Life cycle assessment and technoeconomic analysis of naphtha cracking electrification using plasma for carbon neutrality

초록

Plasma cracking of naphtha represents a promising electrification pathway for carbon-neutral ethylene production. It operates at high temperatures (3000-6000 K) in non-oxidative environments, achieving superior ethylene yields (50-60%) while eliminating direct greenhouse gas emissions. However, the energy-intensive nature of plasma reactors necessitates evaluating environmental and economic trade-offs. This study evaluates the performances of a modeled plasma naphtha cracking plant across varied operating conditions. When paired with renewable electricity, the emission intensity of produced ethylene decreased to 0.15 kg CO2 eq. per kg C2H4, equivalent to 7.8-11.4% of conventional steam cracking levels. While the levelized cost of ethylene (1.75-2.00 $perkgC2H4)atanelectricitycostof100$ per MWhel exceeded the conventional steam cracking by 18-35%, cost parity could be achieved at electricity costs of 40.3-47.9 $ per MWhel under the optimized conditions that also minimized naphtha feedstock requirements. These findings highlight the dual advantages of plasma technology: eliminating direct emissions while enhancing ethylene yield. This research establishes plasma naphtha cracking as a viable decarbonization strategy for ethylene production, underscoring the need for affordable renewable electricity to unlock its full environmental and economic potential.

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