Shanghai Petrochemical torch team cracked the carbon fiber torch shell at 1000 degrees Celsius in the preparation process of the difficult problem, the successful production of the torch “Flying”. Its weight is 20% lighter than the traditional aluminum alloy shell, with the characteristics of “light, solid and beautiful”.
In January 2022, the Shanghai Petrochemical torch research team installs hydrogen tanks for the torch “Flying” in Beijing.
Shanghai Petrochemical Carbon Fiber Production Line
Yongjun Hu
The 2024 Paris Olympics is about to open, athletes are ready to go, sports fans are full of expectations. On this occasion, we can’t help but think back to the 2022 Beijing Winter Olympic and Paralympic Games. As an official partner of the 2022 Beijing Olympic and Paralympic Winter Games, SINOPEC has been actively fulfilling its responsibilities and missions, engaging in the preparatory work, and dedicating itself to the construction of venues, energy supply, material protection and volunteer services. Among them, SINOPEC took the lead in the research and development and mass production of the Winter Olympic Torch, realizing the world’s first carbon fiber composite material to make the Olympic torch shell, helping the Green Olympics.
Origin
Firmly fulfilling the responsibility of central enterprises, so that the “black gold” carbon fiber into the Winter Olympic torch
In 2018, Shanghai Petrochemical welcomed a visiting delegation that included some sports figures. Introducing SINOPEC’s carbon fiber technology, Huang Xiangyu, deputy general manager of Shanghai Petrochemical, proudly said, “Carbon fiber is only a quarter of the mass of steel, but seven to nine times stronger. Our carbon fiber can not only make the Olympic torch, but is also lighter and stronger.”
It was such an offhand remark that started the relationship between Shanghai Petrochemical and the Winter Olympic torch.
In April 2020, the Beijing Winter Olympics Organizing Committee openly solicited design proposals for the appearance of the torch from the whole society. They immediately thought of SGPC’s carbon fiber technology and began to seek the possibility of cooperation.
Time is tight, the task is heavy, and the requirements are high, will it work or not?
“Not only can we do it, but we must do it well!” Shanghai Petrochemical resolutely fulfill the responsibility of central enterprises, with years of plowing carbon fiber field mastered the advanced technology, take the initiative to take up the task of the Winter Olympic torch shell development.
“The Party Group of the Group attaches great importance to the group, and has repeatedly instructed that a high-tech content of the Winter Olympic torch must be built to show the strength of SINOPEC’s scientific and technological innovation, and to demonstrate SINOPEC’s corporate image of being politically oriented, considering the overall situation, and being responsible.” Huang Xiangyu recalled, “Our whole team was highly encouraged and full of fighting spirit!”
Shanghai Petrochemical the first time to set up a torch attack team, and throughout the lead in organizing the relevant cooperation team to carry out research and development of carbon fiber for the torch shell, a clear mission statement, timetable, responsible for ensuring high quality to complete this glorious task.
“At that time, the torch design program is not yet out, in order to grab the deadline, we rehearsed in advance, with reference to the 2008 Beijing Olympic Games torch style, made several torches. Practice has proved that the carbon fiber torch can restore the style, but also to achieve a lighter and stronger, we all think it’s a success!” Lin Shengbing, general manager of Shanghai Petrochemical Advanced Materials Innovation Research Institute, introduced.
September 22, 2020, by the Beijing Winter Olympic Organizing Committee Chairman’s Office of the decision, the name of the work “Flying”, the Beijing Winter Olympic Games and Paralympic Winter Games torch design. In order to better implement the concept of Green Olympics, the Winter Olympic torch will use innovative hydrogen and carbon fiber technology. 23 September 2020, the Beijing Winter Olympic Organizing Committee held a meeting, which was attended not only by the designers, but also by experts from Shanghai Petrochemical Carbon Fiber Materials and Aerospace Science and Technology Hydrogen Combustion.
Tackle
Starting the battle of collaborative innovation, with “black technology” to make the Winter Olympic torch “light, solid, beautiful”.
Due to the success of the preliminary test, the Shanghai Petrochemical torch attack team was full of confidence. However, reality poured cold water on them.
“In October 2020, when we got the torch samples 3D printed by the design team, we were all dumbfounded.” Shen Haijuan, director of the Research and Development Department of the Shanghai Petrochemical Advanced Materials Innovation Research Institute, said.
The designers of the hands of the “Flyer”, the shape of the flowing, divided into the inner belt and outer belt, need to be perfectly stuck together. How to make the carbon fiber torch shell can accept the irregular shape of the challenge, but also can withstand the test of fire resistance and high temperature? Although the “Flyer” is larger than the 2008 Beijing Olympic torch, it is still quite small. In the narrow space of the hydrogen storage tank and burner, how to ensure that the hydrogen combustion system presents a full and dazzling flame, and also ensure that the hydrogen can be burned for a sufficient period of time?
Difficulties and challenges came one after another, the torch team divided into two ways to attack the problem. One way, lead the organization of Donghua University, Yunlu Composite Company three-dimensional knitting team, responsible for the torch shell three-dimensional knitting technology research and development and production, laser engraving and spraying color, assembly, the maximum degree of restoration of the torch’s dynamic shape; and the nuclear group nuclear eight, the Kubei chemical company, the research and development of carbon fiber composite materials, in order to meet the torch’s high-temperature, fire-resistant needs. On the other way, we cooperate with Aerospace Science and Technology Group and Aerospace Science and Industry Group to develop the inner flutter belt and combustion system of hydrogen torch and propane torch respectively.
A collaborative innovation battle around the “Flyer” is in full swing. In the torch shell development in 3 months, the torch team to overcome a number of technical problems one by one, formed from the carbon fiber production, composite material preparation to the end of the product application of one-stop solution.
Carbon fiber torch and light and strong, and compared with the previous torch made of aluminum alloy, but also to ensure that the torch in the winter under the low temperature when passing a better feel. However, carbon fiber itself is not resistant to high temperatures, much less fire, which is one of the main challenges. In order to solve the problem, Shanghai Petrochemical and China National Nuclear Corporation Nuclear eight hand in hand, the introduction of high-performance resins, and carbon fibers made of carbon fiber composites, and through the process of adjustment, the upper half of the torch combustion end of the high temperature of more than 1,000 degrees Celsius in a special treatment, and effectively solved the high temperature preparation process of the torch shell blistering, cracking and other difficult problems.
Carbon fiber composite materials to make the Olympic torch shell, not only is the world’s first, and innovation to achieve the torch shell weight 20% lighter than the aluminum alloy shell, showing “light, solid, beautiful” characteristics.
After expert appraisal and practical test, carbon fiber hydrogen torch safety and reliability, can resist 10 wind and rainstorms, can be used in extremely cold weather. While solving the complex problems, it has taken into account the requirements of light weight, miniaturization and shape matching.
After the official release of the “Flying” torch, the Winter Olympic torch, which combines the traditional characteristics of the Chinese nation and modern technology content, has been highly evaluated.
Mass Production
Undertake the mass production of handheld torch to ensure the smooth transmission of the Winter Olympic torch “over the mountains and across the sea”.
After “nine hundred and ninety-one difficulties”, the torch team delivered a perfect answer. Before celebrating, a new task has arrived: in March 2021, the Beijing Winter Olympic Organizing Committee proposed that SINOPEC, as an official partner of the Beijing Olympic and Paralympic Winter Games, undertake the handheld torch mass production project.
To this end, Shanghai Petrochemical set up a mass production project team and established three working groups for comprehensive coordination, business operation, and production supervision and manufacturing to fully promote the mass production of the torch.
“As a scientific research team, at first we thought we only needed to be responsible for the process research and production of the torch shell, and when we learned that we had to undertake the mass production task, the pressure was very great.” Guan Zemin, general manager of Shanghai Petrochemical, said, “From making one torch shell to making thousands of full-form torches, the difficulties involved are no less than the research and development of torch shells.”
After the enterprise site visits and sample testing and verification, they finally determined the processing enterprises for the various parts of the Winter Olympic torch. A total process integrating torch shell, inner fluttering belt, combustion system, kindling lamp, terminal inspection to delivery of the product in one, in Shanghai, Beijing, Jiangsu, Guangdong, Hebei, five places to quickly establish and quickly run up.
Looking closely at the “Flying”, you will find that it echoes the form of the main torch tower of the opening ceremony of the 2008 Beijing Olympic Games, with an auspicious cloud pattern at the bottom, gradually transitioning from the bottom up from the auspicious cloud pattern to the snowflake pattern symbolizing the Winter Olympics, and finally transforming into a soaring flame at the top. Such an exquisite torch is not only a handicraft, but also a work of art.
The mass production of artwork will encounter challenges in terms of efficiency, quality, cost, etc., and the first and foremost is the problem of efficiency. In order to complete the mass production task in a timely manner with quality and quantity, Shanghai Petrochemical adheres to the work plan of docking, perfecting, acceptance and mass production, and formulates the implementation plan for mass production, and optimizes the shape of each part of the internal and external fluttering belt of the torch, to the sample of the hydrogen cylinder, the hydrogen control valve, the combustion effect, and then to the appearance of the flame lamp, the ease of operation, and so on, one by one.
In mid-September 2021, the mass production samples of propane torches for Winter Olympic kindling collection successfully passed two on-site inspections and third-party verification and acceptance organized by Beijing Organizing Committee for the Winter Olympic Games (BOCOG), and on September 22nd, 2021, Shanghai Petrochemical formally delivered 115 propane torches and some other peripheral products such as kindling lamps and pilot rods to BOCOG, thus successfully completing the first batch of mass production tasks delivered by BOCOG. According to the plan, another 1,200 torches will be shipped to Beijing by mid-January 2022.
On October 18, 2021, the Beijing Winter Olympic flame was successfully collected at the ancient Olympia site in the Peloponnese, Greece, the birthplace of the Olympic Movement. There were two Shanghai Petrochemical employees in the flame collection team, who were mainly responsible for escorting the flame collection in Athens, Greece and the welcome ceremony for the Beijing flame.
“As a petrochemist, I know very well how much mission and honor this torch carries, and I am very glad to have successfully completed the kindling collection and welcome mission.” Fu Xiaoqing, Shanghai Petrochemical Skill Master, said, “The night before the kindling collection, in order to ensure the smooth transmission of the torch the next day ‘over the mountains and across the sea’, we stayed up all night, checking the combustion device every hour to make sure that everything was fine.”
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Post time: Jul-23-2024