AM-97-09 KOCH EAST PLANT FLEXICRACKING UNIT FEED INJECTION SYSTEM REPLACEMENT PROJECT

Description:

This paper summarizes Koch Refining Company L.P.‘s (KRC) experience with a recent FCC unit feed injection technology replacement project. The project, implemented at Koch Refining’s East Plant Refinery in Corpus Christi, Texas, was collaborated by Exxon Research and Engineering Company (ER&E) as the technology licenser and by Tru-Tee Division (Tru-Tee) of Koch Engineering Company Inc. who provided much of the advanced monitoring support needed to assess the technical effectiveness of the new facility. The 1996 project involved replacement of flat fan feed injectors with ER&E’s latest generation of feed injectors and introduction of a modified feed injection zone. Additional instrumentation was provided to enable assessment and control of the new system performance through monitoring critical process/hydrodynamic parameters independent of yield measurements. Ultimately, sufficient yield balances were obtained to vet-i@ considerable conversion, selectivity, dry gas and. coke yield effects associated with the feed injection system replacement project. The base case technology at Koch’s Corpus Christi East Plant Refinery involves ER&E’s FLEXICRACKING Unit started up in 1980. During the base case operation, the unit processed a 25 API gravity feed with a typical concarbon number of 0.6 wt%. With this feedstock the unit achieved about 75 Iv% conversion level. Other process conditions are characterized by about 5.3 catalyst to oil ratio with catalyst MAT activity at about 64. Under those conditions the unit produced about 55 Iv% of gasoline and about 4.4 wt% of dry gas which imposes a limitation on the unit capacity and/or conversion capability. The base case feed injection system uses ER&E’s radial feed injector technology upgraded during the 1989 unit turnaround. Currently, the unit does not deploy a Short Contact Time (SCT) riser termination device.