Feed Quality and Its Effect on the Performance of the Fluid Catalytic Cracking Unit (A Case Study of Nigerian Based Oil Company)

Abstract

This paper presents results of the study of feed quality and its effect on the performance of the fluid catalytic cracking unit using Port-Harcourt Refinery Company (PHRC) as a case study. The important feed qualities used are the hydrocarbon content and a hydrotreated feed. Data on the feed properties used in PHRC were collected and a product mass balance was carried out on the fluid catalytic cracking unit. Conversion and gasoline yield of the unit were found to be 73.43 vol% and 52.07 vol% respectively. On comparison with cracking of aromatic feed, from literature, with 61.3 vol% conversion and 45.64 vol% gasoline yields, the feed is said to be paraffinic because of its higher conversion and gasoline yield. On comparison with that collected for hydrotreated feed, 80.62 vol% conversion and 63.9 vol% gasoline yield, it is concluded that feed hydrotreating increases conversion and gasoline yield by a significant amount.