecrafts, missiles, satellites, naval vessels, amphibious armored vehicles, etc. These technologies basically achieved the international standard; some of them attained international advanced level and even international leading level. Since then RIPP had made great progress in overseas marketing with a serial of technologies and products successively sailing to Southeast Asia, Middle East, Europe and U.S.
Entering 21st century, the Chinese oil refining industry is facing various challenges such as the production of clean fuel, adjustment of product structure and reduction of operating cost. Having foreseen this, RIPP has carried out related R&D projects in advance. RIPP has now successfully developed and commercialized many technologies, such as the production of clean gasoline and diesel fuels, deep processing of heavy crudes, increasing the yield of light oil, the processing of sour crudes, high total acid number (TAN) crudes, heavy crude and refractory crudes. These technologies not only support the development of refining industry, but also provide RIPP with necessary technology reserves. Among which GOR catalysts series for reducing olefin content in FCC gasoline, MIP technology for maximum production of iso-paraffin and GCP technology for production of clean fuel along with increasing yield of propylene have been widely applied in refineries. These technologies have state proprietary intellectual property and meet the requirement of Chinese refining units, which made Chinese oil refining enterprises upgrade gasoline in a comparatively short period with less investment and lower cost, and contributed a remarkable economic and social benefits as well while confronting great challenges.
In 2010, aiming at the top level, RIPP specified its development goal and direction for the future. Some efficient measures, such as highlighting scientific questions, emphasizing generic technology development and strengthening R & D process management, effectively promoted the implementation and accomplishment of RIPP significant R&D tasks. At the same time, the plaque ceremony of National Energy Oil Refining Technology R&D Center was held at RIPP; the first industrial demonstration unit for environment-friendly aromatic rubber extender production started up successfully, and great progress was made on fixed-bed F-T synthesis technology. RIPP made great strides towards technical service system construction by setting up a professional team. RIPP communicated extensively and deeply with the profession on oil refining technology development trend in post-Euro V era. Meanwhile, its overseas business increased dramatically. In the past year, RIPP won 1 state prize for National Technology Invention Award (second class), 1 Chinese Patent Gold Prize Award, 1 Ministerial Prize for Science and Technology Advancement Award firstly issued by National Energy Bureau, and 9 Prizes for Science and Technology Advancement Awards issued by Sinopec.
Facing the future and following the orientation as technology R&D center, decision-making supporting center and training center of SINOPEC, RIPP will continue to enhance its capability of proactive innovation, fully play the role of a propeller in science and technology innovation, and endeavor to provide all-around technical support for SINOPEC to become bigger, stronger and better.
Address: 18 Xueyuan Road, Haidian District, Beijing
Post Code: 100083
Telephone: +86 (10) 62327551
Fax: +86 (10) 62311290
Website: www.ripp-sinopec.com
E-mail: 914.shky@sinopec.com
