Kinetics and reactor design in the thermal cracking for olefins production

Abstract

Thermal cracking of hydrocarbons for olefins production is carried out in large, gas fired furnaces containing parallel reactor coils. The simulation or design of these coils requires detailed kinetics, based upon radical reaction schemes and a rigorous description of hydrodynamics and heat transfer. The modeling of the temperature distribution in the firebox and the local heat fluxes towards the coils requires detailed formulation of radiative heat transfer. Simulation results of industrial cases are presented. New developments are also discussed. © 1992.