AM-12-73 LC‐MAX and Other LC‐FINING Process Enhancements to Extend Conversion and Onstream Factor

Description:

Recent process enhancements incorporated into our LC-FINING unit designs and operating experience gained from recently commissioned units have led to a new generation of plants with reduced investment, improved energy efficiency, enhanced conversion capabilities and improved unit on-stream factors. An example of such a unit is GS Caltex’s 60 kBPSD Vacuum Residue Hydrocracker, which was commissioned the 3rd quarter of 2010 just 42 months after the kick-off of the Basic Engineering Design. This unit was able to achieve design throughput and conversion within 40 days of introducing vacuum residue feed and has been able to realize an on-stream factor of 94 percent over its first 18 months of operation, exceeding industry norms by 4 percent. In addition to the extended conversion capabilities of our LC-FINING process, Chevron Lummus Global has proceeded to develop the LC-MAX process to further alleviate conversion constraints. LC-MAX combines LCFINING and solvent deasphalting in an integrated hydroprocessing configuration, enabling residue conversions of 85 volume percent to be attained, even when processing very difficult high sediment forming opportunity crudes.