AM-92-44 OPTIMIZING THE BENEFITS OF HYDROTREATING TO FLUID CATALYTIC CRACKING

Description:

Benefits of hydrotreating to provide better feeds for the fluid catalytic cracking unit have been enlarged as refiners face deteriorating quality in crude supplies and stricter environmental constraints for transportation fuels. Giventhelimitedselectioninthetypeof feedstock, thehydrotreater operation can be optimized by proper choice of catalyst type and operating severity. The FCC product slate can be further optimized by careful selection of the FCC catalyst and operating conditions. This paper discusses the results of optimizing hydrotreater and FCC operation. Economic analyses are presented comparing the profits realized by optimizing either the hydrotreater or the FCCU individually, to the combined optimization of both units. An example is given indicating that combined optimization of the hydrotreating and FCC catalysts and operating severities gives a synergy which results in greater profitability than separate optimization.