(32d) How Much Is Too Much? -Feed Contaminants and Their Consequences

Olefin producers use economically attractive feedstocks from different sources to be competitive. Sometimes this has resulted in contaminants that produce adverse effects in plant operation. Some contaminants cause cracking heater problems ranging from short run lengths to coil damage. Other contaminants cause problems in the recovery section such as fouling and catalyst poisoning. This paper will provide a survey of known contaminants in the hydrocarbon feed and dilution steam and their effect on plant operation. This paper will include the recommended maximum limit to avoid known problems. Both gaseous feeds and liquid feeds will be reviewed. Some uncommon sources will also be considered.