FCC Catalytic Cracking
FCC Catalytic Cracking
FCC Catalytic Cracking
Dennis L. Salbilla Karl Kolmetz Cheah Phaik Sim Cyron Anthony Soyza
Abstract
This article reviews Fluidized Catalytic Cracking Unit; 1. 2. 3. 4. 5. 6. History Process Overview Process Chemistry -Feedstock, Reaction, Catalyst Process Variables Advance in Cat Development Catalyst Evaluation Techniques
Catalytic Cracking
The technology to convert atmospheric and vacuum tower gas oils, coker gas oils, residual oil, and aromatics lube extracts by fluidized catalytic cracking to gasoline, light olefins and light cycle oil.
Introduction
The objective of Catalytic Cracking is to convert hydrocarbons in the middle distillate range and above (C11+) into the naphtha range (<C12), yielding gasoline, heating oil and petrochemical feed stocks.
Process Overview
Reactor Overview
Flue Gas
Catalyst Cooler
Feed
Process Chemistry
Air
Lift Media
Feedstock Chemistry Typical FCC Feedstock include: 1. 2. 3. Atmospheric Gas Oils Vacuum Gas Oils Vacuum Tower Bottoms (Resids) A. Raw B. Hydrotreated (HDS) C. Deasphalted (DAO) Coker Gas Oils Lube Extracts Slop Oils Typical Hydrocracking Feedstock Chemistry
Source Carbon Number C5 C11 Boiling Range Degree F / C / 70-170 Metals ppm Special Features To increase aromatics
4. 5. 6.
C11 - C19 C11 C19 < 200 Low metals and asphaltenes Higher aromatics Higher olefins and aromatics Higher metals and asphaltenes Higher metals and asphaltenes Higher metals and asphaltenes
Recycle Gas Oil Coker Gas Oil Vacuum Gas Oil Vacuum Residua Atm Residua
C40+
C40+
/ > 500
> 200
The exact composition and structure of the feedstock depends on the boiling range, but each stock consist of different amount of:
Feedstock impurities are sulfur, oxygen, nitrogen and metals, which can be lowered by hydrotreating. Feedstock impurities typically are; 1. 2. 3. 4. Sulfur (0-7.5%) Oxygen (0-2%) Nitrogen (0-0.9%) Metals (0-200 ppm)
6 2 31 3 21 6 5
3 1 27 4 32 9 2
1 0 23 6 45 12 5
Reaction Chemistry The Catalyst is designed to improve the desired activities of hydro cracking, isomerization, alkyl group transfer, and hydrogen transfer, while reducing the unwanted activities of dehydrogenation, condensation and coke formation. The following main reactions occur:
The rate of hydrocracking is increased by: 1. 2. 3. 4. Increasing molecular weight Tertiary hydrogen Double Bonds Alkyls on aromatics
Qualitative Observations 1. 2. 3. 4. Cracked fragments contain 3 or more carbon atoms More than two fragments are often produced Methyl groups are not easily removed Carbon rearrangement often takes place
Isomerization Isomerization can occur as double bond shift and chain breaking
Alkyl Group Transfer Alkyl Group Transfer mostly involves methyl groups and is a slow reaction. Dehydrogenation Little or no dehydrogenation is reacted on the fresh catalyst. It is catalyzed by Ni, FE and V contamination that builds up on the equilibrium catalyst. Hydrogen Transfer Hydrogen Transfer is between napthenes and olefins to produce iso-paraffins and aromatics. A second hydrogen transfer can be olefin to olefin to produce paraffins and coke. 1. 2. Napthenes + olefin = iso-paraffins + aromatics Olefin + olefin = paraffin + coke
Condensation Condensation is the formation of higher molecular weight hydrocarbons. The rate order for condensation is: Aromatics > Olefins > Paraffins Condensation is a precursor to coke formation.
Coke Formation There are four types of coke identified in Catalytic Cracking. Coke can be defined as CH0.3-1.0. 1. Catalytic Coke from condensation and dehydrogenation, which is about 45% of the coke formed. Cat to Oil Coke hydrocarbons entrained in the small pores and not removed by the stripper, which is about 20% of the coke formed Conradson Coke already in the feed, which is about 5% Contaminated Coke from dehydrogenation catalyzed by Ni, Fe, and V, which is about 30%
2.
3. 4.
Catalytic FCC Reactions 1. 2. C3s are lightest product due to secondary or tertiary positions in the carbonium ion. Olefins are primary products made from: A. Paraffin Cracking B. Naphthene Cracking C. Dealkylation of aromatics or naphthenes Aromatics are produced by naphthene dehydrogenation Larger molecules are more reactive Pure aromatics do not react Paraffins are produced by hydrogen transfer Some isomerization occurs
3. 4. 5. 6. 7.
Thermal FCC Reactions 1. 2. 3. 4. 5. 6. High production of C1 and C2 Olefins are less branched Some Di-olefins made at high reactor temperatures Gasoline selectivity is poor Gas and Coke are major products Reactions are slow compared to catalytic reactions