Ethylene Yield from a Large Scale Naphtha Pyrolysis Cracking Utilizing Response Surface Methodology

Abstract

Statistical software is a robust application that has proven reliable worldwide. However, it is not normally used in the actual large scale olefin plant as it relies on the simulation software by Olefin Licensor should any issue rises. The study was conducted in a newly commissioned large scale olefin plant to see the impact of various operating variables on the ethylene yield from Short Residence Time (SRT) VII Furnace. The analysis was conducted utilizing statistical analysis, Response Surface Methodology (RSM) in Minitab Software Version 18 to develop a reliable statistical model with a 95% confidence level. The historical data was taken from the Process Information Management System (PIMS) Software, PI Process Book Version 2015, and underwent both residuals and outliers removal prior to RSM analysis. 10 variables were shortlisted from the initial 15 identified variables in the studied SRT VII via Regression analysis due to RSM limitation to conduct the larger analysis in Minitab Software Version 18. The Response Optimizer tool showed that the ethylene yield from naphtha pyrolysis cracking in the studied plant could be maximized at 34.1% with control setting at 600.39 kg/ hr of Integral Burner Flow, 6.81% of Arch O2, 113.42 Barg of Steam Drum Pressure, 496.96°C of Super High Pressure (SHP) Temperature, 109.11 t/hr of SHP Boiler Feed Water (BFW) Flow, 92.78 t/hr of SHP Flow, 63.50 t/hr of Naphtha Feed Flow, and -13.38 mmHg of Draft Pressure.