FCC riser hydrodynamics: Effect of some operating variables

Abstract

Fluidized bed catalytic cracking is an important secondary process in a modern refinery. Unlike in western countries Indian refineries are often operated in distillate mode requiring design modifications and changes in operating conditions. Riser hydrodynamics together with cracking kinetics are often very useful to simulate the performance of FCC riser reactor and accurately predict conversion of the process. The present paper reports the experimental data on hydrodynamics of a FCC riser including its pressure and voidage profiles along the riser length in a cold model of the FCC unit assembly. Effects of some operating variables on the riser hydrodynamics have been reported.