Petrochemical Safety Technology ›› 2025, Vol. 41 ›› Issue (2): 39-43.

• Accident Analysis and Prevention • Previous Articles    

Cause Analysis on Dilution Steam Decrease in Ethylene Plants and Countermeasures

Guo Jinlong   

  1. SINOPEC-SK (Wuhan) Petrochemical Company Limited, Wuhan, Hubei, 430080
  • Received:2023-10-27 Accepted:2025-03-15 Online:2025-04-20 Published:2025-05-08

Abstract: Since February 2020, the dilution steam production system of the ethylene plant in SINOPEC-SK (Wuhan) Petrochemical Company LTD. has experienced a decrease of dilution steam. This paper analyzes the reasons and puts forward the countermeasures. The decrease of dilution steam production is mainly caused by quenching water emulsification and internal leakage of dilution steam generator for quenching oil. By using the new demulsifier and modifying the dilution steam generator, heat exchange efficiency of heat exchangers was improved and dilution steam output was increased. The amount of medium pressure steam from external make-up was reduced.

Key words: dilution steam generator, process water, emulsification, internal leakage