High-temperature heat electrification: Lessons from operating the world’s first industrial-scale electric steam cracking furnace

Torben Hoefel has > 14 yrs of professional experience in olefin technologies. He has worked as a Process Engineer in leading roles, contributing to the development and design of new olefin plants, as well as the revamp of existing ones. In his current role in Product Management for Sustainable Olefin Technologies, Dr. Hoefel is passionate about driving technological innovations and implementing solutions that support organizations and societies in achieving their ambitious decarbonization goals.

Martin Hofstaetter earned an MS degree in energy and process engineering from the Technical University of Munich and joined Linde Engineering in 2014. With > 11 yrs of experience in olefin technologies, he specializes in large olefin plant furnaces, working on new designs, complex revamp projects and startups. Since 2018, Hofstaetter has been closely involved in the development of the electric cracking furnace, contributing as technology implementation manager and co-inventor of several related patents.

Felix Roessler earned his PhD working on a cooperation between Linde Engineering and the Chair of Plant and Process Technology of the Technical University of Munich, focusing on the flexible operation and demand side management of large-scale process plants. The main field of research was the development of digital twins of process plants. In 2021, Dr. Roessler joined Linde Engineering as a Process Engineer, working on the design and revamp of large-scale ethylene plants. He focuses on the electrification of ethylene plants in general and is a core member of the technical team developing Linde’s eFurnace technology for commercial-scale electrical heating.

Matthias Mayerhofer is a Product Manager at Linde Engineering since 2015, focusing on development, IP management and sustainability. Since 2021, Dr. Mayerhofer has led electrification efforts and was Technology Implementation Manager for the eFurnace project from the Selas-Lindes side. When he joined Linde in 2013, he was a Process Engineer designing refinery heaters, waste heat recovery units and waste incinerators. Dr. Mayerhofer earned a PhD in engineering in the field of biomass gasification, and a Diploma in mechanical engineering, both from the Technical University of Munich.

Gunther Kracker is the Head of Product Management and Cost Estimation for the Sustainable Hydrocarbon Solutions product line at Linde Engineering. After joining Linde in 2004 as a Process Engineer for petrochemical plants, he subsequently moved through various management roles and responsibilities. Today, Dr. Kracker oversees the portfolio management of Linde’s petrochemical and natural gas technologies, with a special focus on the commercialization of sustainable technology solutions.