(34a) Design, Installation, and Monitoring of ID Fans for Ethylene Furnaces

Reliable operation of induced-draft fans on ethylene furnaces is critical to maintaining plant output capacity.  Achieving this requires close attention to numerous issues during specification, design, installation, and monitoring in operation.  This paper will examine recommended practice pertaining to rotor balance, bearing selection, field installation, choice of instrumentation, and other issues.  Use of variable-frequency drives allows flexible, reliable control of airflow under changing plant conditions but imposes limits on low-flow operation.