2025 Spring Meeting and 21st Global Congress on Process Safety

(85a) Conversion of Ethane Crackers to Net Zero Direct Emissions

Authors

Felix Roessler - Presenter, Linde Aktiengesellschaft, Linde Engineering
Christoph Boese, Linde Engineering
Most petrochemical companies are committed to ambitious short- or midterm emission reduction goals and have promised to reach net-zero emissions by 2050. Simultaneously, technology companies have brought key technologies to commercial readiness supporting the net-zero transition, and governments worldwide are enacting regulations to propel the industry toward a sustainable future. However, despite these advancements, there is still significant work to do to achieve a transformative shift.

Ethane cracker capacities have increased significantly since the 2000s, especially in North America. This conference contribution focusses on possibilities how to reduce direct CO2 emissions from olefin plants, which are particularly useful for application in ethane crackers. Key technology elements will be introduced, such as low-emission furnace designs, electrified cracking reactors, and tail gas processing options that contribute to ethane cracker decarbonization.

The authors will outline their vision for the most promising low-emission technologies for existing and new units, emphasizing the importance of combining these different technology elements to achieve short-, mid- and long-term emission reduction goals through staged investment strategies.