Optimizing FCC Riser Termination Device Design and Performance Using Barracuda

Computational modeling plays an increasingly important role in understanding gas and particle flow dynamics in the Fluid Catalytic Cracking (FCC) process, enabling refiners to consider low-risk and high value improvements to their FCCUs. Technip Energies actively uses computational fluid dynamics (CFD) tools for FCC design optimization and for troubleshooting FCC operation. CFD provides adequate information required to understand and determine how hardware modifications and operational changes will impact gas-particle flow behavior and hence the overall performance of the unit. The paper provides various case studies on FCC riser / riser termination device (RTD) section, discussing the significance of modeling tools to effectively screen and evaluate design changes. This paper describes how modeling tools were used to confirm the adequacy of the proposed hardware changes, fine tune the design and evaluate the performance to minimize the potential risks on startup.

About the Speaker
Raj has 18 years of experience in FCC equipment design, technology development and troubleshooting. He has contributed to a wide range of projects including revamps, grassroots designs, process studies, PDP/FEED packages, CFD studies, FCC proposals and unit startups. He has developed several mathematical / CFD models with applications towards coke combustion, cyclone operation, riser termination device performance, catalyst flow in strippers and standpipe behavior. He has been with Technip Energies (formerly Stone & Webster) for the last 15 years and is currently responsible for the High-Olefin FCC Program, including technology, business development and licensing. Raj has an MS in chemical engineering, with specialization in the field of multiphase flow and fluidization from the Illinois Institute of Technology, Chicago. He is a recipient of several patents and has published / presented several papers.