Core Viewpoint - The launch of the intelligent chemical model 2.0Pro by Dalian Institute of Chemical Physics and iFlytek marks a significant technological advancement for China's chemical industry, facilitating the transition from laboratory to factory [1] Group 1: DMTO Technology and Its Impact - DMTO technology has been developed since the 1980s and has reached its third generation, with a single unit's methanol processing capacity now at 3.6 million tons per year [2] - The technology has signed contracts for 36 units, with a total capacity exceeding 24 million tons of olefins per year, of which 20 units are already in operation [2] - DMTO technology significantly reduces carbon emissions by about 50% compared to traditional coal combustion methods, making it a crucial direction for clean and efficient coal utilization [2] Group 2: Market Trends and Future Outlook - The domestic petrochemical industry is accelerating its transformation towards "new chemical materials" amid rising international oil price volatility [2] - Under the "dual carbon" goals, renewable energy generation is expected to account for 35% of total power generation by 2024, leading to a predicted decline in domestic refined oil demand to 100 million tons by 2050, less than 30% of current levels [2] - DMTO technology, utilizing coal as a stable and controllable raw material, is positioned to meet the growing demand for high-end chemical products and new materials [2] Group 3: Challenges in Energy Transition - The complexity of China's energy and industrial systems poses challenges for scientific decision-making and the determination of technological pathways for energy transition [6] - The integration of artificial intelligence with scientific research and industrial development is still in the exploratory stage, indicating a need for deeper coupling to fully leverage its application value [6] Group 4: Strategic Recommendations - To achieve energy security, the industry should focus on "oil-chemical switching" through catalytic technology, which can facilitate the production of both oil products and chemicals [8] - In the hydrogen energy and carbon capture, utilization, and storage (CCUS) sectors, a systematic layout and original breakthroughs are essential to seize technological advantages [9] Group 5: Role of Artificial Intelligence - The rapid development of artificial intelligence presents new opportunities and challenges for traditional research fields, particularly in chemical engineering, which involves complex dynamic systems [14] - The goal is to develop intelligent chemical processes that can transition from laboratory to factory in a single step, addressing the long-standing challenges of scaling up chemical technology [14]

Core Insights - The Inner Mongolia Baofeng coal-based olefin project (Phase I) has successfully commenced steam cracking operations, achieving qualified product output, making it the largest coal-based olefin plant globally with a production capacity of 3 million tons [1][2] - The DMTO technology used in the project is a new coal chemical core technology developed collaboratively by the Dalian Institute of Chemical Physics and China Petroleum & Chemical Corporation (Sinopec) Guangzhou Engineering Company, featuring independent intellectual property rights [1][2] - The DMTO series technology has been licensed 38 times, achieving a total olefin production capacity of 26.35 million tons per year, with 20 DMTO units designed or constructed by Sinopec Guangzhou Engineering Company already in operation, totaling 13.08 million tons per year [3] Project Overview - The Inner Mongolia Baofeng coal-based olefin project primarily uses coal as a raw material to produce olefins, including gasification, air separation, purification, methanol synthesis, and full-density polyethylene and polypropylene production units [2] - Sinopec Guangzhou Engineering Company is responsible for the design of three DMTO units (using DMTO-III technology), one steam cracking unit, and the entire plant's storage and transportation tank area [2] - The DMTO-III technology has shown to reduce methanol consumption per ton of olefin and significantly increase the production capacity of single units, allowing for flexible operation based on market demand [2] Technological Advancements - Since the signing of the DMTO-III development agreement in July 2020, the research team has developed several new technologies and equipment, including a series of energy optimizations for the DMTO-III unit, enhancing the efficiency of the coupling between DMTO and olefin separation units [1][2] - The first industrial unit using DMTO-III technology, with an olefin production capacity of over 1 million tons, was completed in Ningxia in August 2023, leading to continuous improvements in engineering technology based on operational data analysis [2] - The upcoming DMTO unit with a production capacity of 1.35 million tons per year is expected to set a new record for the largest single methanol-to-olefin unit [3]