Process technologies for the production of propylene are presented.  Coverage includes prevalent byproduct sources of propylene such as conventional fluid catalytic cracking as well as enhanced FCC technologies, steam cracking, and fractionation.  On-purpose propylene processes include propane dehydrogenation, methanol to olefins, methanol to propylene, and metathesis.  Production economics for byproduct and on-purpose propylene technologies are included on a USGC, Middle East, Western Europe, and China basis.  Global and regional supply, demand, and trade for propylene are also provided.

Thermal energy storage (TES) technologies and systems provide a major opportunity for better economic benefits and enhanced energy management.  This includes expected mismatches in supply and demand for cooling or heating requirements, thereby offsetting differences in time and magnitude of cooling or heating production.  TES can also jointly assist in harnessing and integrating “stranded” renewable power supply through possible co-location with distributed energy resources such as based on solar and wind energy.  This report provides an overview of the various developing and commercial TES technologies in the United States and includes a methodology for structuring the levelized cost of storage (LCOS).  

This TECH report concerns toluene diisocyanate (TDI), a chemical used in the production of polyurethanes. An analysis of the chemistry, technology, markets, and process economics is given. 

The process technology and economics for making polymer grade propylene via enhanced FCC processes are assessed.  Several enhanced FCC technologies are described.  FCC unit economics are compared for the enhanced FCC technologies versus conventional FCC operations with ZSM-5 additive.