Improved Distribution of Spent Catalyst
This article highlights the development of TechnipFMC’s spent catalyst distributor design from simple ‘hockey stick’ to ‘compound angle wye bathtub’ distributor.
Publications
Avoid Nasty Surprises
Surprises are not always a good thing, especially during plant turnarounds. Peter Blaser, Peter Loezos, and Bryan Tomsula, CPFD Software, USA, highlight how simulations can be a critical turnaround risk reduction tool in the September 2019 issue of Hydrocarbon Engineering.
Digitally Transforming Refineries
Peter Blaser and Rajat Barua, CPFD Software, discuss the role of simulation in the digital transformation of modern refineries in an article featured in the April 2019 issue of Hydrocarbon Engineering.
Viva Energy’s Geelong refinery reduces FCCU turnaround risk
A case study on the application of Barracuda Virtual Reactor® at one of the largest refineries in Australia.
Simulation as a Tool for Learning from Historical FCCU Operations
This paper is focused on how simulation is used as a tool for knowledge management of lessons learned from current and historical FCCU operations as a means to accelerate the learning process and rapidly deepen the knowledge base of FCC engineers and technologists.
Numerical simulation of a commercial FCC regenerator using Multiphase Particle-in-Cell methodology
New regenerator simulation publication in Advanced Powder Technology
Numerical Simulations Of PSRI Cold-Flow FCC Stripper Experiment With Subway Grating Baffles
Numerical simulations were performed of a PSRI cold-flow FCC stripper experiment with subway grating baffles. Barracuda Virtual Reactor®, which implements the multi-phase particle-in-cell (MP-PIC) numerical method, was used to perform the simulations. Simulation results were compared with experimental measurements of apparent bed density over a wide range of solids flux conditions, at superficial gas velocities typical of industrial FCC stripper operation. The simulation results were in good agreement with the experimental bed density measurements, and matched the experimentally observed trends of bed density variation as a function of gas superficial velocity and catalyst mass flux through the stripper vessel.
Improving FCC Economics through Computational Particle Fluid Dynamics Simulation
This paper describes many structural issues which are endemic to the FCC operation resulting in limitations in operational flexibility with subsequent negative impact on economics including items such as incomplete combustion of spent catalyst within the regenerator commonly referred to as the “salt and pepper” appearance of regenerated catalyst, erosion of reactor or regenerator hardware leading to unscheduled shutdowns or reduced cycle length, and poor aeration at the inlets of regenerated catalyst hoppers and along the length of the standpipes leading to poor fluidization and reduced catalyst circulation rates.