Unintended Consequences of Process Additives on Acetylene Converter Performance in a Gas Feed Steam Cracker

摘要

Dupont Sabine River Works Ethylene Plant produces 1.5 Billion Pounds of Ethylene in a Gas-feed Steam Cracker that has been in operation since 1967. Acetylene is removed by a Front End Wet Raw Gas Converter that utilizes Siid-Chemie Olemax 100 series (C36) sulfided nickel catalyst. During operation, this catalyst is maintained in its sulfided state by continuous addition of H_2S. Plant experience has shown that process changes implemented in the pyrolysis furnaces, cracked gas compressor and DMS-hydrotreater have caused unexpected significant changes in the converter performance. Three "war stories" are illustrated in this presentation; while the observations are well documented, their underlying causes have not been fully established.