(121c) Improved Ethylene Heater Operation Using Real Time, in-Situ, Spatially-Resolved Combustion Measurements

Ethylene cracking furnaces are often a challenge for operators to maintain well-balanced, uniform combustion throughout the furnace due to their size, the quantity of burners requiring adjustment and changing process conditions. This presentation describes ZoloSCAN Combustion Monitoring and Diagnostics System which uses well proven Tunable Diode Laser Absorption Spectroscopy (TDLAS) technology to measure average concentrations of critical constituents such as O2, CO, H2O, and temperature across multiple paths in real-time directly in the combustion zone. Few sensors are available for use directly inside the furnace where precise control is most critical. This lack of measurement data directly in the combustion area makes it very difficult to maintain the optimum temperatures and a uniform combustion profile. The ZoloSCAN is the only measurement system available for use directly inside the firebox that provides quantitative, actionable information for combustion monitoring and balancing to improve furnace performance and reliability.

Measurements by the ZoloSCAN Technology enable combustion optimization which can lead to increased yield, extending time between decoking cycles, efficiency, reliability and operational improvements. This includes results from a case study where this technology was applied on an operating ethylene heater. The discussion summarizes key performance indicators (KPIs) before and after the ZoloSCAN was installed