Technip Energies' develops low-emission furnace design to reduce the carbon footprint of ethylene production
Ethylene is a fundamental building block for thousands of chemicals and materials used in everyday products. However, traditional ethylene production methods are significant sources of CO2 emissions, contributing to climate change, especially the ethylene cracking furnaces.
The challenge was clear: How can we meet the growing global demand for ethylene while significantly reducing CO2 emissions from its production? Furthermore, can Technip Energies innovate to make the production process more energy efficient and sustainable?
Solutions. Technip Energies has developed the low-emission furnace (LEF) design, a groundbreaking technology aimed at reducing the carbon footprint of ethylene production. This innovative approach demonstrates Technip Energies’ decades of effort on cracking furnace thermal efficiency improvement to address the challenge of meeting global demand for ethylene while significantly reducing CO2 emissions.
The LEF design can reduce furnace CO2 emissions by 30% by optimizing flue gas combustion air preheating and by implementing the feed effluent transfer line exchanger (TLE). This transfer line exchanger is a critical piece of equipment that integrates feed and dilution steam preheating with cracking effluent quenching.
In 2024, the double pipe feed effluent TLE test was completed at our pilot testing facility in the Netherlands, resulting in a contract with CPChem for their facility in Sweeny, Texas. This project includes furnace detailed engineering and proprietary TLE equipment supply.
Additionally, the shell and tube feed effluent TLE test was successfully done in 2025. This type of design is being implemented on projects such as the low-emission mixed-feed crackers for CSPC III in China, and IOCL in India.
Through these efforts, Technip Energies keeps pioneering sustainable solutions in ethylene production, demonstrating a commitment to innovation and environmental responsibility.
Results. The LEF represents a significant advancement in sustainable ethylene production. By integrating this innovative technology into existing and new ethylene production facilities, Technip Energies can achieve a substantial reduction in global CO2 emissions.
- Environmental benefits: The LEF design reduces CO2 emissions by 30%, contributing to the fight against climate change and supporting global sustainability near-term goals. The technology can further reduce CAPEX and OPEX to achieve carbon neutral goals with 100% H2 firing or carbon capture implementation on the furnace in the future.
- Economic and social benefits: This technology will create jobs and boost economic growth. For instance, the CPChem Sweeny project highlights significant investment and job creation potential.
- Scalability and replication: The successful implementation of the TLE technology in projects such as the 1600KTA CSPC III and 1500KTA IOCL low-emission mixed feed crackers shows its scalability and potential for global replication.
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