Heat integration in a hydrocarbon processing facility

A process for improving energy efficiency and reducing greenhouse gas emissions in a hydrocarbon processing and/or production facility, through rearrangement of thermal energy distribution within said facility,

• said facility comprising a cracker unit with at least one cracking apparatus for cracking a hydrocarbon containing feed, in presence of a dilution medium, wherein a cracked gaseous effluent exiting the cracking apparatus is cooled in a transfer line exchanger (TLE) unit while generating high-pressure steam having a pressure of between 6 MPa and 12.5 MPa,
• wherein the process comprises supplying electrical power into the at least one cracking apparatus of said cracker unit with the hydrocarbon process and/or producing facility,
• wherein, in said process, a heat recovery unit (HRU) arranged downstream from the TLE unit is assigned with functions other than production of high pressure steam, including receiving the cooled cracked gaseous effluent and high-pressure steam from the TLE unit and superheating the high-pressure steam generated in the TLE unit,
• wherein less high-pressure steam is produced in the cracker unit as compared to a conventional cracker unit, and wherein electrical power supplied into the at least one cracking apparatus of said cracker unit within the hydrocarbon processing and/or production facility compensates for reduced steam production in said cracker unit, and
• wherein the HRU is positioned outside of a convection section of the cracker unit.