PRACTICAL TROUBLESHOOTING IN THE FCC WITH CFD

Yousuo Digieneni

Department of Chemical Engineering

Niger Delta University, Yenagoa, Bayelsa State of Nigeria.

E-mail: digieneniyousuo@yahoo.com.

ABSTRACT

Fluid catalytic cracking (FCC) is an extremely complex process and, as a result, unit operators can encounter numerous costly and difficult FCC problems. COMSOL Multiphysics Computational Fluid Dynamics (CFD) software is used to troubleshoot the FCC process. The Port Harcourt Refinery Company (PHRC) plant was used as a case study. The ten-lump kinetic model was used in studying the hydrodynamics and yield in the FCC process. The results showed that application of COMSOL Multiphysics CFD software by an experienced FCC and CFD specialists, combining empirical data with theoretical models provides a powerful tool for successfully troubleshooting FCC problems.