This paper will provide an overview on improving the performance of a tail-end acetyleneconverter through the implementation of a succession of changes. The converter is in anaphtha cracker located at Port Arthur, Texas. This cracker is a joint venture betweenBASF Corporation ("BASF") and TOTAL PETROCHEMICALS USA, INC. ("TOTAL").The operating entity is BASF FINA Petrochemicals Limited Partnership ("BFLP"). ABBLummus Global, Inc. ("ABB") designed and constructed the naphtha cracker complex.During the initial startup phase and the early years of the cracker operation, the acetyleneconverter was a major factor in poor plant reliability and associated flaring. The flaringand production interruptions were quite costly.The focus and thrust in dealing with the poor-performing acetylene converter could becharacterized as "real-time, operations-oriented". That is, the over-riding priority was tofix the problem. Since there was no obvious root cause, a multi-pronged approach wastaken. Hence, this paper is directed towards the following:? Describing the converter system and catalyst as installed? Reviewing converter performance during the first two years of plant operation,? Discussing the "fixes": Some of the "fixes" didn't address the problem; some did.? Providing an overview description of the current acetylene converter system, afterimplementation of all the changes.? Illustrating the good performance being achieved with the modified system.
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