Method and system for producing ethylene and / or other olefins by steam cracking
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional steam cracking processes for producing ethylene and olefins are inflexible regarding energy supply and result in significant carbon dioxide emissions due to the reliance on high-pressure steam generation and fossil fuels, with limited integration of carbon-neutral energy sources.
Innovation Solution
The process employs electric drives for raw gas and refrigerant compressors, allowing for greater flexibility in steam and carbon dioxide balancing, and eliminates the need for high-pressure steam boilers by using waste heat and condensation heat for other process steps, enabling the integration of carbon-neutral energy sources.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Object-affected harmful factors
If high-pressure steam generation and fossil fuels are used in conventional steam cracking processes, then the processes can operate reliably and produce ethylene and olefins, but significant carbon dioxide emissions occur and energy supply flexibility is limited
Solution Approach 1:
The patent changes the energy supply parameters from conventional high-pressure steam and fossil fuels to alternative energy sources such as electricity and heat pumps. This parameter change enables carbon-neutral operation while improving adaptability to different energy supplies, directly resolving the contradiction between reducing CO2 emissions and maintaining energy flexibility
Solution Approach 2:
The patent replaces the mechanical steam turbine-driven compressor system with electrically driven compressors. This substitution eliminates the need for high-pressure steam generation from fossil fuels, thereby reducing carbon dioxide emissions while allowing greater flexibility in energy source selection, including renewable electricity
2Reliability
If high-pressure steam boilers are used to drive compressors, then reliable operation is achieved, but the system becomes inflexible regarding energy supply and carbon-neutral energy integration is limited
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements a multi-functional energy system where heat pumps can provide both heating and cooling functions, and electric compressors can operate with various energy sources (grid electricity, renewable energy, waste heat). This universality maintains operational reliability while enabling integration of carbon-neutral energy sources, resolving the contradiction between reliability and energy adaptability
Solution Approach 2:
The patent introduces heat pumps as intermediary devices that can transfer heat between different temperature levels and serve as flexible energy conversion equipment. These heat pumps act as mediators between the process requirements and various energy sources, maintaining reliable operation while enabling carbon-neutral energy integration
3Ease of operation
If conventional steam cracking processes are used with standard compression systems, then the processes are simple to operate, but they result in significant carbon dioxide emissions and lack adaptability to renewable energy sources
Solution Approach 1:
The patent replaces conventional steam turbine-driven compressors with electrically driven compressors, simplifying the energy conversion chain and eliminating the need for complex high-pressure steam systems. This substitution reduces carbon dioxide emissions while maintaining ease of operation through standardized electric motor technology
Applied Scientific Principles
This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.
Function Achieved in This Case
This approach enhances the flexibility and reduces the carbon footprint of ethylene and olefin production by decoupling high-pressure steam use and allowing for the integration of renewable energy, improving energy efficiency and reducing carbon dioxide emissions.
Implementation Method 1
The refrigerants mentioned can be used in particular for condensing gas mixtures
Implementation Method 2
each of these compressor trains, the C2 refrigerant compressor and the C3 refrigerant compressor, is operated at least partially using electric drives
Implementation Method 3
eliminates the need for high-pressure steam boilers by using waste heat and condensation heat for other process steps
Data Source
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AI summary
The invention relates to a method (100) for producing ethylene and/or other olefins by steam cracking, wherein one or more crackers (10) are loaded with a feed containing paraffin and a raw gas is extracted from the one or more crackers (10), wherein the raw gas is subjected at least in part to processing (20) which comprises a compression (22) and a thermal separation (23) using a C2-refrigerant and a C3-refrigerant, a raw gas compressor (CGC) being used for the raw gas compression (22), the ethylene refrigerant being compressed using a C2-refrigerant compressor (ERC) and wherein the propylene refrigerant is compressed using a C3-refrigerant compressor (PRC). According to the invention, the raw gas compressor (CGC) comprises two serial compressor trains and said compressor trains of the C2-refrigerant compressor (ERC) and the C3-refrigerant compressor (PRC) are each operated at least in part using electrical drives (M) which have at least partially identical performance characteristics, are provided as identical, speed-variable drives and are each supplied via frequency converters (FU). The invention further relates to a corresponding plant.