Patent ID: 6113774
Filing Date: 2000-09-05
Classification: C10G

Abstract:
A process for controlling the concentration of an antifoulant in a feed stream introduced to a reactor suitable for the thermal cracking of hydrocarbons wherein the antifoulant is suitable for passivating the inner surfaces of the reactor and the reactor has an inlet and an outlet, comprising:(a) heating the reactor with a furnace;(b) providing a substantially constant flow of feed gas comprising steam;(c) introducing the antifoulant into the feed gas to produce a feed stream;(d) introducing the feed stream to the reactor inlet while the reactor is heated by the furnace such that reactor effluent flows from the reactor outlet and such that a predetermined and substantially constant reactor outlet temperature is produced;(e) introducing the effluent from the reactor to an inlet of a cooler having an outlet such that the effluent flows through the cooler and exits the cooler and such that a cooler outlet temperature is produced which is less than the reactor outlet temperature;(f) controlling, during at least a portion of (d), the concentration of the antifoulant in the feed gas based on the cooler outlet temperature.