(120d) Lummus Hybrid Cracking Heaters

Reducing Carbon dioxide emissions is a major effort in the Petrochemical Industry. The cracking heaters in an ethylene plant are the major sources of CO2 emission. Other than low carbon-bearing fuel firing, any firing reduction for a fired cracking heater, such as air preheater application, will have an impact not only on the operation of the heaters, but also on the plant recovery section. This paper will introduce Lummus Hybrid Cracking Heater technology for revamp of existing heaters with minimum modifications as well as the SRT-h™ which can be applied to new heater designs. Lummus Hybrid Cracking Heater technology builds on the SRT-e^TM cracking Heater technology previously presented and combines fuel firing and electrical heating to effectively reduce the hydrocarbon fuel firing for both gas and liquid cracking heaters, which will reduce the CO2 emission while minimizing any consequential impacts on the recovery section. The hybrid cracking heater can reduce CO2 emission by 15-40% or higher without negative impact on the plant capacity or the steam balance. Heater performance improvements that can be realized by the hybrid heater design will also be demonstrated. The SRT-h™ can be applied in stages – initially for partial CO2 reduction and can later be extended to zero CO2 emission (when combined with non-carbon fuel sources).