5/18/22, 9:46 AM Ethylene Production via Cracking of Ethane-Propane - Chemical Engineering | Page 1

CURRENT
ISSUE

CONNECTED PLANT STORE BUYER'S GUIDE PLANT COST INDEX WEBINARS WHITE PAPERS JOB BOARD ARCHIVES ADVERTISE SUBSCRIBE

ENVIRONMENT,
PROCESSING & SEPARATION WATER AUTOMATION & OPERATIONS & BUSINESS &
COVID-19 HEAT TRANSFER SOLIDS HANDLING HEALTH, SAFETY & WEFTEC
HANDLING PROCESSES TREATMENT CONTROL MAINTENANCE ECONOMICS
SECURITY

HIGHLIGHTS Connected Plant Conference Show Preview

PDF
ETHYLENE PRODUCTION VIA SEARCH...

CRACKING OF ETHANE-PROPANE
By Chemical Engineering | November 1, 2015

Print Mode OFF

Pages: 1 2

181

Ethylene is a critical building block for the petrochemical industry, and is among the most produced
organic compounds. It is usually produced in steam-cracking units from a range of petroleum-based
feedstocks, such as naphtha, and is used in the manufacture of several major derivatives.

THE PROCESS
The process shown in Figure 1 is a steam-cracking process for ethylene production from an ethane-
propane mixture. The process can be divided into three main parts: cracking and quenching;
compression and drying; and separation. BREAKTHROUGH TECHNOLOGIES
APPLYING CAPACITIVE DEIONIZATION FOR CRITICAL-METALS
RECOVERY

COMMERCIAL DEBUT FOR A PROCESS THAT MAKES 'GREEN' PIG

IRON

CATALYST-COATED MEMBRANE REDUCES ELECTROLYZER STACK

COST FOR H2 PRODUCTION
Figure 1. This process diagram shows an ethylene-production process via the cracking of an ethane-propane
mixture PFAS SEPARATION-CONCENTRATION SYSTEM INTRODUCED IN
NORTH AMERICA
Cracking and quenching. Initially, an ethane-propane mixture is fed to furnaces in which, under high-
severity conditions, it is cracked, forming ethylene, propylene and other byproducts. The furnace
REDUCED FOULING WHEN PNEUMATICALLY CONVEYING LACTOSE
outlet stream is subsequently fed to a water-based quench, to prevent further reactions and formation PRODUCTS
of undesirable byproducts.
CAPILLARY-FED ELECTROLYSIS UNLOCKS NEW LEVELS OF
EFFICIENCY FOR GREEN-HYDROGEN PRODUCTION
From a decanter downstream from the quench tower, heavies, condensed dilution steam, tar and coke
are removed. Cracked gas from the quench is then directed to compression and separation.
A NEW BURNER SLASHES NOX EMISSIONS FROM IRON-ORE
PELLETIZING PLANTS
Compression and drying. The compression of the cracked gas is performed across five stages. After the
third stage of compression, carbon dioxide and sulfur are removed from the cracked gas by caustic
GROWING SULFUR BATTERIES FROM CRYSTALS
soda and water washes in a caustic scrubber. The compressed cracked gas is cooled and subsequently
dried by molecular sieves that remove most of the water. CHEMENTATOR BRIEFS

Separation. The dried cracked gas is fed to a cold box for the removal of hydrogen and light
hydrocarbons, while minimizing ethylene losses.

At this point, condensates from the chilling train are fed to a series of separation columns. In the first Chemical Engineering publishes FREE eletters that bring our original content to
column (demethanizer), methane is obtained from the top and further used in the cold box, while the our readers in an easily accessible email format about once a week.
bottom stream is fed to a second column (deethanizer).
Subscribe Now

The top of the deethanizer, composed primarily of ethylene and ethane, is fed to an acetylene
converter and then fractionated in the C2-splitter. In this column, lights are removed from the
overheads and recycled to the compression system, while polymer-grade (PG) ethylene is drawn from
the column as a side stream. Ethane, from C2-splitter bottoms, is recycled to the cracking furnaces.

The deethanizer bottom stream is fed to a depropanizer, which distills C3 components in the
overheads. This overhead stream is catalytically hydrotreated for methyl acetylene and propadiene
removal, and then fed to the C3-splitter. In this column, lights are removed from the overheads and
recycled to the compressors, while polymer-grade (PG) propylene is drawn from the column as a side
stream. Propane from C3-splitter bottoms is recycled to the cracking furnaces. A C4+ stream is
obtained from the depropanizer bottoms.

ECONOMIC PERFORMANCE
An economic evaluation of the process was conducted based on data from the first quarter of 2015,
considering a facility with a nominal capacity of 1,700,000 ton/yr of ethylene constructed on the U.S.
Gulf Coast.

Estimated capital expenses (total fixed investment, working capital and initial expenses) to construct
the plant are about $2.37 billion, while the operating expenses are estimated at about $360 per ton of
ethylene produced.

https://www.chemengonline.com/ethylene-production-via-cracking-ethane-propane/ 1/3
5/18/22, 9:46 AM Ethylene Production via Cracking of Ethane-Propane - Chemical Engineering | Page 1
GLOBAL PERSPECTIVE
CURRENT
ISSUE
Print Mode OFF
Pages: 1 2
CONNECTED PLANT STORE BUYER'S GUIDE PLANT COST INDEX WEBINARS WHITE PAPERS JOB BOARD ARCHIVES ADVERTISE SUBSCRIBE

Related Content
TECHNOLOGY PROFILE: PRODUCTION OF EPDM RUBBER
Ethylene propylene diene monomer (EPDM) rubber is a terpolymer elastomer derived from
ethylene and propylene, along with small amounts of…
TECHNOLOGY PROFILE: PRODUCTION OF L-LYSINE
Lysine (Figure 1) is an α-amino acid used in the biosynthesis of proteins. The compound contains
an amino group and…
TECHNOLOGY PROFILE: ALLYL CHLORIDE PRODUCTION
Allyl chloride (3-chloropropene; Figure 1) is primarily used almost exclusively as a chemical
intermediate in the production of epichlorohydrin. A…
TECHNOLOGY PROFILE: PRODUCTION OF ETHYLENE FROM ETHANE
Ethylene is used almost exclusively as a building block — it is the largest-volume petrochemical
produced worldwide (Figure 1). Production…
TECHNOLOGY PROFILE: PRODUCTION OF VINYL ACETATE
Vinyl acetate (also known as vinyl acetate monomer; VAM) is important in the manufacture of
many polymers and resins. The…

NOx reduction with SCR (selective catalytic redu…

redu…

How Selective Catalytic Reduction Can Reduce

NOx in Modern Power Stations
(https://www.chemengonline.com/videos/how-
selective-catalytic-reduction-can-reduce-nox-
in-modern-power-stations/)

Partner Videos

White Biotech – safeguarding the

future of generations


(https://www.chemengonline.com/videos/white-biotech-safeguarding-the-future-
of-generations/)
More from GEA  (/videos/?tag=gea)

FLOWSIC100 Flare-XT: Ultrasonic

flare gas measurement


(https://www.chemengonline.com/videos/flowsic100-flare-xt-ultrasonic-flare-gas-
measurement-sick-ag/)
More from SICK  (/videos/?tag=sick)

View All Videos »

(/videos/)

JOB LISTINGS
Search for Jobs
View Jobs | Search Jobs | Post Resume

ANALOG POWER IC DESIGN ENGINEER - CUSTOM POWER

PRODUCTS - TEXAS INSTRUMENTS INCORPORATED - SANTA CLARA,
TX

ELECTRICAL ENGINEER-ROBOTICS/INSTRUMENTATION - ACORN

PRODUCT DEVELOPMENT INC - BOSTON, MA

MECHANICAL ENGINEER - REFRIGERATION - CORVAL GROUP - ST.

PAUL, MN

AMMONIA/FREON REFRIGERATION TECHNICIAN - RACE

ENGINEERING - GARDEN GROVE, CA

https://www.chemengonline.com/ethylene-production-via-cracking-ethane-propane/ 2/3
5/18/22, 9:46 AM Ethylene Production via Cracking of Ethane-Propane - Chemical Engineering | Page 1

CURRENT PROJECT MANAGER/ESTIMATOR - RACE ENGINEERING - GARDEN

ISSUE
GROVE, CA

CONNECTED PLANT STORE BUYER'S GUIDE PLANT COST INDEX WEBINARS WHITE PAPERS JOB BOARD ARCHIVES ADVERTISE SUBSCRIBE

What is this?

Solve turbomachinery problems: Miba Tilting Pad Bearings

Six Steps to Designing a Storage Vessel That Really Works

SICK Solutions for Cleaner Industries - Powerful Transitions

Gain a Digital Line of Sight Across the Whole Lifecycle of the Plant
with a Digital Twin

Granulating High Viscous Melts in the Food Industry

View More

Home Connect About

Magazine Webinars About Us

Account Sponsored Content Awards
Subscribe Events & Announcements Privacy Policy
Jobs White Papers FAQs
Sitemap Advertising & Media Kit Contact
Buyers' Guide Networking & Discussion Groups Editor's Comments
Archives Career Tools Copyright Policy & Permissions
Upcoming Show Previews Editorial Submissions and Upcomings Diversity Inclusion & Equity

This publication contains text, graphics, images, and other content (collectively "Content"), which are for informational purposes only. Certain articles contain the author's personal recommendations only.
RELIANCE ON ANY INFORMATION SUPPLIED IN THIS PUBLICATION IS SOLELY AT YOUR OWN RISK.
©2022, Access Intelligence, LLC. All rights reserved. | Privacy Policy | Diversity Inclusion & Equity

https://www.chemengonline.com/ethylene-production-via-cracking-ethane-propane/ 3/3