Design and Operational Modifications to Model IV FCCUs to Improve Dynamic Performance

Huq, Iftikhar and Morari, Manfred and Sorensen, Ronald (1994) Design and Operational Modifications to Model IV FCCUs to Improve Dynamic Performance. Technical Report. California Institute of Technology, Pasadena, CA. [CaltechCDSTR:1994.007]

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Abstract

Model IV Fluid Catalytic Cracking Units (FCCUs) differ from other cracking units in that model IV FCCUs do not have slide valves in the catalyst circulation lines to enable direct control of catalyst circulation rate through the unit. Reducing fluctuations in catalyst circulation rate is found to significantly improve closed loop performance of the FCCU. Some design and operational modifications that can be made to model IV FCCUs to improve closed loop performance at the regulatory level based on this insight are modeled and compared. Closed loop performance of a model IV FCCU operated with the weir and standpipe always flooded is examined. The achievable performance is significantly better than that of the standard model IV FCCU. The closed loop performance of the model IV FCCU modified to incorporate slide valves in the catalyst circulation lines is also examined. The performance of the FCCU with slide valves is better than the performance achievable by the FCCU with the weir flooded. It is found that model IV FCCUs are ill-conditioned owing to the use of the weir and standpipe arrangement in the regenerator section. Both the operational and design modifications studied reduce plant ill-conditioning appreciably.

EPrint Type:	Monograph (Technical Report)
Additional Information:	Financial support from Chevron Research and Technology Company is gratefully acknowledged. We would also like to thank Serban Agachi, John Bomberger and Bruno Donno for their help with this project. Finally, we thank Professor Reuel Shinnar for some enlightening discussions.
Subjects:	All Records
ID Code:	99
Deposited By:	Caltech Library System
Deposited On:	12 September 2006
Unique Identifier:	CaltechCDSTR:1994.007
Official Persistent URL:	http://resolver.caltech.edu/CaltechCDSTR:1994.007
Usage Policy:	You are granted permission for individual, educational, research and non-commercial reproduction, distribution, display and performance of this work in any format.

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