PROCESS FOR THE ON-STREAM DECOKING OF A FURNACE FOR CRACKING A HYDROCARBON FEED

A process for the on-stream decoking of a steam cracking furnace, the steam cracking furnace including multiple tube banks positioned between a hydrocarbon feedstock inlet and a convection section to radiant section crossover, each tube bank including a plurality of tubes arranged within the tube bank, the process comprising the steps of terminating the flow of hydrocarbon feed to a portion of the plurality of tubes of less than all of the multiple tube banks, and supplying a decoking feed comprising steam to the portion of the plurality of tubes of less than all of the multiple tube banks in sufficient amount to effect removal of coke accumulated on the interior of the radiant coils and quench system components fed by such tubes while maintaining a temperature at the convection section to radiant section crossover of below about 788° C. A furnace for the production of ethylene is also provided.