Advanced modeling of riser-type catalytic cracking reactors

摘要

Various aspects of the advanced modeling of riser-type catalytic cracking reactors are discussed in this paper. A new kinetic modeling approach for the catalytic cracking process is introduced, based on carbenium ion chemistry. Single-event kinetic modeling leads to kinetic parameters which are truly invariant of the gas oil feedstock composition. Since the new kinetic modeling approach requires a detailed analysis of the gas oil feedstock, the characterization of heavy petroleum fractions by means of liquid chromatography and GC-MS analysis is briefly discussed. A three-dimensional (3-D) mathematical model for the simulation of a riser reactor is introduced, using computational fluid dynamics techniques. The model includes a detailed hydrodynamic model. Special attention is devoted to the modeling of the inlet zone of the riser, where the gas oil feedstock is vaporized. The 3-D riser model is validated against experimental data from an industrial riser reactor.