Rebecca Kuo - BASF
Because fines are required in an FCC unit to aid in fluidization and circulation, abnormally high losses from the regenerator or reactor become a large problem. High catalyst losses impact unit operations and can lead to a unit shutdown. Additionally, with more stringent environmental regulations coming in the near future, it is crucial that these fine particles stay in the unit (and not out the stack).
It is important to understand the fundamental principles around catalyst losses such as fluidization, cyclone system components, catalyst properties, and the difference between attrition and cyclone malfunction. This presentation will help FCC engineers understand these principles in order to monitor and troubleshoot these catalyst loss problems in their units.