Application of a Semi-Mechanistic Model for Cracking Unit Balance.

A kinetic model of steam-cracking in industrial-scale steam crackers was developed by a combination of mechanistic and empirical approach. Kinetic parameters of the model were optimized using the data of process experiments, carried out in full-scale industrial crackers, the product yields being determined by hot-gas sampling for the usual types of feedstock, including ethane, liquefied petroleum gas, gasoline, atmospheric gas oil, and hydrocracked vacuum distillate. Experimental and simulated results were compared for a wide range of feedstock and reaction conditions. Data on cracker control parameters and feedstock composition were collected by monitoring the whole production unit consisting of ten crackers and simulation results of total production compared to those of process balance. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]