(81f) Analysis of Steam Turbine Replacement with Electric Driver in Existing Ethylene Plants to Decarbonize

The reduction of carbon dioxide emissions, electrification, improved fuel utilization and overall energy transition have become urgent corporate mandates and plant owners are now considering feasible solutions to revamp and/or replace steam turbine drivers in order to minimize steam consumption.

Mitsubishi Heavy Industries Compressor Corporation (MCO) is now focusing on the technical and commercial viability of steam turbine replacements with electric driver, from the viewpoint of a steam turbine manufacturer, in order to support end user’s path to lower carbon petrochemical plants. As a steam turbine OEM MCO has been collaborating with process licensors to optimize plant’s steam balance with the overarching objective to minimize carbon while keeping the turbomachinery highly reliable.

MCO has many experiences replacing both compressors and steam turbines over the last several decades in order to increase plant capacity and improve energy efficiency. Additionally, MCO has vast experience providing large complex electric driven compressor trains. As a result of these experiences we can provide single point technical guidance and support operators on the best path forward when reviewing their existing plant install base.

In this paper, MCO introduces optimized solution(s) of steam turbine replacement with electric driver.