AM-99-18 FCCU PARTICULATE EMISSIONS CONTROL FOR THE REFINERY MACT II STANDARD- SYSTEM DESIGN FOR THE 21st CENTURY

Description:

With the anticipated promulgation of the refinery MACT II standard, many refiners are faced with a significant capital expenditure to achieve compliance with FCCU regenerator emissions. One of the most critical issues that should be examined is how the selected control equipment will meet the needs of MACT II while also having significant flexibility to meet any future needs without extensive capital intensive modifications. To illustrate the key issues involved in this decision, two of the most relevant equipment choices, wet scrubbing systems and electrostatic precipitators, are examined in detail. The two systems are compared by both capital and operating costs in a configuration that will achieve the MACT II standard. Each system is then examined with respect to its ability to accommodate process increases, feedstock changes, and additional emissions requirements. The systems are also examined with respect to economics, performance, flexibility, and reliability. To illustrate the analysis, a case history from a refinery which evaluated these factors is presented to show how this important decision can affect the refinery’s future profitability and flexibility.