Abstract: Furnace systems and methods for steam cracking hydrocarbons to produce ethylene and other light olefins are provided herein. A furnace system for cracking hydrocarbons includes a radiant firebox containing a plurality of burners and an injection nozzle, a primary transfer line exchanger fluidly coupled to and downstream of the radiant firebox, and a flow restrictor fluidly coupled to and downstream of the primary transfer line exchanger. The furnace system also includes a decoke vessel containing an effluent inlet, a fluid outlet, and a coke outlet, where the effluent inlet is fluidly coupled to and downstream of the flow restrictor and the fluid outlet is fluidly coupled to and upstream of the injection nozzle of the radiant firebox, and a coke collection bin is coupled to the coke outlet of the decoke vessel.

Abstract: Systems and methods are provided for performing ethane steam cracking at elevated coil inlet pressures and/or elevated coil outlet pressures in small diameter furnace coils. Instead of performing steam cracking of ethane at a coil outlet pressure of ˜22 psig or less (˜150 kPa-g or less), the steam cracking of ethane can be performed in small diameter furnace coils at a coil outlet pressure of 30 psig to 75 psig (˜200 kPa-g to ˜520 kPa-g), or 40 psig to 75 psig (˜270 kPa-g to ˜520 kPa-g). In order to achieve such higher coil outlet pressures, a correspondingly higher coil inlet pressure can also be used, such as a pressure of 45 psig (˜310 kPa-g) or more, or 50 psig (˜340 kPa-g) or more.

Abstract: A method and apparatus of reducing thermal shock in one or more radiant tubes of a pyrolysis furnace is provided. The apparatus is a furnace comprising a blower and blower bypass conduit providing separate fluid communication paths for flue gas from the convection section to a natural draft flue gas stack. The method comprises the steps of: redirecting at least a portion of the flue gas through the blower bypass conduit when a blower shut-off event is indicated as well as reducing the firing rate of the furnace.

Abstract: A method and apparatus of reducing thermal shock in one or more radiant tubes of a pyrolysis furnace is provided. The apparatus is a furnace comprising a blower and blower bypass conduit providing separate fluid communication paths for flue gas from the convection section to a natural draft flue gas stack. The method comprises the steps of: redirecting at least a portion of the flue gas through the blower bypass conduit when a blower shut-off event is indicated as well as reducing the firing rate of the furnace.

Abstract: A burner for use in furnaces such as in steam cracking.

Abstract: A burner for use in furnaces such as those employed in steam cracking. The burner includes a primary air chamber for supplying a first portion of air, a burner tube having an upstream end and a downstream end, a burner tip having an outer diameter, the burner tip mounted on the downstream end of the burner tube adjacent a first opening in the furnace, so that combustion of the fuel takes place downstream of the burner tip producing a gaseous fuel flame, at least one air port in fluid communication with a secondary air chamber for supplying a second portion of air, the at least one air port radially positioned beyond the outer diameter of the burner tip and at least one non-gaseous fuel gun for supplying atomized non-gaseous fuel, the at least one non-gaseous fuel gun having at least one fuel discharge orifice, the at least one non-gaseous fuel gun positioned within the at least one air port.

Abstract: A dual-fuel burner for use in furnaces such as in steam cracking. The burner includes a primary air chamber, a burner tube having an upstream end and a downstream end, a fuel orifice located adjacent the upstream end of the burner tube for introducing gaseous fuel into the burner tube, a burner tip having an outer diameter mounted on the downstream end of the burner tube adjacent a first opening in the furnace, so that combustion of the gaseous fuel takes place downstream of the burner tip, and at least one non-gaseous fuel gun, the at least one non-gaseous fuel gun having at least one fuel discharge orifice for combusting the non-gaseous fuel downstream of the discharge orifice, wherein the at least one non-gaseous fuel gun is radially positioned beyond the outer diameter of the burner tip so that a flame emanating from the combustion of the non-gaseous fuel is substantially aligned in parallel with a flame emanating from the combustion of the gaseous fuel.

Abstract: A dual-fuel burner for use in furnaces such as in steam cracking. The burner includes a primary air chamber, a burner tube having an upstream end and a downstream end, a fuel orifice located adjacent the upstream end of the burner tube for introducing gaseous fuel into the burner tube, a burner tip having an outer diameter mounted on the downstream end of the burner tube adjacent a first opening in the furnace, so that combustion of the gaseous fuel takes place downstream of the burner tip, and at least one non-gaseous fuel gun, the at least one non-gaseous fuel gun having at least one fuel discharge orifice for combusting the non-gaseous fuel downstream of the discharge orifice, wherein the at least one non-gaseous fuel gun is radially positioned beyond the outer diameter of the burner tip so that a flame emanating from the combustion of the non-gaseous fuel is substantially aligned in parallel with a flame emanating from the combustion of the gaseous fuel.

Abstract: A burner for use in furnaces such as in steam cracking.

Abstract: A burner for use in furnaces such as those employed in steam cracking. The burner includes a primary air chamber for supplying a first portion of air, a burner tube having an upstream end and a downstream end, a burner tip having an outer diameter, the burner tip mounted on the downstream end of the burner tube adjacent a first opening in the furnace, so that combustion of the fuel takes place downstream of the burner tip producing a gaseous fuel flame, at least one air port in fluid communication with a secondary air chamber for supplying a second portion of air, the at least one air port radially positioned beyond the outer diameter of the burner tip and at least one non-gaseous fuel gun for supplying atomized non-gaseous fuel, the at least one non-gaseous fuel gun having at least one fuel discharge orifice, the at least one non-gaseous fuel gun positioned within the at least one air port.

Abstract: A method is provided for treating the effluent from a hydrocarbon pyrolysis unit processing heavier than naphtha feeds to recover heat and remove tar therefrom. The method comprises passing the gaseous effluent to at least one primary transfer line heat exchanger, thereby cooling the gaseous effluent and generating superheated steam. Thereafter, the gaseous effluent is passed through at least one secondary transfer line heat exchanger having a heat exchange surface with a liquid coating on said surface, thereby further cooling the remainder of the gaseous effluent to a temperature at which tar, formed by the pyrolysis process, condenses. The condensed tar is then removed from the gaseous effluent in at least one knock-out drum. An apparatus for carrying out the method is also provided.

Abstract: A process for feeding or cracking heavy hydrocarbon feedstock containing non-volatile hydrocarbons comprising: heating the heavy hydrocarbon feedstock, mixing the heavy hydrocarbon feedstock with a fluid and/or a primary dilution steam stream to form a mixture, flashing the mixture to form a vapor phase and a liquid phase, and varying the amount of the fluid and/or the primary dilution steam stream mixed with the heavy hydrocarbon feedstock in accordance with at least one selected operating parameter of the process, such as the temperature of the flash stream before entering the flash drum.

Abstract: An improved tree stabilization system with a perimeter anchor system of a plurality of individual ground anchor assemblies configured adjacent to the tree or shrub to be supported and a related stabilization method. The tree stabilization system is particularly well suited for use in securing mature trees and stands of trees. As it is adjustable, it may be used for long term stability rather than simply during initial root development. The tree stabilization system includes a retention system that is attached to the perimeter anchor system and runs over the root system and pins the root system to the ground at certain important locations. The ground anchor assemblies are inserted into the ground so that the top end to which the retention system is attached is at or under ground level.

Abstract: A process for cracking heavy hydrocarbon comprising heating the heavy hydrocarbon feedstock, mixing the heavy hydrocarbon feedstock with a fluid and/or a primary dilution steam stream to form a mixture, flashing the mixture to form a vapor phase and a liquid phase, separating and cracking the vapor phase, and cooling the product effluent in a transfer line exchanger, wherein the amount of the fluid and/or the primary dilution steam stream mixed with the heavy hydrocarbon feedstock is varied in accordance with at least one selected operating parameter of the process, such as the temperature of the flash stream before entering the flash/separator vessel.

Abstract: An improved burner and a method for combusting fuel in burners used in furnaces, such as those used in steam cracking, are disclosed. The burner includes a burner tube having an upstream end, a downstream end and a venturi intermediate said upstream and downstream ends, the venturi including a throat portion having substantially constant internal cross-sectional dimensions such that the ratio of the length to maximum internal cross-sectional dimension of the throat portion is at least 3. A burner tip is mounted on the downstream end of the burner tube adjacent a first opening in the furnace, so that combustion of the fuel gas takes place downstream of said burner tip.

Abstract: Connection definitions are centrally defined and distributed over a network. A connection is defined, including information identifying an associated service definition, an associated origination endpoint and an associated destination endpoint within the network. The connection definition is distributed via the network to the origination endpoint and the destination endpoint. The service defined by the service definition is implemented between the origination endpoint and the destination endpoint, and the origination endpoint and the destination endpoint communicate with each other directly over the network in a secure and reliable way.

Abstract: A switched integrated wideband and narrowband multiservices digital network (FIGS. 1 and 2) is an ISDM providing universal information services based on wideband and narrowband voice, data, and video communications. It comprises a plurality of service areas (100, 101), each served by a central switching node (110). The central node is connected to a plurality of remote nodes (103) by feeder optical fibers (107) and a control bus extension (106). Network interface equipment (104) at subscribers' (102) premises is connected to remote nodes by distribution optical fibers (105). Each distribution fiber is wavelength-division multiplexed and carries modulated (pulse-analog, pulse-code, or differential pulse-code) wideband digital channels (205) and a multiplexed channel (206) comprising 32 time-division-multiplexed narrowband digital channels (207). One narrowband channel (207D) carries all signaling messages.

Abstract: In a switched integrated wideband and narrowband multiservices digital network (FIG. 1), the network control complex (612) includes a program-controlled call processing arrangement (800) that comprises a point-to-point call processing portion (8001) for handling point-to-point calls and a proxy vendor call processing portion (8002) for handling calls to broadcast program service vendors. For quick response to "channel change" requests from subscribers, the proxy vendor portion handles all calls within a single process (500). For ease of call control, the point-to-point portion handles each call via two processes (650, 660) one for each of the calling and called portions of each call. A message router (8000) receives messages from subscriber terminal equipment (400) requesting control functions for calls and routes them to the appropriate one of the proxy vendor and point-to-point processes.

Abstract: In a multiservices digital network (FIG. 1), comprising separate narrowband switch (607) and wideband switches (505, 606), the network control complex (612) includes a program-controlled call processing arrangement (800) that is program-independent of a resource management arrangement (803) and of the physical network. The call processing arrangement views the network as comprising logical channels and logical call paths interconnecting logical channels. It does not distinguish between narrowband and wideband communications; it responds to subscriber (102) messages requesting subscriber functions for both narrowband and wideband communications by directing the resource management arrangement to establish and dismantle logical call paths and to create and destroy logical and physical connections between the logical channels and the logical call paths.