(24b) Catalytic Coating Technology for Steam Cracker Furnace Coils (YieldUp)

The formation of coke on the inner wall of steam-cracking furnace coils has a major impact on the process efficiencies and economical operations of the unit. SUEZ WTS and Manoir jointly developed and tested a new catalytic coating technology that has now undergone a field trial in a Versalis ethylene furnace. The furnace sees a variety of feedstocks, including naphtha and LPG.

The coating is a shop-applied microfilm of ceramic catalyst capable of converting coke to carbon oxides on contact. In other words, when coke forms during cracking, it is instantaneously gasified on contact with coating.

The coating has proven to be robust when faced with thermal shocks, exposure to a range of impurities, and the decoking cycles that have taken place.

The technology has shown very promising results over nearly two years of operation. It has reduced the formation of coke and thereby increased the furnace run-length two- to three-fold.

This paper will provide details of the manufacturing and application of the coating, but will primarily focus on the performance results from the field trial.