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• What are the optimal unit configurations and combinations (e.g., FCC/hydrocracking) for increasing high-margins products, while reducing low-value streams (e.g., HSFO & LSFO)?

  Mar-2023

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Answers

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• Mel Larson, BECHT, mlarson@becht.com

  Using the premise, that a plant has no coking process.  The question boils down to hydrogen addition to carbon rejection and dehydrogenation.  Another way of looking is to consider the C/H ratio of the feeds to the C/H ratio of the desired products.  Considering this approach, the sequence of Hydrocracking before FCC with the FCC HCO as feed to the hydrocracker maximizes the first pass for hydrogen addition before carbon rejection and dehydrogenation.  The desired sequence depends upon the variables of feed quality and the optionality between diesel and gasoline on a seasonable basis while lowering the bottoms product low value FCC bottoms.  Further depending upon the sulfur and catalyst content of the net FCC bottoms it may have higher value as carbon black or premium pet coke feed vs bunker fuels.

   

  Mar-2023