Abstract: Low carbon dioxide-emitting processes and systems for steam cracking hydrocarbons to produce products such as ethylene are described. The processes and systems involve cracking the feed in a furnace that is configured to burn a hydrogen-rich fuel, which produces less carbon dioxide than methane, which is typically used as fuel for such furnaces. The hydrogen-rich stream can be isolated and recycled from the cracker tail gas.

Abstract: Methods and systems for steam cracking a mixed butane containing feed stream are disclosed. The feed stream includes n-butane and isobutane. The disclosed methods and systems entail splitting the feed into an enriched n-butane fraction and an enriched isobutane fraction. The enriched n-butane fraction is provided to the cracking furnaces, which yield the olefin products and also yield C4 species. The C4 species are partially hydrogenated and provided as a reactant feed to an alkylation reaction. The enriched isobutane fraction is also provided to the alkylation reaction, whereby high value alkylate product is produced. The disclosed methods and systems have increase olefins (especially ethylene) yield because the feed to the cracking process is enriched in n-butane. The economics are also improved because high value alkylate product is produced from a portion of the isobutane.

Abstract: Methods and systems for steam cracking a mixed butane containing feed stream are disclosed. The feed stream includes n-butane and isobutane. The disclosed methods and systems entail splitting the feed into an enriched n-butane fraction and an enriched isobutane fraction. The enriched n-butane fraction is provided to the cracking furnaces, which yield the olefin products and also yield C4 species. The C4 species are partially hydrogenated and provided as a reactant feed to an alkylation reaction. The enriched isobutane fraction is also provided to the alkylation reaction, whereby high value alkylate product is produced. The disclosed methods and systems have increase olefins (especially ethylene) yield because the feed to the cracking process is enriched in n-butane. The economics are also improved because high value alkylate product is produced from a portion of the isobutane.