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Reactor design and optimization for converting crude (and refinery wastes) to chemicals in one step through revamped fluidized catalytic cracking

    Problem Statement

    Direct catalytic cracking of crude oil to chemicals could soon dominate the petrochemical industry, with lower fuel consumption and increased production of light olefins and aromatics. We aim to simplify the refinery into a single-step conversion scheme to produce the most demanded petrochemicals.

    Using a bottom-up holistic approach, we design a catalytic crude-to-chemicals process toward this goal. We investigate advanced reactors with intrinsic kinetic data and controlled hydrodynamics to improve the process. We study nonlinear multiscale phenomena by coupling hydrodynamics, heat transfer, and reaction kinetics.

    We use particle image velocimetry and optical probes, kinetic modeling, computational particle-fluid dynamics, and optimization approaches to improve operating scenarios and develop innovative reactor prototypes.

    We focus on the catalyst, reactor, and process levels to enhance and intensify the system. We are optimizing several state-of-the-art laboratory- and pilot-scale units, including a CircuBed®, a downer, and a multifunctional fluidized bed reactor.

    C2C-FCC

    Goals

    • Develop and scale up advanced reactors for converting crude oil to chemicals through fluid catalytic cracking, approaching intrinsic kinetics
    • Model process dynamics using reactive particle fluid dynamics coupled with experimental validations
    • Establish a design workflow for short-contact time reactors based on modeling, prototyping, and testing
    • Analyze the novel process developments in fluid catalytic cracking: novel feedstock, process modifications, etc.

    Related People

    Sherif Alabi
    Muhammed Ikbal Arikan
    Daffer AlYami
    Manel Nasfi
    Jose Ignacio Bielma Velasco
    Talal Aldugman
    Mengmeng Cui

    Related Publications

    One-step conversion of crude oil to light olefins using a multi-zone reactor

    by Alabdullah, Rodriguez Gomez, Shoinkhorova, Dikhtiarenko, Chowdhury, Hita, Vittenet, Sarathy, Castaño, Bendjeriou-Sedjarari, Abou-Hamad, Zhang, Ali, Morales-Osorio, Xu, Gascon
    Nat. Catal. Year: 2021

    Abstract

    With the demand for gasoline and diesel expected to decline in the near future, crude-to-chemicals technologies have the potential to become the most important processes in the petrochemical industry. This trend has triggered intense research to maximize the production of light olefins and aromatics at the expense of fuels, which calls for disruptive processes able to transform crude oil to chemicals in an efficient and environmentally friendly way. Here we propose a catalytic reactor concept consisting of a multi-zone fluidized bed that is able to perform several refining steps in a single reactor vessel. This configuration allows for in situ catalyst stripping and regeneration, while the incorporation of silicon carbide in the catalyst confers it with improved physical, mechanical and heat-transport properties. As a result, this reactor–catalyst combination has shown stable conversion of untreated Arabian Light crude into light olefins with yields per pass of over 30 wt% with a minimum production of dry gas.

    Keywords

    C2C HCE MKM CRE