When ethane is cracked, a mixture of different substances is produced, including the so-called C3 fraction. This contains a mix of propane and propylene, two very similar substances that each have their own applications.
The C3 splitter separates the propane and propylene from each other. This is done using “hot” distillation. Because the boiling points of propylene and propane are only 10 degrees apart (36 vs. 46°), that requires a lot of “depth”, making the C3 splitter, at 100 metres high, the tallest part of the Project ONE installation.
Did you know that the propane from the C3 splitter is returned to the furnaces? It is cracked into propylene and ends up back in the C3 splitter.
A pontoon transported the C3 splitter by water to the Project ONE quay. The pontoon departed from our marshalling yard, where parts are delivered and temporarily stored, and sailed through the Kanaaldok, passing the Noordlandbrug before finally mooring at Project ONE. In August, the “Strong Sofie” crane will hoist the splitter into place. At 100 metres high, it will become part of the skyline of Project ONE.
