Feed · Petrochemicals
Feedstocks
The light hydrocarbons a petrochemical plant starts from: ethane and propane recovered from natural gas, or naphtha from a refinery.
What it does
The feed decides what comes out. Ethane gives a high ethylene yield; naphtha also gives propylene, butadiene and aromatics. Steam crackers in Alberta are configured for ethane and can crack some propane.
Basics
| Light feeds | Ethane, propane |
| Liquid feed | Naphtha from refining |
| Comes from | Gas processing and refineries |
| Alberta | About 80% of Canada's ethylene cracking capacity |
Common failures
- Feed composition changing without adjusting the furnaces, so yields and coking drift
Troubleshooting
- Symptom
- Ethylene yield drops with no change at the furnace
- Likely cause
- Heavier or contaminated feed
- What to check
- Check the feed analysis and adjust furnace operation