Q Bar Averaging Pitot Tube Flow Measurement Solution for Major Coal-to-Oil Project in China
End User: Yitai Yili Energy Co., Ltd
Project: 1 Million Tons per Year Coal-to-Oil Demonstration Project
Overview
Yitai Yili Energy Co. Ltd is developing one of China’s most significant coal-to-oil demonstration facilities, designed to produce over 1 million tons of high-value chemical products annually. As part of this national key energy initiative, one of our trusted Chinese customers partnered with us to deliver precise and reliable steam flow measurement solutions critical to the plant’s advanced coal-chemical processes.
McMenon supplied 12 Q Bar Averaging Pitot Tubes, engineered to withstand demanding conditions while delivering consistent and accurate flow data for process control and optimisation.
Project Requirements
The end user required a robust, accurate solution for measuring steam flow within a complex coal-to-oil conversion process. Key system challenges included:
- High temperatures within the steam lines
- Compact installation space across the process units
- Need for dependable long-term performance in a high-capacity, continuous-operation environment
- Integration with ABB’s transmitters and instrumentation architecture
McMenon’s Solution
To meet these demands, McMenon delivered a customised package consisting of:
- 12 Torbar Units – Both retractable and non-retractable configurations were supplied, ensuring safe maintenance access where required.
- SS316/316L Construction – Selected for corrosion resistance and durability in high-temperature steam applications.
- Integrated Cooling Fins – Purpose-designed cooling fins were added to effectively reduce process temperature reaching the transmitters, protecting sensitive electronics and ensuring reliable performance.
- Direct-Mounted Transmitters on 5-Way Valve Manifolds – This compact, efficient assembly simplified installation and maintenance while ensuring precise differential pressure measurements.
These QBars are now installed across the coal-chemical plant to measure and monitor steam flow rates, supporting stable operation of critical purification and conversion units.
Project Milestone: Major Lifting and Installation Completed
The coal-to-oil project recently reached a major construction milestone with the successful installation of all eight core purification units, including absorption and regeneration towers over 60 metres tall and weighing more than 540 tons each.
Despite extremely tight spatial constraints and challenging weather conditions, Shaanxi Huajian Hoisting Co. executed the lifts using 1,600-ton crawler cranes, demonstrating exceptional engineering and project coordination.
This milestone marks the project’s transition from civil works into full equipment installation, accelerating progress toward Phase I completion.
Project Impact & Strategic Significance
Once fully operational (Phase I targeted for early 2027), the facility aims to produce approximately 1.058 million tons per year of high-value chemical products, including:
- Alkylbenzene
- High-carbon alcohols
- Fischer–Tropsch wax
The project supports China’s broader national objectives to:
- Strengthen energy security
- Advance clean, efficient coal-to-oil technologies Drive the high-end development of the coal-chemical industry
McMenon’s flow instrumentation plays a key role in ensuring the process efficiency, stability, and reliability required for a project of this scale.
Outcome
McMenon’s engineered-to-order QBar Averaging Pitot Tube solution has enabled our Chinese partner and Yitai Yili Energy Co. to integrate accurate, durable steam flow measurement into one of the world’s most ambitious coal-to-oil demonstration plants.
Through precision engineering, material expertise, and a deep understanding of complex industrial environments, McMenon continues to support globally significant energy and chemical projects with trusted measurement technologies.
