Page 161 - CW E-Magazine (30-4-2024)

News from Abroad

DEMONSTRATION PROJECT
BASF, SABIC, and Linde start up electric steam

cracking furnace in Germany

BASF, SABIC, and Linde have
inaugurated the “world’s first” demon-
stration plant for large-scale electri-
cally 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 had
signed a joint agreement to develop and
demonstrate solutions for electrically
heated steam cracking furnaces.

Steam crackers play a central role in from saturated hydrocarbon feedstock, To support the development of the
the production of basic chemicals and is fully integrated into the existing novel furnace technology, the project was
require a significant amount of energy steam crackers in Ludwigshafen. The granted €14.8-mn by the German Federal
to break down hydrocarbons into olefins upcoming operation serves the goal of Ministry for Economic Affairs and Cli-
and aromatics. Typically, the reaction is gathering data and experiences about mate Action under its “Decarbonisation
conducted in furnaces at temperatures of material behaviour and processes under in Industry” funding programme. The
about 850°C. Up to now, these tempera- commercial operating conditions for programme is supporting energy-inten-
tures have been reached by using con- the final development of this innova- sive industries in Germany in their efforts
ventional fuels. The demonstration plant tive technology to industrial market to achieve carbon neutrality.
aims to show that continuous olefin pro- maturity. In two separate demonstra-
duction is possible using electricity as a tion furnaces, two different heating Based on the combined knowledge
heat source. By using electricity from concepts will be tested. While in one and intellectual property of the three par-
renewable sources, the new technology furnace, direct heating applies an elec- ties collaborating to develop the new
has the potential to reduce CO emis- tric current directly to the cracking technologies, the demonstration unit in
2
sions of one of the most energy-intensive coils, in the second furnace, indirect Ludwigshafen will be operated by BASF.
production processes in the chemical heating uses radiative heat of heating Linde was responsible for the engineering,
industry by at least 90% compared to elements placed around the coils. procurement, and construction of the plant.
technologies commonly used today. Linde will, in the future, commercia-
The two electrically heated furnaces lise the developed technologies under the
The demonstration plant, which together process around 4 tonnes of new trademark Starbridge, enabling the
produces olefins, such as ethylene, pro- hydrocarbon feedstock per hour and petrochemical industry to decarbonise by
pylene, and possibly also higher olefins consume 6-MW of renewable energy. replacing conventional fired technologies.
Solvay opens new blowing agent production unit in Italy

Belgium’s Solvay has inaugurated ous consumer and industrial uses, glob- Solvay said its Alve-One solutions have
a production unit in Rosignano, Italy ally. These include automotive, footwear, received official recognition as a sustain-
for Alve-One, a chemical blowing agent building & construction, and consumer able alternative for foamed thermoplastics
eco-designed to transform the thermo- goods, aiming to reduce carbon footprints from various organisations including the
plastic foaming industry. The unit aims to in foamed end-products while enhanc- International Chemical Secretariat (Chem-
address the growing demand for safer and ing overall health and safety standards to Sec), the Solar Impulse Foundation,
more sustainable blowing agents in vari- protect both people and the environment. Inovyn, and France Chimie.

Chemical Weekly April 30, 2024 161

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