Separation · Petrochemicals
Fractionation & Splitters
The train of distillation columns that splits the cracked gas by molecule size: deethanizer, C2 splitter, depropanizer, C3 splitter and debutanizer.
What it does
Produces ethylene and propylene products. An acetylene converter treats the C2 stream before the C2 splitter. Unconverted ethane is recycled to the furnaces; heavier byproducts leave the plant.
Basics
| Main products | Ethylene and propylene |
| Recycle | Ethane to the furnaces |
| Treating | Acetylene converter |
| Columns | Demethanizer, deethanizer, C2 splitter and others |
Common failures
- Off spec ethylene from acetylene slipping past the converter
Troubleshooting
- Symptom
- Acetylene in the ethylene product
- Likely cause
- Converter catalyst losing activity
- What to check
- Check converter outlet analysis and plan regeneration