Abstract: To investigate the effects of increasing combustion air temperature on the temperature distribution within the furnace, this paper employs CFD simulation technology to conduct a comprehensive simulation of the furnace chamber in a large-scale ethylene cracking furnace. Through analysis of several characteristic planes, it is concluded that progressive increases in combustion air preheat temperature under constant total power input to the cracking furnace chamber result in gradual elevation of flame temperatures in bottom burners, a modest rise in overall furnace temperature and essentially stable average temperatures at the furnace outlet. The findings of this study indicate that raising the combustion air preheat temperature can reduce fuel gas consumption, thereby achieving energy conservation and emission reduction.

Key words: CFD, numerical simulation, ethylene cracking furnace, preheating air