Lummus starts up electric heater demo unit

US tech firm Lummus Technology has announced the successful start-up of its SRT-e commercial demonstration unit. The milestone, achieved at Lummus’ R&D centre in Pasadena, Texas, validates the heating system components and controls at a commercial scale. It also marks a significant step towards commercialising the technology and integrating it into petrochemical manufacturing, adds Lummus.

“The successful demonstration startup of the SRT-e design closes the gap in helping our customers lower their greenhouse gas emissions,” said Rutger Theunissen, Chief Business Officer, Lummus Technology. “By leveraging our proven SRT heater technology, customers can reduce emissions while maintaining the safety, reliability and performance expected from our cracking heater solutions.”

Using electricity as a heat source, SRT-e technology supports various feedstocks, including waste plastic pyrolysis oil and bio-feedstocks. Its modular, unit cell design is distinct and allows scalable deployment for new capacity expansions or asset replacements—all within a smaller footprint. The system’s independent heat input ensures uniform heat distribution, enhances process control and eliminates the need for large spare heaters. The system is also designed for safe, continuous and reliable operation between typical plant turnaround cycles.

SRT-e builds on Lummus’ industry-leading Short Residence Time (SRT) technology currently deployed in hundreds of operating units worldwide. For more than 80 years, Lummus has provided industry-leading heater and heat exchanger technology for the process and power industries.