What is the feasibility of using gas turbines in olefins plants as process compressor drivers?
Answers
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24/07/2007
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A:
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Viktor Kaiser, , vkaiser@libero.it
Using gas turbines as process compressor drivers is impossible because olefins plant operators want the plant to operate for five years without shutdown, as pointed out by the author of "Advances in naphtha steam cracking" (T. Pavone), published in the Q1 2006 issue of PTQ (page 125, 2nd paragraph). Gas turbines need shutdown for overhaul every 8000 to 12000 equivalent operating hours --- in practice, every year for three-to-seven days. This alone prohibits their use as process drivers. Beyond that, as pointed out by Pavone, the ducting of flue gas alone is prohibitive in cost, heat loss, pressure drop, etc. Last, doesn’t the high-pressure steam from the furnaces somehow need to be utilized? So, let the poor steam turbines alone!
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