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• What hydrocracking reactor catalysts are demonstrating optimal mid-distillate selectivity, better yield structures, and more efficient use of hydrogen? In combination, which of these catalyst systems seems to be the most flexible in adjusting to feed quality variations and heavy feeds such as DAO and HVGO molecules?

  Mar-2023

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Answers

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• Steve DeLude, Becht, sdelude@becht.com

  Becht’s SMEs are aware that many catalyst suppliers are developing catalysts focused on reduced gas make, higher selectivity to middle distillates, improved final product properties (such as cold flow and cetane), and/or improved hydrogen use efficiency. Catalyst optimisation becomes a greater challenge when also combined with processing more difficult heavier feedstocks such as DAOs and HVGO streams. With these heavy streams, the ability to maintain high catalyst activity for HDS, cold flow improvement, and/or cetane boost may be compromised by catalyst poisoning, coke deposit formation, and pore mouth plugging.
  The refiner must work closely with the catalyst supplier to identify the best catalyst option (including multi-catalyst systems) for their unit and specific objectives while recognising feed variations and/or quality constraints.

   

  Mar-2023