Industry trends indicate need to optimize propylene yield will grow

Journal Article · Sat May 28 04:00:00 EDT 1983 · Oil Gas J.; (United States)

OSTI ID:5615098

Mol, A

Most new steam crackers will be based mainly on ethane feed. Therefore, it can be expected that the propylene price will approach the ethylene transfer price, particularly in Europe. Consequently, existing crackers using propane and heavier feedstocks will have to operate at lower severity to optimize the propylene yield. The most convenient way to control the P/E product ratio is the coil outlet temperature. Propylene yield is rather insensitive to hydrocarbon partial pressure (steam dilution and outlet pressure). It is also rather insensitive to the residence time of the cracking process. Operation at low steam dilution will be more economical when operating at low severity. Low-residence-time cracking saves on feed. However, feed savings are less for low severity than for high severity. The new, nontubular pyrolysis processes are no panacea for increasing the propylene yield. In certain cases, revamping to improve the propylene yield may be feasible. Normal paraffins give better ethylene yield than iso-paraffins and naphthenes. However, low-carbon-number iso-paraffins and also certain naphthenes have a very high propylene yield. In Europe, and to a lesser extent in Japan, virgin naphtha feedstocks will be replaced by reformer raffinates, naphthas without heartcut, etc. As more different feedstocks become available, the characterization and evaluation of feedstocks, together with process optimization using sophisticated tools, will become more important.

• Research Organization: AM and Associates The Hague
• OSTI ID: 5615098
• Journal Information: Oil Gas J.; (United States), Journal Name: Oil Gas J.; (United States) Vol. 81:13; ISSN OIGJA
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

02 PETROLEUM
020400* -- Petroleum-- Processing
ALKANES
ALKENES
CHEMICAL FEEDSTOCKS
CHEMICAL REACTIONS
CONTROL
CRACKING
DECOMPOSITION
ECONOMIC ANALYSIS
ECONOMICS
ENERGY SOURCES
ETHANE
ETHYLENE
FOSSIL FUELS
FUELS
HYDROCARBONS
HYDROCRACKING
INDUSTRIAL PLANTS
INDUSTRY
INPUT-OUTPUT ANALYSIS
MATERIAL SUBSTITUTION
OPTIMIZATION
ORGANIC COMPOUNDS
PETROLEUM
PETROLEUM INDUSTRY
PETROLEUM PRODUCTS
PETROLEUM REFINERIES
PROCESS CONTROL
PRODUCTION
PROPYLENE
PYROLYSIS
THERMOCHEMICAL PROCESSES