Mathematical Modeling of Ethane Cracking Furnace of Olefin Plant with Coke Formation Approach

Abstract

Abstract In this study, ethylene furnace modeling is carried out by ethane pyrolysis (thermal cracking or hydrocracking) method in Arya Sasol Petrochemical Company (ninth olefin unit, Assaluyeh, Iran), which includes the solution of kinetic equations and transfer phenomena, by the forward finite difference method in the MATLAB. Due to study and compare coke formation, a specific time period has been selected in equal segments and equations have been solved. It means that in a length segment of coil (Δz), momentum, energy as well as mass equations are solved, then the amount of precipitated coke in each length segment is achieved. With new efficient coil diameter calculating all mentioned approach will be repeated for next time segment. The results of this model have been compared with actual data and deviation has been reported. It was found that modeling approach is more capable to define the parameters of coke formation equations. The model has a good agreement between the values of prediction and experimental of in most cases.