Flare Gas Recirculation Reduces Product Losses and Emissions at LyondellBasell Ethylene Plant

摘要

Hydrocarbon losses to an ethylene plant’s flare system, from such varied sources asrelief valve leakage, vents from process vessels and clearing of equipment, represent both aneconomic loss and an emissions source. One method for reducing these flare losses involvesrecirculating the flare gas back into the process. This paper describes one such system inoperation in LyondellBasell’s ethylene plant in Berre, France for over 25 years. Performance ofthe system in normal operation and response to process upsets will be described. In addition,the potential for build-up of trace contaminants, which otherwise would have left in the flaregas, and how they were addressed will be covered.