METHANOL TO OLEFIN PRODUCTION VIA STEAM CRACKING PROCESS

Residence time (0.1 0.5 sec )

Steam G Short residence time favours TAGES
N cracking is a pyrolysis process I
N
TIOwhereby a hydrocarbon mixture is heated CK Nprimary
S VAN
CR IP A
CR ITIO reactions where olefins AD AND AGES
DES in metal tubes inside a furnace in the CO
N D are formed VAN
T
AD
presence of steam to a temperature at Long residence time favours DIS
which the hydrocarbon molecules secondary reactions where
thermally decomposes olefins are destroyed Advantages
These reactions require a residence time Pressure (2 3 bar) High energy efficiency and minimum
of less than one second and are High pressure favours secondary environmental emissions
endothermic reactions High plant reliability
Methanol can be produced both Low pressure favours primary Simple operation
from biomass and from fossil reactions Good maintainability
feedstocks and most of the Dilution steam (0.3 0.8 Minimum losses
methanol currently available on kg/kg)
the world market today is Reduces partial pressure of HC
produced from coal or natural Suppresses secondary reactions Disadvantages
gas Prevents excessive coke High cost of operation due to higher
The heat from methanol formation amount of energy (800 850 C )
synthesis can be used to convert Heavier feedstock needs more used
part of methanol into DME steam heat exchangers are prone to
(dimethyl-ether CH3OCH3) and Temperature 800 850 C fouling and therefore need both
water. High temperature promotes the scheduled and unscheduled
Then, DME is converted into formation of lower olefins, low shutdowns
olefins through olefin synthesis temperatures favour An additional issue is coking.
reactions. A fluidized or fixed oligomerization Regular decoking is required in
bed reactor is used. Fast temperature rise favours various parts of the pyrolysis
Temperature is controlled ethylene and propylene section.
between 800 t0 850 degree The heavier the feed the lower Before decoking, the furnace has
celcius in steam cracking.The the temperature to be shut down
pressure maintained between 2 Selectivety
to 3 bar 70% to 85% towards ethylene and
propylene
Yield
BLOCK FLOW DIAGRAM OF METHANOL TO OLEFIN PRODUCTION VIA STEAM CRACKING METHOD