Demand for white-oil products (gasoline and diesel) is increasing at an all-time high, while the demand for black-oil products such as fuel oil is declining. Consequently, refiners are taking more steps to convert black oil into white-oil products. Hydrocracking is the forefront processing method for such efforts. Hydrocracking can significandy improve refining margins by upgrading low-value products into higher-value, high-demand products. By applying hydrocracking, refiners can maintain a favorable balance between white-oil and black-oil products while achieving an optimum refinery throughput. The following examples explore the theory, process details and challenges associated with this high-temperature and high-pressure (HP) process when handling very difficult-to-crack heavy feeds. The presented case study will demonstrate potential pitfalls and disastrous aftereffects with selecting the wrong catalyst system for hydrocracking operations.
展开▼
