Vol. 337 No. 3 (2026)
DOI https://doi.org/10.18799/24131830/2026/3/5133
Computer simulation of an ethane-propane fraction pyrolysis furnace in the Symmetry software platform
Relevance. Industrial necessity to optimize pyrolysis. Specifically, the focus is on enhancing the operational efficiency of pyrolysis furnaces. These units are of critical importance because they are responsible for producing ethylene and propylene – hydrocarbons that form the fundamental raw material basis for a wide range of chemical industries. Aim. To develop a model of an ethane-propane fraction pyrolysis furnace that can be used as a tool for predicting the state of a pyrolysis plant within the technological operating mode. Object. Pyrolysis of the ethane-propane fraction, taking into account the reactions of coke formation. Methods. Methods of modeling of chemical and technological processes. Results and conclusions. The authors have developed the model of an ethane-propane fraction pyrolysis furnace in the Symmetry software platform, taking into account the processes of coke formation. The distribution of the coke formation rate along the length of the radiant coil was calculated. The maximum rate of coke formation was 4.86 nm/s in the terminal section of the coil, which indicates the intensive occurrence of secondary (undesirable) reactions at the end of the radiant coil. The authors determined the effect of key parameters such as temperature, pressure, and the flow rate of the reaction gas on the output of the target products and the rate of coke formation. Thus, an increase in pressure leads to a decrease in the yields of both ethylene and propylene, whereas an increase in temperature raises the ethylene yield but reduces the propylene content in the pyrogas. However, in two cases, there is an increase in the rate of coke formation, which leads to a decrease in the furnace run time. In turn, an increase in the flow rate of the reaction gas through the pyrolysis coil leads to a reduction in coke formation and an increase in the propylene content in the pyrogas, but at the same time, the yield of ethylene decreases. Using the created model, it is possible to predict the content of components in the composition of the resulting pyrogas when the furnace operation parameters change. Based on these data, taking into account the required run time of the furnace and the conversion of the target products, it is possible to form the optimal operating mode of the pyrolysis furnace.
For citation: Lanovoy R.A., Sadovsky S.S., Selyangin K.V., Kovalenko P.A., Romanov G.R. Computer simulation of an ethane-propane fraction pyrolysis furnace in the Symmetry software platform. Bulletin of the Tomsk Polytechnic University. Geo Assets Engineering, 2026, vol. 337, no. 3, pp. 36–46. https://doi.org/10.18799/24131830/2026/3/5133
Keywords:
pyrolysis, pyrogas, hydrocarbons, ethylene, propylene, ethane-propane fraction, conversion, coke formation
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