Improving the Performance of

FCC Plants by Oxygen Enrichment

FCC plants are used to convert vacuum gas oil, often mixed with residues
from atmospheric distillation, vacuum distillation and visbreaking, into
lighter hydrocarbon fractions. The products are a gas fraction (primarily
C3 /C4), a liquid fraction (primarily gasoline) and coke as a solid. The coke
on the catalyst is burnt off during regeneration.

Basic schematic of an FCC plant Cracked gases

Off-gas
(FCC = fluid catalytic cracker)
Steam Cracked gasoline
Steam 1

4
Boiler 3
feed
water 1: FCC-reactor
2: Regenerator
t, Cracked gas oil
ys 3: Steam boiler
tal ed
2 Ca oad 4: Fractionation
l
5. Recycle oil
Residual oil

Regeneration air
regCata
en lys 5
Oxygen era t,
ted

Vacuum gas oil Recycle oil

Advantages Oxygen enrichment during regeneration results in higher plant efficiency because
it is then possible
 to increase the capacity of the plant
 to be more flexible in the selection of feedstock, especially to enable use
of heavier feedstock with a greater tendency to form coke
 to raise the conversion ratio and the gasoline yield
 to reduce the by-products
 to reduce CO in the regenerator off-gases
 to achieve less abrasion of the catalyst and less erosion of the cyclones
for catalyst separation through smaller gas streams

74
Test results from an 72.5

experimental plant 72 Conversion ratio at 27% by vol. O2

Conversion ratio (weight %)

70
Conversion ratio at 21% by vol. O2
70.0 68.3
68.8
68

66
65.8
64
62.5

62
Increase in load
60
61.6 Increase in
conversion
58
Feed rate (%)
56
90 95 100 105 110 115 120 125 130 135 140
 Application
Oxygen supply possibilities
Service offer
Linde Technische Gase GmbH
Seitnerstraße 70
82049 Höllriegelskreuth
Tel.: +49 (0) 89 74 46-0
Fax: +49 (0) 89 74 46-1230
http://www.linde.de/linde-gas
Subject to change
The oxygen content in the regeneration air is usually raised to a maximum of
28 % by volume.
Liquefied oxygen tank
Process control system
Evaporator for the FCC plant
Controller
ECOVAR®
On-site plant
Measuring
and Air blower of
control unit FCC regenerator
Air and
oxygen to
Pipeline from FCC regenerator
central supply point Air
Gas distributor
Schematic of oxygen enrichment in an FCC plant
Depending on the oxygen requirement and infrastructure of the refinery, the
oxygen can be supplied
 by a liquid supply system
 by an on-site plant
 through a pipeline
Liquefied tank supply is used when the oxygen requirement varies strongly. An
on-site plant is economical when oxygen is required continuously at throughputs
of 300 Nm3/h and more. It delivers oxygen in a purity of 90 % to 94 % by vol.
 Integration of the specially designed oxygen distributor in the pipeline
 Integration of the oxygen supply system in the process control and safety
system of the FCC plant by way of a measuring and control unit
 Execution of tests with the customer’s oils and residues in a test FCC plant
 Analysis of the composition of the products
Printed on chlorine-free bleached paper.
 Performance of profitability calculations
 Investigation and supply of the optimum means of oxygen supply
 Installation of the equipment for oxygen supply and start-up
 Supply of oxygen
Further publications on our complete range of products are available in all our
sales offices. Please consult our specialists for advice.
8796/3 05.00 - 1.3 ku