NOVA Chemicals and Quantiam Technologies have undertaken a development effort of a novel materials technology aimed at realizing operational advantages with use in olefins manufacturing furnace coils previously unattainable with other methods. It is well recognized in the industry that coil internal surfaces can negatively impact furnace operational efficiency with unwanted surface catalytic processes leading to coke fouling and other well-established negative impacts on the overall cracking process. The CAMOL technology approach recognizes this potential of the coil surface significantly impacting the process, and aims to utilize these coil surfaces to provide a positive and beneficial catalytic impact on the process through the use of catalytic coatings with engineerable functionality. This paper will define targeted product properties and benefits, and provide an update on laboratory and field results generated to-date. A 7-year development effort is near-completion and the product has been in commercial-scale field testing since 2005 with furnace trials underway in a broad range of feedstocks and furnace designs. Field trials are continuing through 2008 to map out the range of operational latitude provided by the technology, and to quantify operational benefits that can be achieved.

*The CAMOL technology development is being funded in part by Sustainable Development Technology Canada (SDTC) and Industry Canada - Technology Partnerships Canada (TPC).