Advances in Cracking Furnace Technology - Welcome to Kolmetz.Com

103 Pages·2002·2.72 MB·English

by  The Titan Group

Advances in Cracking Furnace Technology
Karl Kolmetz
Advances in Cracking Furnace
Technology
Outline
1. Introduction
2. Historical Development
3. Design Constraints
4. Comparison of Current Designs
5. Furnace Run lengths
6. Anti Coking
7. Future Opportunities
8. Conclusions
Introduction
• Furnace technology is an area of active
research. The high-energy consumption,
capital and maintenance cost of the
current cracking furnace are a driving
force to develop improved conversion
routes.
Introduction
• The pyrolysis of
hydrocarbons for the
production of
petrochemicals is
almost exclusively
carried out in
tubular coils located
in fired heaters.
Introduction
• Steam is added to
the feedstock to
reduce the partial
pressure of the
hydrocarbon in the
coil.
Introduction
• The reactions that result in the
transformation of saturated
hydrocarbons to olefins are highly
endothermic and require temperatures
in the range of 750 to 900 degrees C
depending on the feedstock and design
of the pyrolysis coil.
History
• The first commercial unit for pyrolysis
cracking of hydrocarbons was
commissioned at Esso’s facility in Baton
Rouge, Louisiana during 1943.
• The feedstock was Gas Oil and the
Butadiene extracted from the cracked
products was used to make Butyl
rubber.
History
• Ethylene, propylene and other products
were flared.
• Shortly thereafter, two more
commercial pyrolysis-cracking units
were constructed along with ethanol
and ethylene glycol plants to utilize the
ethylene.
History
• All pyrolysis cracking furnaces
constructed during the 40’s and 50’s
had horizontal radiant tubes and
residence times in excess of 0.5 seconds.
• Radiant tube materials were 310
stainless (wrought 25 Chrome 20 Nickel)
or incoloy. Cast tubes were not yet
invented.
History
• Prior to the mid
60’s all furnaces
were fired with a
very large number
of wall burners
spaced on about
six foot centers in
the horizontal
walls and facing
the row of radiant
tubes.