The core reacting mixture is heated in tubular coils from the outside of the reaction zone through tube walls using non-renewable fossile fuels and massive amounts of energy.

Conventional cracking

Olefins are traditionally produced by steam cracking Ethylene or Naphtha at extremely high temperatures in massive cracker furnaces. The core reacting mixture is heated in tubular coils from the outside of the reaction zone through tube walls using non-renewable fossil fuels and massive amounts of energy. It is this part of the process that is the main source of CO2 emissions in Olefins production.

RDR’s high-velocity rotor blades create thermal energy to heat reacting mixture inside the reaction zone quickly and more efficiently.

RDR cracking

Instead of heating the feedstock mixture from outside the reaction zone, RDR’s high-velocity rotor blades create thermal energy to heat the mixture inside the reaction zone – quickly and much more efficiently. And RDR’s motors have the ability to use renewable electric power, making it the only feasible technology that can use electricity instead of fossil fuels to reach the high cracking temperatures needed in the Olefins production process.

A poweful motor with a powerful rotor

• RDR eReactor is a product of cross-industry collaboration – with a completely new rotor technology based on existing and proven turbomachinery technology

• The reactor is powered by rotating electric motor in the gearbox that determines the rotor's speed

Cutting emissions with electricity

The use of electricity produced from renewable sources can decrease CO2 emissions compared to the existing furnace technology. This means 1.6 million metric tonnes fewer CO2 emissions a year per 1Mt Ethylene plant. When RDR becomes the industry standard, together we will be able to achieve 300 million metric tonnes less CO2 emissions globally.

Optimal temperature and residence time. RDR has short residence at high temperature resulting high yield with less energy and CO2 emissions.

Because RDR creates higher temperatures with a shorter residence time, it is able to achieve 20% higher Ethylene yields. For petrochemical producers, that translates into increased annual profits of over $160M per 1M metric ton Ethylene plant. Shorter residence times and higher temperatures also mean that RDR is less prone to coking than conventional furnaces, resulting in lower operational costs and increased up time.

And that 20% higher Ethylene yield also means fewer CO2 emissions per Ethylene ton. Taking RDR into use also decreases capital expenditure when building a new Ethylene plant.

Industrial Transformation 2050

According to Industrial Transformation 2050: Pathways to Net-Zero Emissions from EU Heavy Industry, the steam cracking of Naphtha into Ethylene and other high value chemicals and the use of fossil fuels in steam cracking are the most dominant sources of carbon emissions in the production of plastics.

The petrochemical industry and governments have an important role to play in helping to achieve the objectives of the Paris Agreement and moving towards net-zero heavy industry in Europe by 2050.

CEFIC: Molecule Managers Brochure – A journey into the Future of Europe with the European Chemical Industry

"In the chemical industry, furnaces are mainly used in Ethylene plants to crack Naphtha. Replacing these furnaces with electric furnaces has the potential to significantly reduce energy consumption in the process and eliminate related emissions."

“With EU support, the chemical industry could develop a series of large-scale projects across the EU that showcase the new technologies the industry needs to transform.”