Post on 07-Mar-2018
transcript
Increasing FCC
propylene yield
Rudolf Látka, Vladimír Oleríny and Norbert Kováč, Slovnaft
Tom Ventham, Johnson Matthey Process Technologies
2
Reprinted from Petroleum Technology Quarterly, Catalysis 2016
A new 22000 bpd FCC unit was
constructed by Slovnaft in 1999. Slovnaft
is Slovakia’s only modern, fully integrated
refin ery. The FCC processes mainly
hydrotreated VGO feed with typical
unit objec tives of LPG and gasoline
production. High value LPG components
are sought for downstream processes
such as polypropylene, ETBE and
alkylation. The FCC limitation is typi cally
found in the gas concentration section
(LPG Merox, C3 splitter).
FCC propylene study
In 2014 Slovnaft investigated
modifications to increase propylene
production. The typical propylene yield
from the Bratislava refinery FCC unit is
approximately 6 wt% on a fresh feed
basis. Industry experience has shown
standard FCC units with VGO feed are
typically capable of producing up to
10-12 wt% propylene by implementing
relatively simple techniques that
maximise gasoline overcracking to LPG
and retain olefinicity.
Slovnaft performed a signifi cant
amount of research in this area and
identified several options that could
increase propylene output from the
FCC unit. The company decided to take
a stepwise approach by performing
tests to determine the capabilities and
sensitivities of methods to define the
opti mum strategy to be implemented.
This research concluded that the most
effective way for Slovnaft to increase
FCC propylene yield would be the use of
a high activity ZSM-5 additive.
Propylene market demands
Slovnaft was pursuing methods to
elevate propylene production because
of the worldwide market trend of
increased propylene demand and value.
The drive for propylene is mainly to
satisfy petrochemical industry demands,
especially growth in polypropylene
demand (see Figures 1 and 2).1,2
Based on 2011 data, approximately
68% of refinery produced propylene is
supplied to the chemicals industry.3 Of
the chemical industry’s total propylene
requirement of 109 million t/y, 35%
is produced by refinery processes (of
which the FCC process itself accounts
for 97%), 57% is produced by steam
crackers and 8% by ‘on-purpose’
propylene processes (see Figure 3).3
Propylene demand is expected to
continue to increase by almost 5% a
year, with new propylene production
capacity not expected to keep up with
this demand growth, resulting in the
appearance of a ‘propylene gap’.3
Supply-side effects are also impacting
this situation. In China, demand is
outstripping investment in traditional
sources of propylene production, and
in North America, the shift to shale
gas based ethane feedstocks for
steam crackers has reduced propylene
generation from this traditional source
of the commodity. This trend is expected
to be observed in Europe too as imports
of American shale gas to European
steam crack ers will add to the propylene
imbalance.4 Although various propylene
on-demand projects will look to fill this
propylene gap, there will be a lag before
this extra supply is realised. In addition,
3
A test run with ZSM-5 additive demonstrated to a refinery that it could
significantly raise production of propylene in the FCC
Increasing FCC propylene yield
Reprinted from Petroleum Technology Quarterly, Catalysis 2016
Others
Acrylonitrileproduction
Propylene oxide
Polypropylene production
Figure 1 Industrial uses of propylene1
60
100
90
80
70
50
40
30
20
10
Mar
ket
volu
me, m
illio
n t
ons
0
Films
Textiles
Others
Injection moulding
2012 2013 2014 2015 2016 2017 2018 2019 2020 2021 2022
55.83
Figure 2 Projected polypropylene market growth 2012-20222
4
Reprinted from Petroleum Technology Quarterly, Catalysis 2016
many of these projects will be sensitive to
commodity and crude oil prices as well
as political and environ mental pressures
that are apparent in the regions where
many of these projects are located, such
as China. The FCC unit remains a flexible
and cost-effective method for increasing
propylene production to fill the demand
gap.
ZSM-5 test run plans
The additive chosen by Slovnaft
for this test run was Intercat
SUPER Z EXCELTM supplied by Johnson
Matthey. Designed for high propylene
FCC operations, SUPER Z EXCEL has
high activity and stability, resulting
in the efficient generation of propylene.
In cooperation with Johnson Matthey,
Slovnaft developed an estimate
to anticipate the yield and octane
improvements that would be observed
when adding SUPER Z EXCEL (see
Table 1).
The main yield shift expected was an
increase in the propyl ene yield followed
by a boost in butylenes yield. The yield of
isobutane was also expected to increase.
Although ZSM-5 only produces olefins,
because isobutene is the most readily
saturated LPG molecule via hydrogen
transfer, isobutane yield also increases
with ZSM-5 due to the secondary effect
of converting some of the produced
isobutylene via hydrogen transfer on the
main catalyst.
It was predicted that, following the
increase in LPG, the net yield reduction
would be from gasoline. Although the
estimate shows a small reduction in
LCO yield this is due to the reported
low gasoline/LCO cutpoint at Slovnaft
being below the standard 221°C cutpoint
(gasoline 90% boiling point being
170°C). An unchanged bottoms yield
was predicted as ZSM-5 only cracks
molecules found in lighter intermediate
product ranges. There is also no change
expected in the coke yield, as ZSM-5 is
heat balance neutral, so will not typically
alter the coke requirements of the
system.
As part of this estimate an addition
plan was developed (see Table 2) for
loading the additive over the course of
the test run. This started with a base
load phase during the first seven days to
quickly boost the additive concentration
to the working level. Following the base
load, a maintenance dose regime was
planned to preserve the correct level of
ZSM-5 activ ity for the remainder of the
test run period.
Due to unrelated disturbances in
upstream units during the initial stages
of the test run Slovnaft were not able
to precisely follow the planned loading
protocol. However, sufficient amounts of
SUPER Z EXCEL were added to attain
the concentrations needed to observe
yield responses.
ZSM-5 is a fast acting addi tive,
meaning yield changes can typically be
seen after the first week of addition.
The octane improvement with ZSM-5
requires the full concentration of the
additive to be present at steady state to
determine the entire benefit.
LPG yield effects
When SUPER Z EXCEL additions to
the FCC unit began, the propylene yield
responded almost immediately. Figure 4
shows the change in propylene yield as
ZSM-5 was introduced.
Slovnaft estimated that the typical
FCC propylene yield without ZSM-5 was
averaging 6 wt% prior to the start of the
test run. As ZSM-5 was added in base
load, with over 2.5 tonnes of additive
added in the first four days of the test
run, the propylene response was major,
with propylene yield exceeding 9 wt%
in the first week. This represents a 50%
increase.
On-demand processes8%
Steam crackers57%
Refinery processes(97% from FCC)35%
Figure 1 Industrial uses of propylene1
SUPER-Z EXCEL in FCC unit, wt%
FCC gasoline octane boost
RON gain
MON gain
Yield shifts, %C
2 or lighter, wt% / vol%
C3=, wt% / vol%
C3, wt% / vol%
Total C4=s, wt% / vol%
iC4=, wt% / vol%
nC4=, wt% / vol%
nC4, wt% / vol%
4iC , wt% / vol%
Gasoline, wt% / vol%
LCO, wt% / vol%
Bottoms, wt% / vol%
Coke, wt% / vol%
2.5%
1.3
0.5
No change
1.7 / 3.0
No change
1.0 / 1.5
0.3 / 0.4
0.7 / 1.0
No change
0.5 / 0.8
-3.0 / -3.7
-0.1 / -0.1
No change
No change
5.0%
1.9
0.8
No change
2.9 / 5.2
No change
1.7 / 2.6
0.5 / 0.8
1.2 / 1.8
No change
0.8 / 1.3
-5.2 / -6.4
-0.3 / -0.2
No change
No change
7.5%
2.2
0.9
No change
3.8 / 6.6No change
2.2 / 3.3
0.6 / 1.0
1. / 2.3
No change
1.0 / 1.7
-6.7 / -8.2
-0.3 /- 0.3
No change
No change
Projections of SUPER Z EXCEL performance at Slovnaft
Table 1
5
A constant ZSM-5 addition rate
followed the base load, leading to
a gradual increase in the inventory
concentration. The addition rate was
increased again towards the end of the
test run, leading to a second propylene
yield peak above 9 wt%. When the
test run ended, the ZSM-5 concentra-
tion decayed along with the propylene
yield, with the propylene half-life of
SUPER Z EXCEL measured to be in the
range of 23 days. The propylene yield
remained above the base line for six
weeks, falling to only 7 wt% at the end of
the data set compared to the base line
of 6 wt%. This shows that residual ZSM-
5 activity was still present six weeks after
the final addition. Based on the period
when ZSM-5 concentration exceeded
5 wt% in the inventory to the final day
of additions, the average propylene yield
reached 8.9 wt%, or a 47% increase on
the base line.
It was also observed that the total
LPG yield (see Figure 5) increased when
ZSM-5 was intro duced to the FCC unit
and continued to climb for the rest of
the test run as ZSM-5 concentra tion
increased. By the end of the test run,
the total LPG yield increased 7 wt%
compared to the pre-test run base
line. It was expected that the total LPG
increase would be made up of 55-
60% propylene and 45-40% butylene
with some satu ration of produced
isobutylene via hydrogen transfer on the
main catalyst.
Unfortunately, due to the short
duration of this test run, steady state
was not reached. After additive additions
were stopped, LPG yield declined as
the activity of the ZSM-5 present in
the inventory decayed. Although the
abruptness of the decay appears
dramatic this only repre sents a partial
decay of the most active part of the
ZSM-5 cracking functionality. When
Reprinted from Petroleum Technology Quarterly, Catalysis 2016
2.5% 5.0% 7.5%
30 61 94
310 630 950
190
370
570
170
330
510
130 260
400
SUPER Z EXCEL in FCC unit, wt%
SUPER Z EXCEL Additions
Steady state, kg /day
Accelerated policy
Day 1, kg/day
Days 2 and 3, kg /day
Days 4 and 5, kg /day
Days 6 and 7, kg /day
Days 8+, kg /day
30
61
94
SUPER Z EXCEL addition protocol for Slovnaft test run
Table 2
8
9
10
7
6Pro
pyl
en
e y
ield
,
wt%
5
6
8
10
4
2
SZE
co
nce
ntr
ati
on
,
wt%
0
28/10/2
014
17/11/2
014
7/12/2
014
27/12/2
014
16/1/2
015
15/4/2
015
25/2//2
015
SZE concentration
Propylene
Start StopSUPER Z EXCEL
SZE concentration
Propppylylylene
Figure 4 Propylene yield on a mass feed basis
29
27
25
23
21LPG
yie
ld, w
t%
19
1/1/2
014
2/3/2
014
1/5//2
014
30/6/2
014
29/8/2
014
28/10/2
014
27/12/2
014
25/2/2
015
Start Stop
SUPER Z EXCEL
Shutdown
Start-up
Figure 5 Total LPG (all C3 and C
4 components) yield on a mass feed basis
25
29
27
23
21
LPG
yie
ld, w
t%
19
600
1000
800
1200
400
200 LPG
yie
ld, kg/d
ay
0
28/10/2
014
17/11/2
014
7/12/2
014
27/12/2
014
16/1/2
015
5/2/2
015
25/2/2
015
SZE additions
LPG yield
Start StopSUPER Z EXCEL
Figure 6 Total LPG yield on a mass feed basis and ZSM-5 addition rate
6
Reprinted from Petroleum Technology Quarterly, Catalysis 2016
analys ing the decay, it was noticed that
the ZSM-5 deactivates in two stages.
The first decay is of the component in
ZSM-5 chiefly responsible for producing
high quantities of propylene. This is
the most active or highest acidity part
of ZSM-5, which deactivates most
rapidly, resulting in the LPG decrease
observed immedi ately following the
end of SUPER Z EXCEL additions. The
second component of ZSM-5 activity is
of lower interstitial acidity and is hence
more stable. This secondary ZSM-5
activity mainly produces butylenes and
deactivates more slowly, mean ing the
total LPG yield remained well above the
base line level due to this residual activity
still being present in the weeks after
additive additions were stopped.
Testing unit response to sudden
ZSM-5 additive additions
Part of the plan was to test the
response of the FCC unit to large,
sudden additions of ZSM-5 additive.
Three tests were run where spikes of
high ZSM-5 additions of more than 500
kg/day were made (see Figure 6). The
initial spike was part of the base load of
SUPER Z EXCEL. The second two spikes
were used by Slovnaft to test the unit
response to high ZSM-5 additions as the
test run neared its conclusion. In each
of these three cases, the response of
increasing LPG yield was clearly visible.
It was noted that, as expected,
propane yield did not increase
significantly with SUPER Z EXCEL (see
Figure 7). ZSM-5 does not directly
increase propane yield as the chemistry
only allows for the generation of olefins.
However, a small frac tion of the propylene
produced by ZSM-5 can be saturated to
propane via hydrogen transfer on the
FCC main catalyst. This reaction is very
slow, so only a small increase in propane
was observed.
1.6
1.91.81.7
1.51.41.31.21.1P
rop
an
e y
ield
,
wt%
0
1/1/2
014
2/3/2
014
1/5//2
014
30/6/2
014
29/8/2
014
28/10/2
014
27/12/2
014
25/2/2
015
Start Stop
SUPER Z EXCEL
ShutdownStart-up
Figure 7 Propane yield on a mass feed basis
Figure 10 Iso-butane and n-butane yields on a mass feed basis
Figure 9 Iso-butylene and n-butylene yields on a mass feed basis
2.4
2.2
2.0
1.8
1.6Iso
-bu
tyle
ne
yield
, vo
l%
1.4
7.5
7.0
6.5
6.0
5.5
No
rmal-
bu
tyle
ne
yield
, vo
l%
5.0
1/1/2
014
2/3/2
014
1/5//2
014
30/6/2
014
29/8/2
014
28/10/2
014
27/12/2
014
25/2/2
015
n-C 4
i-C 4 Start Stop
SUPER Z EXCEL
ShutdownStart-up
4
2
8
6
4
n-C 4
6.5
7.0 1.8
1.6
1.4
1.2
1.0
No
rmal-
bu
tan
e
yield
, vo
l%
0.8
6.0
5.5
5.0
4.5
4.0Iso
-bu
tan
e y
ield
, vo
l%
3.5
1/1/2
014
2/3/2
014
1/5//2
014
30/6/2
014
29/8/2
014
28/10/2
014
27/12/2
014
25/2/2
015
n-C4
i-C4 Start Stop
SUPER Z EXCEL
ShutdownStart-up
5
0
5
0
5
0
5
Figure 8 C3 olefinicity defined at propylene yield/propane yield
6.5
7.0
6.0
5.5
5.0
4.5
4.0
C3 o
lefi
nic
ity
3.5
1/1/2
014
2/3/2
014
1/5//2
014
30/6/2
014
29/8/2
014
28/10/2
014
27/12/2
014
25/2/2
015
Start Stop
SUPER Z EXCEL
Shutdown
Start-up
LPG olefinicity effects
By increasing propylene yield without
a major change in propane yield, an
increase in C3 olefinicity was clearly
observed (see Figure 8) as the test run
progressed. This olefinicity increase was
another way Slovnaft measured ZSM-5
effectiveness and was another proof that
the propylene yield increase was due to
the addition of SUPER Z EXCEL and not
the result of an increase in conversion or
a shift to a more crackable feed.
Slovnaft also observed changes in
the C4 yield structure (see Figure 9), with
a higher yield of butylenes with ZSM-5.
Although ZSM-5 produces significant
amounts of unsatu rated C4 material,
less saturated material is directly
produced (see Figure 10). A common
observation when using ZSM-5 is that
a portion of the iso-bu tylene produced
becomes saturated to iso-butane via
hydrogen transfer on the main catalyst.
A noteworthy increase in iso-butane was
not observed during this test run due
to low rare earth on fresh catalyst (~1
wt% rare earth oxide), resulting in weak
hydrogen transfer capabilities.
Slovnaft also noticed that conversion
in the ETBE unit improved as a result
of an increase in the amount of isobu-
tylene fed to the unit originating from
the FCC unit. These secondary indicators
of increased LPG olefins produc-
tion from the FCC unit when using
SUPER Z EXCEL gave Slovnaft further
confidence in the benefits using such an
addi tive can give.
ZSM-5 additive effect on FCC
conversion
A concern often expressed by
refiners who are unfamiliar with the
use of ZSM-5 additives is whether the
addition of large amounts of ZSM-5 will
cause dilution of the main FCC catalyst,
and cause a loss in FCC conversion. This
was moni tored very closely by Slovnaft,
and it was observed that conversion
did not vary signifi cantly (see Figure 11)
during the test run period, demonstrating
no negative effects on unit conversion
through use of the additive.
Feed quality is a very strong driver
of conver sion at Slovnaft. As conversion
was at the low end (~75 wt%) of the
normal conversion range (75-85 wt%),
this indicates the feed quality during
the test run period was poor. Poor feed
quality and low unit conversion would
normally result in low LPG yields without
the presence of active ZSM-5. Poor feed
quality may also result in a reduction in
the presence of crackable mate rial in
the gasoline range for ZSM-5 to convert
7Reprinted from Petroleum Technology Quarterly, Catalysis 2016
84
88
86
82
80
78
76
74
Un
it c
on
vers
ion
,
wt%
72
1/1/2
014
2/3/2
014
1/5//2
014
30/6/2
014
29/8/2
014
28/10/2
014
27/12/2
014
25/2/2
015
Start Stop
SUPER Z EXCEL
Shutdown
Start-up
Figure 11 Unit conversion (100-LCO-DCO)
0.66
0.720.700.68
0.640.620.600.580.56
Gaso
line c
on
v.,
wt%
/wt%
0.54
1/1/2
014
2/3/2
014
1/5//2
014
30/6/2
014
29/8/2
014
28/10/2
014
27/12/2
014
25/2/2
015
Start Stop
SUPER Z EXCEL
Shutdown
Start-up
Figure 12 Gasoline selectivity (gasoline yield/conversion)
96.0
95.5
94.0
93.5
93.0
92.5
RO
N
92.0
82.6
82.4
82.2
83.0
82.8
82.0
81.881.6
MO
N
81.4
1/1/2
014
2/3/2
014
1/5//2
014
30/6/2
014
29/8/2
014
28/10/2
014
27/12/2
014
25/2/2
015
Start StopSUPER Z EXCEL
ShutdownStart-up
MONRON
Figure 13 RON and MON values of FCC gasoline
Reprinted from Petroleum Technology Quarterly, Catalysis 2016
93.6
94.4
94.2
94.8
94.6
94.0
93.8
93.4
93.2
93.0
92.8
92.6
RO
N
92.447 48 49 50 51 52 53 54 55 56
Reid Vapour Pressure, kPa
Base
SUPER Z EXCEL
Figure 14 Cross-plot of gasoline RON octane versus gasoline RVP
30
45
50
40
35
25
20
15
10
5
Ob
serv
ati
on
s, %
0
0 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10
Base propylene yield, wt%
Mean = 5.7Slovnaft SZE trial = 6.0
Figure 15 Histogram of base propylene yield in a number of commercial FCC units
15
25
30
20
10
5
Ob
serv
ati
on
s, %
00 0.5 1.0 1.5 2.0 2.5 3.0 More
Δ Propylene yield, wt%
Slovnaft SZE trial = 3.0Mean = 1.1
Figure 16 Histogram of delta propylene yield with ZSM-5 in a number of commercial FCC units
8
to LPG. This suggests a more challenging
environ ment for ZSM-5 to be operating
in.
Gasoline selectivity effects
The ZSM-5 effect was also seen by
looking at gasoline selectivity (see Figure
12). Gasoline selectivity was relatively
constant through the base line period.
(Operational changes that increase
conversion will also tend to generate
gasoline yield increases of a similar
order.) However, when SUPER Z EXCEL
was introduced, the gasoline was cracked
to LPG with no change in conversion.
This resulted in a step drop in gaso line
selectivity due to ZSM-5. The shape
of this trend also proved to Slovnaft
that SUPER Z EXCEL was still actively
cracking gasoline to LPG by the end of
the data set, with gasoline selec tivity still
below the typical level observed before
the start of the test run.
Gasoline octane effects
As well as generating LPG olefins,
SUPER Z EXCEL was also effective in
increasing gasoline octane number (see
Figure 13).
It was thought that some of the
increase in octane was due to the slip
of LPG components into the gasoline
product. However, when Slovnaft looked
at this data on a cross-plot (see Figure
14), the RON octane values measured
during the test run were above
expectation at the gasoline Reid vapour
pres sure values observed at that time.
Comparing test run results to industry
averages
It has already been shown that
Slovnaft successfully increased
propylene yield from the FCC
unit. But how did these results compare
to industry trends? Using Johnson
Matthey’s data base of ZSM-5 tests,
Slovnaft compared their results to
general trends.
Firstly, it was seen that the base line
propylene yield at Slovnaft was already
higher than the average over all the
cases stud ied (see Figure 15).
This is not overly surprising as the FCC
feed processed at Slovnaft is of generally
good qual ity, being hydrotreated VGO,
and so is easily cracked. Moreover, the
FCC unit is operated in a high severity
mode conducive to high propylene
yields, with an average riser temperature
of 536°C.
This high base line propylene may
suggest further large increases may
be challenging if the paradigm of a
maximum propylene yield ceiling is to be
believed.
Despite the high base line propylene
yield, the 3 wt% propylene increase
seen at Slovnaft was far above average
(see Figure 16), confirming that the
ZSM-5 test run at Slovnaft had been
successful. Some FCC units operating
in a deep maxi mum propylene mode
are able to achieve propylene yield
increases of 5 wt% or greater when
using large amounts of ZSM-5 (10-30%
of total catalyst additions), showing that
there is further scope for Slovnaft if large
propylene yields are desired.
It was found that the concen tration
of ZSM-5 used during the Slovnaft
SUPER Z EXCEL test run was above the
average compared to Johnson Matthey's
INTERCATJM
TM ZSM-5 trial database (see
Figure 17). However, it should be remem-
bered that this was a condensed test run
conducted over a short time period to
test the advances in propylene yield
that could be achieved. Therefore, the
SUPER Z EXCEL concentration did not
reach a steady state that would generate
a stable propylene yield response at a
constant ZSM-5 concentration.
Despite not reaching a steady state
ZSM-5 concentration during this brief
test run, the propylene yield increase
per mass amount of ZSM-5 concen-
tration in the FCC inventory was above
the observed test run average (see
Figure 18). Although this measure
is only judged fairly once the FCC
inventory composition and FCC opera-
tion have reached a steady state of
the combination, the sensitivity of the
Slovnaft FCC unit to ZSM-5 use and the
high cracking activity of SUPER Z EXCEL
mean the results observed exceeded
normal expectations.
Conclusions
The FCC team at Slovnaft successfully
executed a short but instructive study
to determine the additional propylene
yield that could be attained from the
Bratislava refinery FCC unit. The ZSM-5
test run was carried out over a period of
49 days using Intercat SUPER Z EXCEL
from Johnson Matthey. The results from
this test run show a rapid and significant
increase in LPG olefins, with the average
propyl ene yield increasing from 6.1
to 8.9 wt% on a fresh feed basis. The
high propylene yield results recorded
elevated the Slovnaft FCC unit to a similar
percentage of propylene production
9
Reprinted from Petroleum Technology Quarterly, Catalysis 2016
30
50
45
40
35
25
20
15
10
5
Ob
serv
ati
on
s, %
0
0 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 More
ZSM-5 concentration in FCC inventory, wt%
Mean = 3.1
Slovnaft SZE trial = 5.9
Figure 17 Histogram of ZSM-5 concentration in a number of commercial FCC units
30
50
45
40
35
25
20
15
10
5
Ob
serv
ati
on
s, %
00 0.1 0.2 0.3 0.4 0.5 0.6 0.7 0.8 0.9 1.0 1.1
Propylene yield per wt% additive, wt%/wt%
Mean = 0.35Slovnaft SZE trial = 0.51
Figure 18 Histogram of propylene yield increase over ZSM-5 concentration in a number of commercial FCC units
as with dedicated maximum propylene
FCC units designed specifically for high
propylene yields. In addition, increases in
butylenes, total LPG and gasoline octane
value were observed, which is consistent
with high activity ZSM-5 use.
In the view of Slovnaft, this test run
delivered numerous benefits that would
assist future projects and strategies.
The most important benefit was the
proof that propylene yield could be
successfully increased from the FCC
unit and could be exploited to fill the
additional propylene demand that exists
in the Slovnaft refinery if bottle necks were
removed. The second discovery was that
the test run revealed previously unknown
bottlenecks or opera tional pinch points
when the FCC unit is operated in maxi-
mum propylene mode, such as the
loss of LPG components to dry gas
and gasoline either due to equipment
capacity or a shift in operational
protocols when operating in this novel
mode. These findings will be used as
inputs in future FCC debottlenecking
studies. Finally, the test run gave Slovnaft
expe rience in ZSM-5 operation including
the LPG response when adding large
spikes of additive to the FCC unit, how
downstream equipment is impacted as
the composition of the LPG cut changes
with ZSM-5, and the decay period after
additions have ceased. Overall, this
brief test run of SUPER Z EXCEL gave
Slovnaft a wealth of useful information
that can now be used when plan ning
future strategies to increase refinery
profitability.
References
1 Propylene: 2015 World Market
Outlook and Forecast up to 2019, Jun
2015.
2 Synthetic & Bio-Based
Polypropylene Market Analysis by
Application and Segment Forecasts to
2022, Jun 2015.
3 Refinery sources will fill the
future propylene gap, Oil & Gas Journal,
Vol 101, No 4, 27 Jan 2013.
4 WoodMac: China, North
America face propylene oversupply, Oil &
Gas Journal, Vol 112, No 9d, 29 Sept 2014.
Rudolf Látka is a Chemical Engineer
with Slovnaft, a member of the MOL
Group. With more than 30 years of
experience in the oil and gas industry,
he has participated in the preparation,
realisation, operation and optimisation of
the FCC complex, a part of the refinery
Residuum Processing Project for resid
conversion to gasoline. He retired at the
end of 2015.
Vladimir Oleríny is an Operative
Maintenance Coordinator for the FCC
and hydrocracking complex at Slovnaft
refinery. From the initial FCC start-up
in 1999 until 2012, he worked as a FCC
Panel Operator. He holds a master’s
degree in chemical engineering from
Slovak University of Technology in
Bratislava.
Norbert Kovác is a Process Engineer
with Slovnaft. He previously worked at
both the Danube refinery and TVK (now
MOL Petrochemicals), holding various
positions including Energy Efficiency
Engineer. He holds a master’s degree in
chemical engineering from the University
of Pannonia, Veszprém.
Tom Ventham is a Senior Technical
Service Engineer for Johnson Matthey.
He has held this position since 2010,
supporting refineries in Europe, and he
previously worked for MW Kellogg Ltd as
a Process Engineer and Murco Milford
Haven refinery in the position of FCC
Engineer. He holds a master’s degree
in chemical engineering from Imperial
College, London, and is a Chartered
10
Reprinted from Petroleum Technology Quarterly, Catalysis 2016
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11
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