Fluidized
catalytic cracking (FCC) is the most used process for
converting heavy oil into more valuable fuels and chemical products
such as gasoline and propylene. A three-dimensional reactive gas–particle
CFD model was built to study the hydrodynamics, heat transfer, and
cracking reaction behaviors within an industrial FCC riser reactor.
The multiphase particle-in-cell methodology (MP-PIC) was used to simulate
the riser hydrodynamics. A four-lump kinetic model was selected to
represent the cracking reaction network in the CFD model. Hydrodynamics,
heat, and cracking reactions interplay was discussed.The numerical
results of this investigation show a good agreement with the process
real data on the yield distribution. The effects of injection (nozzle
angle, position, and direction) as well as the riser operating pressure
on the yield distribution were quantified and discussed. The methodology
employed and the results obtained should serve as guidelines for possible
process re-design and optimization.
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