A Review of Modelling of the FCC Unit–Part I: The Riser

Heavy petroleum industries, including the fluid catalytic cracking (FCC) unit, are useful for producing fuels but they are among some of the biggest contributors to global greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions. The recent global push for mitigation efforts against climate change has resulted in increased l...

Full description

Bibliographic Details
Main Authors: Thabang W. Selalame, Raj Patel, Iqbal M. Mujtaba, Yakubu M. John
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: MDPI AG 2022-01-01
Series:Energies
Subjects:
Online Access:https://www.mdpi.com/1996-1073/15/1/308
_version_ 1827668599500701696
author Thabang W. Selalame
Raj Patel
Iqbal M. Mujtaba
Yakubu M. John
author_facet Thabang W. Selalame
Raj Patel
Iqbal M. Mujtaba
Yakubu M. John
author_sort Thabang W. Selalame
collection DOAJ
description Heavy petroleum industries, including the fluid catalytic cracking (FCC) unit, are useful for producing fuels but they are among some of the biggest contributors to global greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions. The recent global push for mitigation efforts against climate change has resulted in increased legislation that affects the operations and future of these industries. In terms of the FCC unit, on the riser side, more legislation is pushing towards them switching from petroleum-driven energy sources to more renewable sources such as solar and wind, which threatens the profitability of the unit. On the regenerator side, there is more legislation aimed at reducing emissions of GHGs from such units. As a result, it is more important than ever to develop models that are accurate and reliable, that will help optimise the unit for maximisation of profits under new regulations and changing trends, and that predict emissions of various GHGs to keep up with new reporting guidelines. This article, split over two parts, reviews traditional modelling methodologies used in modelling and simulation of the FCC unit. In Part I, hydrodynamics and kinetics of the riser are discussed in terms of experimental data and modelling approaches. A brief review of the FCC feed is undertaken in terms of characterisations and cracking reaction chemistry, and how these factors have affected modelling approaches. A brief overview of how vaporisation and catalyst deactivation are addressed in the FCC modelling literature is also undertaken. Modelling of constitutive parts that are important to the FCC riser unit such as gas-solid cyclones, disengaging and stripping vessels, is also considered. This review then identifies areas where current models for the riser can be improved for the future. In Part II, a similar review is presented for the FCC regenerator system.
first_indexed 2024-03-10T03:43:02Z
format Article
id doaj.art-fada29f7462b43aabb44d5d80cc2e8ae
institution Directory Open Access Journal
issn 1996-1073
language English
last_indexed 2024-03-10T03:43:02Z
publishDate 2022-01-01
publisher MDPI AG
record_format Article
series Energies
spelling doaj.art-fada29f7462b43aabb44d5d80cc2e8ae2023-11-23T11:28:43ZengMDPI AGEnergies1996-10732022-01-0115130810.3390/en15010308A Review of Modelling of the FCC Unit–Part I: The RiserThabang W. Selalame0Raj Patel1Iqbal M. Mujtaba2Yakubu M. John3Department of Chemical Engineering, Faculty of Engineering and Informatics, University of Bradford, Bradford BD7 1DP, UKDepartment of Chemical Engineering, Faculty of Engineering and Informatics, University of Bradford, Bradford BD7 1DP, UKDepartment of Chemical Engineering, Faculty of Engineering and Informatics, University of Bradford, Bradford BD7 1DP, UKDepartment of Chemical Engineering, Faculty of Engineering and Informatics, University of Bradford, Bradford BD7 1DP, UKHeavy petroleum industries, including the fluid catalytic cracking (FCC) unit, are useful for producing fuels but they are among some of the biggest contributors to global greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions. The recent global push for mitigation efforts against climate change has resulted in increased legislation that affects the operations and future of these industries. In terms of the FCC unit, on the riser side, more legislation is pushing towards them switching from petroleum-driven energy sources to more renewable sources such as solar and wind, which threatens the profitability of the unit. On the regenerator side, there is more legislation aimed at reducing emissions of GHGs from such units. As a result, it is more important than ever to develop models that are accurate and reliable, that will help optimise the unit for maximisation of profits under new regulations and changing trends, and that predict emissions of various GHGs to keep up with new reporting guidelines. This article, split over two parts, reviews traditional modelling methodologies used in modelling and simulation of the FCC unit. In Part I, hydrodynamics and kinetics of the riser are discussed in terms of experimental data and modelling approaches. A brief review of the FCC feed is undertaken in terms of characterisations and cracking reaction chemistry, and how these factors have affected modelling approaches. A brief overview of how vaporisation and catalyst deactivation are addressed in the FCC modelling literature is also undertaken. Modelling of constitutive parts that are important to the FCC riser unit such as gas-solid cyclones, disengaging and stripping vessels, is also considered. This review then identifies areas where current models for the riser can be improved for the future. In Part II, a similar review is presented for the FCC regenerator system.https://www.mdpi.com/1996-1073/15/1/308fluid catalytic crackingrisercomplex mixtureshydrodynamicsmodelling
spellingShingle Thabang W. Selalame
Raj Patel
Iqbal M. Mujtaba
Yakubu M. John
A Review of Modelling of the FCC Unit–Part I: The Riser
Energies
fluid catalytic cracking
riser
complex mixtures
hydrodynamics
modelling
title A Review of Modelling of the FCC Unit–Part I: The Riser
title_full A Review of Modelling of the FCC Unit–Part I: The Riser
title_fullStr A Review of Modelling of the FCC Unit–Part I: The Riser
title_full_unstemmed A Review of Modelling of the FCC Unit–Part I: The Riser
title_short A Review of Modelling of the FCC Unit–Part I: The Riser
title_sort review of modelling of the fcc unit part i the riser
topic fluid catalytic cracking
riser
complex mixtures
hydrodynamics
modelling
url https://www.mdpi.com/1996-1073/15/1/308
work_keys_str_mv AT thabangwselalame areviewofmodellingofthefccunitpartitheriser
AT rajpatel areviewofmodellingofthefccunitpartitheriser
AT iqbalmmujtaba areviewofmodellingofthefccunitpartitheriser
AT yakubumjohn areviewofmodellingofthefccunitpartitheriser
AT thabangwselalame reviewofmodellingofthefccunitpartitheriser
AT rajpatel reviewofmodellingofthefccunitpartitheriser
AT iqbalmmujtaba reviewofmodellingofthefccunitpartitheriser
AT yakubumjohn reviewofmodellingofthefccunitpartitheriser