Control and optimization of olefin-cracking heaters

Abstract

Neste oy's ethylene unit and the overall design of its computer control have been described in an earlier article. The unit, which has a nameplate capacity of 200,000 tpa ethylene, contains nine heaters, eight of which are modified Lummus SRT 1 heaters. The ninth is a Lummus SRT 2 heater. A major function of the computer control system is to control the operation of the ethylene cracking heaters. The details of these controls is the subject of this article.