NUMERICAL DESIGN MODEL OF FURNACE REACTOR FOR ETHANE CRACKING

Wordu A. A, Akinola B

Abstract: Appropriate design models for typical furnace reactor for cracking of 100% ethane feed has been developed. The research considers the radiation, convective, pressure drop effect and composite heat balance on the convective and radiation zones of the reactor operations. Principles of material and energy balances and pressure effects from the flow of feed material from the convective section to the radiation zone were incorporated into lumped-design model equations. The models were resolved applying numerical ode 45 to generate the profiles on conversion along the length of reactor, pressure drop effects and energy balance which were compared with plant data of Indorama Eleme petrochemicals complex to validate the dynamics in the reactor in figures 1,2,3, 4,5,6,7,and 8.The pressure effects profile of the reactor operation at steady states showed a quasi-flat shape at 30-45% conversion to constant pressure drop as depletion process progressed to 65% upwards.

Keywords: Furnace Reactor, Radiation-Convection Sections, Cracking, Heat Balance Radiation-Convection, Design Model, Numerical.

DOI: https://doi.org/10.15623/ijret.2016.0507032