Upgrading an olefin polymerisation unit

摘要

Olefin polymerisation and oligomerisation upgrade light olefins to C6-C12 transportation-grade fuel blendstocks with high research octane numbers (RON),but low motor octane numbers (MON,typically in the range of 80-82).A recently concluded study shows that a solid-acid catalyst (SAC) alkylation process can be used to effectively revamp olefin polymerisation units,allowing the MON to be upgraded from 81 to 94.According to the study's results,capital costs for the revamp were minimal,while the operating costs were unchanged from polymerisation.This upgrade to alkylation was done with negligible changes to the polymerisation process,giving the refiner the ability to switch back to polymerisation if desired.