ABSTRACT
Ethylene and co-products are produced from steam cracking of hydrocarbons such as ethane, propane, butane, naphtha, and gas oil in tubular reactor coils installed in externally fired heaters (Fig. 1). Due to uncertainty of oil prices, depression of product prices, overcapacity of olefins facilities, and oversea competition, the olefins industry has struggled to maintain minimum cost and process flexibility. During the past decades, various research and developmental work were pursued to find processes using alternative feedstocks and providing cost advantages.
