Systematics and modelling representations of LPG thermal cracking for olefin production

Jafar Towfighi; Aligholi Niaei; Ramin Karimzadeh; Giti Saedi

Korean Journal of Chemical Engineering, Vol.23, No.1, 8-16, January, 2006

DOI10.1007/BF02705685 Export Citation

Systematics and modelling representations of LPG thermal cracking for olefin production

Jafar Towfighi, Aligholi Niaei^{1, †}, Ramin Karimzadeh, and Giti Saedi

ORG, Dept. of Chem. Eng., Tarbiat Modares University, P.O.Box 14115-143, Tehran, Iran
¹Petroleum Res. Lab., Dept. of Chem. Eng., University of Tabriz, 51666 16471, Tabriz, Iran

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Pyrolysis of hydrocarbons is an important commercial process for the production of ethylene, propylene and 1,3 butadiene. These low molecular weight olefins are among the most important base chemicals for the petrochemical industries for polymer production. A simulation program of the reaction kinetics and coke formation inside the coils of a thermal cracking unit can provide information on the effects of operating conditions on the product distribution. The aim of this study was to develop a mechanistic reaction model for the pyrolysis of LPG that can be used to predict the yields of the major products from a given LPG sample with commercial indices. A complete reaction network, using a rigorous kinetic model, for the decomposition of the LPG feed has been developed, which is used for the simulation of industrial LPG crackers. This model has been adapted using industrial data for the pyrolysis yields of LPG. The present paper attends on the asymptotic coking mechanism and describes the development of a kinetic coking model in the pyrolysis of LPG. Detailed and accurate information about the product distribution, growth of coke layer, the evolution of the tube skin temperatures can be obtained from this simulation. Simulations of this kind can be used to optimize the furnace operation. They can be used as a guide for the adaptation of the operating variables aiming at prolonging the run length of the furnace. The reactor model, as well as kinetic scheme, is tested in an industrial cracking furnace.

Keywords:LPG;Modelling;Cracking Furnace;Coke Deposition;Olefin

[References]

Dente M, Ranzi E, Theory and industrial practice, Albright LF., Crynes, B. L. and Corcoran, W. H., Chapter 7, Academic Press, New York, USA (1983)
Dente M, Ranzi E, Goossens AG, Comput. Chem. Eng., 3, 61 (1979)
Froment G, Van de Steene BO, Van Damme P, Ind. Eng. Chem. Process Des. Dev., 15, 495 (1976)
Heynderickx GJ, Froment GF, Ind. Eng. Chem. Res., 37(3), 914 (1998)
Kopinke FD, Zimmermann G, Reyners GC, Froment GF, Ind. Eng. Chem. Res., 32, 56 (1993)
Kopinke FD, Zimmermann G, Nowak S, Carbon, 56(2), 117 (1988)
Niaei A, Towfighi J, Sadrameli M, Karimzadeh R, Appl. Therm. Eng., 24, 2251 (2004)
Sundaram KM, Froment G, Ind. Eng. Chem. Fundam., 17(3), 174 (1978)
Tesner PA, Carbon, 19, 65 (1984)
Towfighi J, Sadrameli M, Niaei A, J. Chem. Eng. Jpn., 35(10), 923 (2002)
Towfighi J, Nazari H, Karimzadeh R, Simulation of light hydrocarbons pyrolysis using radical mechanism, APCChE/CHEMECA 93, Melbourne, Australia (1993)
Van Damme PS, Froment GF, Ind. Eng. Chem. Process Des. Dev., 20, 366 (1981)

[Referenced By]

[1] Dente M, Ranzi E, Theory and industrial practice, Albright LF., Crynes, B. L. and Corcoran, W. H., Chapter 7, Academic Press, New York, USA (1983)

[2] Dente M, Ranzi E, Goossens AG, Comput. Chem. Eng., 3, 61 (1979)

[3] Froment G, Van de Steene BO, Van Damme P, Ind. Eng. Chem. Process Des. Dev., 15, 495 (1976)

[4] Heynderickx GJ, Froment GF, Ind. Eng. Chem. Res., 37(3), 914 (1998)

[5] Kopinke FD, Zimmermann G, Reyners GC, Froment GF, Ind. Eng. Chem. Res., 32, 56 (1993)

[6] Kopinke FD, Zimmermann G, Nowak S, Carbon, 56(2), 117 (1988)

[7] Niaei A, Towfighi J, Sadrameli M, Karimzadeh R, Appl. Therm. Eng., 24, 2251 (2004)

[8] Sundaram KM, Froment G, Ind. Eng. Chem. Fundam., 17(3), 174 (1978)

[9] Tesner PA, Carbon, 19, 65 (1984)

[10] Towfighi J, Sadrameli M, Niaei A, J. Chem. Eng. Jpn., 35(10), 923 (2002)

[11] Towfighi J, Nazari H, Karimzadeh R, Simulation of light hydrocarbons pyrolysis using radical mechanism, APCChE/CHEMECA 93, Melbourne, Australia (1993)

[12] Van Damme PS, Froment GF, Ind. Eng. Chem. Process Des. Dev., 20, 366 (1981)