FCC Testing

Research in Petroleum Refining & Petrochemicals at KFUPM

Center for Refining and Petrochemicals (CRP)• Established in 1978• Emphasis on Client-Funded Industrial Research• Current Research Areas: Desulfurization, Alkylation, Cat Cracking, Polymers

Refining & Petrochemical Research at KFUPM

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Center of Research Excellence in Refining & Petrochemicals (CoRE-PRP)• Established in 2007 by Ministry of Higher Education• Emphasis on catalysis research in olefins, aromatics, polyolefins• Promotion of graduate and post-graduate research

KAUST – Center-in-Development in Petrochemicals & Polymers (KAUST-CID)• Established in 2008; Awarded by King Abdullah University for Science & Technology

• Current research areas: aromatics and polyolefins• Promotion of graduate and post-graduate research

CRP - Mission & Vision

Mission

Conduct client-driven research in petroleum refining and petrochemicals areas, which are of strategic importance to Saudi Arabia

Vision

To be a leading research center in refining and petrochemicals through innovative basic and applied research

Align research activities with national needs; and extend Kingdom’s knowledge base

Develop strategic alliances with national, regional and international institutions

Customer focused R&D activities with interdisciplinary approach and world class facilities

CRP - Objectives

CRP Major Research Areas

Refining Research (ongoing projects)

Heavy oil upgrading (FCC and hydroprocessing)

Clean fuels ( reforming catalysts for hydrogen production)

Development of novel FCC catalysts with enhanced propylene production

Performance evaluation of commercial catalysts

Technical services to refining industries

Evaluation of adsorbents for drying of natural gas

Development of FCC additives for enhancing propylene (NSTIP)

Major Research Areas

Petrochemicals Research

Para-xylene via transalkylation of heavy aromatics

Naphtha catalytic cracking to light olefins

Toluene methylation to: para-xylene or styrene

Metathesis of butenes to propylene

Dehydrogenation of EB to styrene

Catalysts for LAB Synthesis

Technical services and catalyst screening to petrochemicals industries

Major Research Areas

Polymer Research

Development of heterogeneous polyolefin catalysts

Polyolefin characterization and applications

Development of novel poly-alphaolefin drag reducing agents

Develop UV stabilizer-based formulations suitable for harsh climatic conditions of the Arabian Gulf region

CRP Manpower

Sr. Research Engineer 1

Research Engineers 5

Research Scientist s 10

Engineers 3

Scientists 4

Lab Technicians 6

Admin Staff 2

Several faculty members & students from Chemistry, Chemical and Mechanical Engineering Departments are team members in our ongoing projects.

Full time Researchers = 16Support Staff = 15

Laboratories and Facilities

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Laboratories and Facilities

FCC Catalysts Testing Units

Circulating Riser Unit

ASTM-Micro Activity Test (MAT) unit

Advanced Catalytic Evaluation (ACE) Unit

Circulating Downer Pilot Plant (Grace-Davison)

Fixed-bed Flow Reactor for Naphtha cracking

Catalyst deactivation units

Analytical Support

Refinery gas analyzers ( FID & TCD GCs)

Detailed hydrocarbon analyzer (PIONA)

Carbon/sulfur analyzer

XRD Analyzer

Fixed-bed flow reactor system: Naphtha catalytic steam cracking to light olefins

Advanced Cracking Evaluation (ACE): Laboratory scale system for studying FCC catalysts

Major FCC Catalyst Testing Units

HS-FCC Process: Basic Development

30 BD Demonstration Plant Overview

Comparative Yields: VGO Feed

• Joint Partnership between KFUPM, with Saudi Aramco, JX Nippon

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HS-FCC Process and Yields

Stripper

Combustion air

as lift medium

Feed

Product

Hopper

Steam

Regenerator

Lift LineLift Line

Downer

Air

Flue Gas

0

10

20

30

40

50

60

0 10 20 30 40

Light Olefins (wt%)

Gasolin

e (w

t%)

Downer

Riser

More light olefins at

same gasoline

More gasoline at

same light olefins

A 3,000 bbl/day is in the test phase at JX Nippon Mizushima refinery (Process licensors: Axens and Stone & Webster)

For further information:

Director, Center for Refining & Petrochemicals

Research Institute, KFUPM, Dhahran 31261, Saudi Arabia

Telephone: +966-3-860-2029 • Fax: +966-3-860-4509

Email: [email protected]; Web : http://ri.kfupm.edu.sa/crp/