June
2016
69
HYDROCARBON
ENGINEERING
A
s refiners use heavier feedstocks for production
in the fluid catalytic cracking (FCC)/residual
fluid catalytic cracking (RFCC), slurry oil yields
will increase as a result. The quality of this
slurry oil, however, will decrease as a larger proportion
of asphaltenes and heteroatoms enter the reactor.
Antimony adds to the difficulty of separating catalyst and
fine particulates from slurry oil, as it blocks mechanical
filters and requires higher temperatures to back-flush FCC
units. As levels of asphaltenes and antimony increase in
slurry oil, the choice of which technology to efficiently
remove particulate solids becomes critical if a refinery is
looking to create additional revenue generating product
streams.
Although there are numerous techniques used for
catalyst removal from slurry oil, the inherent make up of
residual slurry oil increasingly favours electrostatic
separation technology, as it is less likely to foul or coke
due to increasing asphaltene levels. Adding digital camera
technology with advanced image analysis software makes
it possible for real time data monitoring of dark slurry oils
under process conditions. Utilising online optical particle
sensors and electrostatic separation allows refineries and
carbon black operators to select the clarity of a slurry oil
Victor Scalco and John Paraskos, General Atomics, USA,
evaluate how the use of an electrostatic separator, online
particle sensors and real time analysis can reduce catalyst
fines and provide refineries with on specification clarified
slurry oil to increase revenue potential.
High
specification
separation
