Coke formation in pyrolysis furnaces in the petrochemical industry

Abstract

© 2017 Taylor & Francis Group, LLC. In the petrochemical industry, an industrial pyrolysis furnace is a complicated piece of equipment that functions as both a reactor and high-pressure steam generator. During service, hard deposits of carbon (coke) build up on the inner wall of the tube, reducing heat transfer and restricting the flow of the hydrocarbon feedstocks. In this paper, an overview of coke formation, the impact of coke formation, and the methods by which coke formation can be prevented, as well as methods that can be successful in decoking of pyrolysis furnaces, is presented.