Successful turnarounds are crucial for the long term reliability and profitability of FCCs. This presentation offers process engineering best practices for FCC turnarounds including preparation, execution, and post start-up actions. Multiple topics will be discussed including scope determination, inspection protocols, equipment cleaning, project execution, documentation, and identifying future unit improvements.
Moderator:
Todd Hochheiser, Johnson Matthey
Speakers:
Nate Hager, Cenovus Energy Inc.
Herb Telidetzki, Becht
Canadian Refiner replaced the Shake Test with on-line UOP Mercaptide Sensors to monitor the extent of Merox caustic regeneration. Mercaptide Sensor use resulted in continuously trended data, reduced caustic exposure, and proactive process variable optimization, while vastly reducing off specification incidences and unnecessary bulk caustic replacements.
Units in the refinery are interconnected and operational changes to an upstream often create challenges for downstream units. We will review how normal and abnormal FCC operations impact Alky feeds. We will also discuss Alky feed specifications and the impact to acid consumption and alkylate quality.
Speakers:
Darin Foote, CHS Inc.
Chuck Johnston, Marathon Petroleum Corporation LP
Vidyashankar Kuppuraj, Marathon Petroleum Corporation
Johnny Serafin, Phillips 66
Nic Tognetti, CHS Inc.
Advanced process control (APC) has been employed in FCC applications for 40 years. Despite the similarities of FCC Technology and APC platforms the success of these applications varies widely. In this session we will discuss common threads that lead to poor outcomes and how to build a successful APC program on a modern FCC.
Facilitators:
Cliff Avery, Ketjen Corpotation
CJ Farley, TPM Solutions
1. Commercial Results of 100% Vegetable Oil Processing in an FCCU
Speaker: Andrea de Rezende Pinho, Petróleo Brasileiro S/A - PETROBRAS
In 2023, Petrobras and the Riograndense Refinery (RPR) successfully processed 100% vegetable oil in a Fluid Catalytic Cracking (FCC) Unit. Petrobras' technology is based on three pillars: i) triglycerides, such as soybean oil used in the commercial test, ii) ReNewFCC line catalyst and iii) unique operating conditions compared to conventional FCCUs. Biogenic products such as renewable aromatic hydrocarbons (BTX - benzene, toluene and xylene), renewable LPG, and renewable propylene were produced during the commercial trial. Commercial yields, quality of the products, operational challenges and technical adaptations for the trial will be presented.
2. U.S. HEFA Co-processing – Past, Present, and Future Projects
Speaker: Eamon Cullinane, Turner, Mason & Company
HEFA co-processing at U.S. oil refineries has historically not seen the same success as standalone RD/SAF refinery conversions. So why has co-processing in the U.S. been limited in the past and why might we see more of it in the future? We will explore historical production levels of co-processing, economics vs standalone RD/SAF facilities, the regulatory landscape and credit incentives (RINs, BTC, CFPC/45Z, CA LCFS, etc.) driving these economics, and future prospects of co-processing in the U.S.
Panel:
John Durnin, Marathon Petroleum Corporation
Steve Gill, HF Sinclair
Yangdong Pan, Delek US
Patrick Robinson, PBF Energy Inc.
Operation of a complex refinery process involves keeping the process within varous types of limits. These include safe operating limits, integrity operating windows, machine protection or other reliability limits, and product quality limits. This diverse background panel session from process controls and process safety management explores how to effectively identify these parameters and keep the limits in front of operators using instrumented shutdowns, alarm systems, and other monitoring and alerting software.
Speakers:
Dan Harbs, Veolia Water Technologies and Solutions
Kevin Harkness, Monroe Energy, LLC
Case studies will be presented highlighting different fouling mechanisms, the impact of fouling on bottoms circuit equipment and MF operation, and methods to mitigate fouling and clean-up the circuit for improved operation.
Speakers:
Samantha Boyle, Marathon Petroleum Corporation
Nik Larsen, Marathon Petroleum Corporation
Patrick McSorley, Ketjen Corporation
Grant Severyn, BASF Corporation
1. Maximizing Butylene Yields Through Catalyst Design
2. Evaluating Complex Operational Changes via Modeling and Testing
In this presentation, we will detail the close collaboration between Marathon Petroleum Corporation (MPC) and BASF to introduce a new catalyst technology to meet the market demand for butylenes yield and selectivity and high-octane gasoline, from development, evaluation, commercialization, to deployment of the new technology. These commercial trial results are the next step forward for LPG olefins maximization and selectivity, demonstrating significant economic value across a wide range of unit configurations and constraints for a refiner continually striving to be at the forefront of FCC catalyst technology.
Facilitator:
Tim Olsen, Emerson Automation Solutions
Speakers:
Jerry Isch, Marathon Petroleum Corporation
Dave Lee, User Centered Design Services Inc.
Christi Mezzic, Emerson Automation Solutions
Johnny Serafin, Phillips 66
This is a panel session follow-on based on the recent AFPM webinar by Phillips 66 Bayway that discussed HMI and alarming enhancements during a control room modernization project. Key components discussed in the webinar were alarm rationalization and the development of HMI graphics based on human-centered design principles with the goal to improve safe reliable operation at the facility. Key design considerations come from industry standards and good shared practices, along with valuable input from key stakeholders across departments. This panel session will also discuss operator development to improve situation awareness as part of a control room modernization.
Come prepared with your questions by viewing the pre-session.