Partial trip system for ethylene furnace with ground flare

摘要

Systems and methods are provided for performing a partial trip for an ethane steam cracker while reducing or minimizing ethane consumption in a ground flare system during the partial trip. In particular, a trip system is provided that reduces the firing on an ethylene furnace (such as a reduction into a range of 10% to 40% of normal firing) while also providing a reduced flow of feed to the furnace with dilution steam at a steam to hydrocarbon ratio similar to a ratio that is suitable during normal operation. The trip system can be actuated, for example, when the loss of circulating quench water to the water quench tower is detected.