Steam Cracker Tube Solutions
Coke formation in a typical Steam Cracker environment is an inevitable and complex phenomenon. Due to the pyrolysis reaction, hydrocarbons slowly deposit on the tube walls, reducing the effective cross-sectional area for flow and decreasing the heat transfer capacity to the fluid. To maintain constant mass flow and adequate heat transfer, furnace temperature must be continuously raised — shortening campaign lengths.
This problem can be significantly reduced by selecting the right tube metallurgy. Centralloy® ET 45 Micro and Centralloy® HT E by Schmidt + Clemens (S+C) are the universally preferred option, especially for hot outlet passes. These alloys produce a dense, self-healing oxide layer — particularly effective at limiting coke formation and subsequent carburization, increasing overall furnace performance and extending radiant coil service life.
Centralloy® HT E is the special Schmidt + Clemens alloy developed to meet the specific challenges of cracking furnace applications, offering superior performance in the most demanding petrochemical environments.