18-04-2024
Start up of the worlds first large scale electrically heated steam cracking furnace
BASF, SABIC, and Linde have inaugurated the world’s first demonstration plant for large-scale electrically heated steam cracking furnaces. Following three years of development, engineering, and construction work, the regular operation of the demonstration plant is now ready to start at BASF’s Verbund site in Ludwigshafen, Germany. In March 2021, the three companies signed a joint agreement to develop and demonstrate solutions for electrically heated steam cracking furnaces.
Steam crackers play a central role in the production of basic chemicals and require a significant amount of energy to break down hydrocarbons into olefins and aromatics. Typically, the reaction is conducted in furnaces at temperatures of about 850 degrees Celsius. Up to now, these temperatures have been reached by using conventional fuels. The demonstration plant aims to show that continuous olefin production is possible using electricity as a heat source. By using electricity from renewable sources, the new technology has the potential to reduce CO2 emissions of one of the most energy-intensive production processes in the chemical industry by at least 90% compared to technologies commonly used today.
The demonstration plant, which produces olefins, such as ethylene, propylene, and possibly also higher olefins from saturated hydrocarbon feedstock, is fully integrated into the existing steam crackers in Ludwigshafen. The upcoming operation serves the goal of gathering data and experiences about material behavior and processes under commercial operating conditions for the final development of this innovative technology to industrial market maturity. In two separate demonstration furnaces, two different heating concepts will be tested. While in one furnace, direct heating applies an electric current directly to the cracking coils, in the second furnace, indirect heating uses radiative heat of heating elements placed around the coils. The two electrically heated furnaces together process around 4 tons of hydrocarbon feedstock per hour and consume 6 megawatts of renewable energy.
To support the development of the novel furnace technology, the project was granted €14.8 million by the German Federal Ministry for Economic Affairs and Climate Action under its “Decarbonisation in Industry” funding programme. The programme is supporting energy-intensive industries in Germany in their efforts to achieve carbon neutrality.
“With the development of electrically operated steam cracking furnaces, we are getting our hands on a key technology that will help to significantly reduce greenhouse gas emissions in the chemical industry. It fills me with pride and joy that we have achieved this success together with our partners SABIC and Linde. The demonstration plant here in Ludwigshafen will provide us with valuable experience on the final step towards the industrial application of this technology,” said Dr. Martin Brudermüller, Chairman of the Board of Executive Directors of BASF SE.
Abdulrahman Al-Fageeh, CEO of SABIC stated: “The e-furnace’s technology holds huge potential for the sustainability of the global petrochemical industry. It can demonstrate the role that renewable electricity can play in higher efficiency and low-emission chemical processing. Through close collaboration, teamwork, intellectual property development, and advancing the best technical solutions holistically, the teams at SABIC, BASF and Linde have brought this project to this key stage. We are proud to be here together today to celebrate the power of collective action on our journey toward a circular carbon economy.”
“It is our common goal to demonstrate that it is possible to electrify the petrochemical industry and to operate a steam cracker with sustainably generated electricity. This outstanding joint project is a significant proof of how together we can develop ground-breaking technologies that will advance us on the journey towards net-zero CO2 emissions and climate-neutral industry,” said Jürgen Nowicki, CEO of Linde Engineering.
“The STARBRIDGE technology brings the vision of an emission-free petrochemical industry a step closer.”
Based on the combined knowledge and intellectual property of the three parties collaborating to develop the new technologies, the demonstration unit in Ludwigshafen will be operated by BASF. Linde was responsible for the engineering, procurement, and construction of the plant. Linde will in the future commercialise the developed technologies under the new trademark STARBRIDGE, enabling the petrochemical industry to decarbonise by replacing conventional fired technologies.
News Category:
-
CF Industries award Topsoe contract to support FEED study for new low-carbon ammonia plant
Topsoe, a global leader in carbon emission reduction technologies, has signed a contract with CF Industries, the world’s largest producer of ammonia, for the licensing ...
01-05-2024
-
Carbon Clean achieves fabrication milestone on FlagshipONE with first carbon capture unit module
Carbon Clean, a leader in revolutionising carbon capture solutions, has achieved a fabrication milestone on Ørsted’s FlagshipONE project, Europe’s largest commercial-scale ...
30-04-2024
-
Topsoe secures first Sustainable Aviation Fuel Project in China
Topsoe, a global leader in carbon emission reduction technologies, has signed an agreement with Guangxi Hongkun Biomass to provide its HydroFlex™ technology to produce ...
30-04-2024
-
LyondellBasell to build integrated plastic waste recycling hub in Knapsack
LyondellBasell has secured a location for an integrated plastic waste recycling hub south of an existing industrial park in Knapsack, Germany, signing a land lease agreement ...
29-04-2024
-
Aspen Technology introduces new strategic planning for sustainability pathways solution
Aspen Technology Inc, a global leader in industrial software, today introduced AspenTech Strategic Planning for Sustainability Pathways™, a new and unique integrated ...
26-04-2024
-
NTU Singapore, ExxonMobil and A*STAR launch S$60 million corporate lab for low carbon solutions
ExxonMobil Technology and Engineering Company, Nanyang Technological University, Singapore, and the Agency for Science, Technology and Research, have established the ...
26-04-2024
-
GIDARA Energy collaborates with Aker Solutions in Equinor waste-to-SAF study
We are pleased to announce that GIDARA Energy's HTW (High Temperature Winkler) technology for Gasification of solid waste to syngas has been selected by Aker Solutions ...
25-04-2024
-
Lhyfe is digitising a key sector for decarbonisation launching first Marketplace for green hydrogen
Lhyfe, a world pioneer in the production of green and renewable hydrogen, announces the launch of the first Green Hydrogen Marketplace1, on its online portal Lhyfe Heroes2. ...
25-04-2024
-
OMV Petrom will test an innovative carbon capture and utilization facility at Petrobrazi
OMV Petrom, the largest integrated energy producer in Southeastern Europe, will test a new carbon capture and utilisation technology at the Petrobrazi refinery, starting ...
25-04-2024
-
ABB’s new Modular Synchronous Generator delivers flexible backup for the energy transition
ABB has developed the new Modular 20-megawatt (MW) class synchronous generator as a flexible, scalable approach to balance power grids as they transfer an ever-increasing ...
25-04-2024