Ethylene from Ethane

Abstract

Ethane vapour brought from outside battery limits is heated in stages and mixed with dilution steam, it therefore enters the convection section of the cracking furnaces where it is further heated. On leaving the convection section, the ethane/dilution steam mixture enters the radiant section where the crackinq takes place. The hot gases are quickly cooled in horizontal heat exchangers where high pressure steam is generated. A proper sequence of quench i ng 4-5 stage compress ion, separation, caustic and water washing is then performed, followed by the removal of methane, ethane and propane, until only ethylene remains.