Revista Mexicana de Ingeniería Química 1665-2738: Issn: Amidiq@xanum - Uam.mx
Revista Mexicana de Ingeniería Química 1665-2738: Issn: Amidiq@xanum - Uam.mx
Revista Mexicana de Ingeniería Química 1665-2738: Issn: Amidiq@xanum - Uam.mx
ISSN: 1665-2738
amidiq@xanum.uam.mx
Universidad Autónoma Metropolitana Unidad
Iztapalapa
México
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REVISTA MEXICANA DE INGENIERIA QUIMICA Vol. 5 (2006) 97-103
AMIDIQ
FLUIDIZED-BED CATALYTIC CRACKING UNITS EMULATION IN PILOT PLANT
Abstract
Due to necessity to predict accurately the performance of fluidized-bed catalytic cracking (FCC) industrial units,
after feedstock or catalyst is changed, use of pilot plant as emulation devices has been increasing. Among these pilot
plants, the Recirculation Catalyst Pilot Plant is the small-scale simulator that closer matches the behaviour of
industrial units. This kind of pilot plants consists of riser, stripper, regenerator and separation column that perform
duties similar to those of industrial units. Additionally, this pilot plant is able to operate using a descendant flow
reactor (downer) in order to emulate several technological trends; which operation mode promises better selectivity.
FCC process involves many variables interconnected in complex way, making a difficult task to predict its
performance when operating far from original design conditions. Nevertheless, using the same catalyst, the same
feedstock and the same main operating conditions of industrial units, it is possible to emulate the performance of
industrial units in pilot plant. In this work, the characteristic relationship between pilot plant and industrial units is
shown with examples of emulation, establishing its importance in research and support of technical services. Scale-
up problems are addressed and solutions that mimic operating data from an industrial plant are found. Conversion
results are shown graphically to easily assess industrial potential benefits that can be drawn from pilot plant
emulation.
Resumen
Debido a la necesidad de predecir con precisión el desempeño de unidades industriales de desintegración catalítica
en lecho fluidizado (FCC) después de un cambio de carga o de catalizador, el uso de plantas piloto como dispositivos
para emulación se ha incrementado. Entre estas plantas, la de recirculación de catalizador es la que logra emular más
cercanamente el desempeño de unidades industriales. Este tipo de plantas consiste de riser, agotador, regenerador y
columna de separación, tal que desempeña tareas similares a aquellas de las unidades industriales. Además, esta
planta es capaz de operar en flujo descendente (downer), a fin de emular diversas tendencias tecnológicas; operación
que promete mejores selectividades. El proceso FCC involucra muchas variables interconectadas de manera
compleja, haciendo difícil predecir su desempeño cuando operan lejos de las condiciones originales de diseño. Sin
embargo, utilizando el mismo catalizador, la misma carga y las mismas condiciones de operación que en las unidades
industriales, es posible emular la operación de estas unidades en la planta piloto. En este trabajo, se muestran las
relaciones características entre la planta piloto y las unidades industriales, a través de ejemplos de emulación,
estableciendo su importancia en investigación y soporte de servicios técnicos. Se tratan problemas de escalamiento y
encontrando soluciones que imitan resultados de operación industrial. Los resultados para la conversión se muestran
gráficamente a fin de visualizar fácilmente beneficios potenciales industriales utilizando la emulación en planta
piloto.
of storage vessels allows normalising unit. At the top of the riser, catalyst and
operation with a reference feedstock and then products are separated using cyclones. Spent
introducing a new one. A dosage pump with catalyst falls to a vertical column within a
precision control is used to send the feed dense phase fluidized bed, in order to strip
through the heater and nozzle. There is a hydrocarbons from catalyst with vapour or
system to control and register the flow. A nitrogen flowing counter current. A slide
nitrogen or vapour stream can be used as valve controls the flow of stripped catalyst to
dispersant, feeding it through an independent regenerator. Stripping temperature, bed
heater. Feed vaporizes as soon as gets in height and vapour/nitrogen flows are
touch with catalyst coming from regenerator controlled to adjust stripper efficiency.
and goes through the riser, as in the industrial
STABILIZING
COLUMN
FEED FEED
TANK TANK HEAT
REGENERATOR EXCHANGER STRIPPER
No 1 No 2
PUMP PUMP
No 1 No 2
RISER
PRODUCT
STORAGE
PREHEATER
DISPERSION STRIPPING
GAS TO
PUMP
greater selectivities (Ikeda & Imo, 1999). variables were measured for feedstock (Table
Heat balance can be adjusted with two 1) and catalyst (Table 2); and some special
operation modes for flexibility: Adiabatic tests were performed.
Mode and Heat Balance Mode
80
75
Conversion, %p
70
65
137 ºC < T feed < 157 ºC
60 T feed = 100 ºC
T feed = 175 ºC
55 T feed = 275 ºC
T feed = 350 ºC
50
6 12 18 24
C/O
50
30
20
G a s o lin e
%
10 LP gas
D ry g a s
0
0 10 20 30 40 50
Y ie ld in th e in d u s tr ia l u n it, w t %