Actually in the petrochemical industry, units which "crack" ethane, propane, LPG, etc, into primarily ethylene, (and then several other C4+ products) are called "crackers"
The industry calls it an ethane cracker.
The unit is called a cracker. Cracking is what the unit does. The investment is in a cracker.
What is a Cracker and Why Should I Care?
http://education.afpm.org/petrochemicals/what-is-a-cracker-and-why-should-i-care/