Prior to adopting the EL3020, Sinopec Yangzi’s refinery faced three regulatory and operational challenges:
- Low Detection Accuracy: Legacy gas chromatograph (GC) analyzers had a detection limit of only 100 ppb, failing to measure low-level BTX emissions (50-80 ppb) required by China’s GB 31570-2015 standard. This led to unreported emissions and unexpected fines during environmental inspections.
- Slow Response to Emission Spikes: GC analyzers required 5-10 minutes to generate results, making it impossible to respond to sudden VOCs spikes from storage tank vents or process leaks. In 2024, a 2-hour benzene emission spike went undetected until environmental authorities flagged it, resulting in a RMB 1.2 million fine.
- High Operational Costs: The old GC systems required daily calibration with expensive standards gases and monthly maintenance, costing RMB 360,000 (€48,000) per year. Their large size also made installation in space-constrained emission stacks difficult.
“China’s VOCs regulations are among the strictest in the world, and non-compliance isn’t an option,” said Wang Jian, Sinopec Yangzi’s Environmental Director. “We needed a gas analyzer that could measure low-level emissions accurately, respond in real time, and reduce our operational burden.”
ABB EL3020: The Precision Solution for VOCs Compliance
After evaluating two domestic and one international competitor, Sinopec Yangzi selected the ABB EL3020 for its industry-leading accuracy, speed, and cost-efficiency:
- Ultra-Low Detection Limits: Using laser-based cavity ring-down spectroscopy (CRDS), the EL3020 detects BTX compounds and total VOCs (TVOC) down to 1 ppb—100x more sensitive than legacy GC analyzers. It measures 24 VOC species simultaneously, covering all compounds regulated by GB 31570-2015 and EU 2010/75/EU.
- Real-Time Monitoring: The analyzer provides continuous readings with a 1-second update rate, enabling immediate response to emission spikes. Built-in trend analysis alerts operators to rising VOCs levels before they exceed regulatory limits, triggering automatic adjustments to process controls.
- Low Operating Costs: The EL3020 requires only quarterly calibration and has a 5-year light source lifespan, reducing maintenance costs by 60% compared to GC systems. Its compact design (45cm x 35cm x 20cm) fits easily in emission stack monitoring cabinets, eliminating the need for expensive installation modifications.
- Regulatory-Grade Data Logging: The analyzer stores 10 years of emission data with time stamps, supporting automatic report generation for environmental authorities. Its China Metrology Certification (CMC) and ISO 17025 accreditation ensure data is accepted by regulators without additional verification.
Results: Full Compliance, Lower Fines, and Operational Efficiency
Five months post-deployment, Sinopec Yangzi’s refinery achieved remarkable regulatory and financial results:
- 99% Compliance Rate: VOCs emissions stayed within GB 31570-2015 limits for 99% of monitoring hours, compared to 82% in 2024. Non-compliance incidents dropped from 8 to 1, reducing environmental fines by 35% (RMB 1.68 million/€224,000 saved).
- 30% Reduction in Emission Levels: Real-time monitoring enabled proactive adjustments to storage tank vent systems and process controls, cutting average BTX emissions from 75 ppb to 52 ppb—well below the 80 ppb regulatory limit.
- 60% Lower Maintenance Costs: Annual maintenance costs fell from RMB 360,000 to RMB 144,000 (€19,200), thanks to longer calibration intervals and reduced downtime.
- Faster Inspection Readiness: Automatic report generation reduced audit preparation time from 5 days to 8 hours, simplifying interactions with environmental authorities.
“The EL3020 has become our environmental compliance backbone,” Wang said. “It gives us the precision and reliability we need to meet China’s strict regulations, while reducing our operational costs. It’s a win-win for the environment and our business.”
Michael Chen, ABB’s Asia-Pacific Product Specialist for Emission Monitoring, noted the EL3020’s market relevance: “Petrochemical plants face increasing pressure to reduce VOCs emissions globally. The EL3020’s CRDS technology delivers the accuracy and speed required to meet these regulations, while its low operating costs make it accessible for large-scale deployment.”
Sinopec Yangzi plans to install the ABB EL3020 at 12 more refineries and chemical plants across China by 2027, aiming to achieve group-wide VOCs compliance rates of 99.5%.
# ABB EL3020 Gas Analyzer Boosts Steel Quality by 12% in Swedish Hydrogen Metallurgy Plant Luleå, Sweden – January 2026 – SSAB AB, a global leader in fossil-free steel production, has announced a 12% improvement in steel quality and 8% reduction in energy consumption after deploying the ABB EL3020 gas analyzer at its HYBRIT hydrogen metallurgy plant in Luleå. The upgrade, completed in Q4 2025, addressed critical process control gaps in the plant’s direct reduction (DR) furnace—where imprecise monitoring of hydrogen (H₂), carbon monoxide (CO), and water vapor (H₂O) had led to inconsistent iron ore reduction, increasing scrap rates and energy waste.
The Challenge: Precise Gas Control for Fossil-Free Steel Production
SSAB’s HYBRIT plant, the world’s first fossil-free steel facility, faced unique technical challenges:
- Imprecise Reduction Gas Monitoring: The DR furnace uses green hydrogen to reduce iron ore to sponge iron, requiring precise control of H₂ (95-98% concentration) and CO (<2% concentration). Legacy thermal conductivity detectors (TCD) had a measurement error of ±3%, leading to over-reduction or under-reduction of iron ore.
- Moisture Interference: Water vapor generated during the reduction process distorted TCD readings, causing frequent process adjustments. In 2024, moisture-induced errors led to 15% of sponge iron batches being rejected due to high oxygen content.
- Slow Process Optimization: TCD analyzers required 30 seconds to update readings, delaying feedback to the furnace control system. This lag increased energy consumption, as the plant overused hydrogen to compensate for uncertainty.
“Fossil-free steel production relies on precise gas control—even a 1% deviation in hydrogen concentration impacts both quality and sustainability,” said Anna Larsson, SSAB’s HYBRIT Process Engineering Manager. “We needed a gas analyzer that could measure H₂, CO, and H₂O with pinpoint accuracy, even in high-moisture environments.”
