Q&A

(2010) Question 70: How can you minimize the possibility of ignition and fire in the structured packing of main fractionators after they are opened for maintenance? Do you use chemicals to improve this procedure?

Zyme-flow products have been used in our past FCC turnarounds to mitigate pyrophoric compounds as well as decrease the amount of time to hydrocarbon free the main fractionator and associated pumparound circuits.

(2010) Question 71: For the main column, "tri lines" can be utilized to monitor bottoms level. When other level instruments are being verified or have failed, what are the best operating and safety practices being employed to verify the level? What do refiners use to monitor and control level in the bottom of the main column?

For the main column, "tri lines" can be utilized to monitor bottoms level. When other level instruments are being verified or have failed, what are the best operating and safety practices being employed to verify the level? What do refiners use to monitor and control level in the bottom of the main column?

(2010) Question 72: With advance controls on the FCCU and gas plants, what are refiners doing to train new operators and keep their experienced operators sharp and ready to handle FCCU upsets and emergencies? Are refiners using simulators to help with the training and retraining?

Sunoco employs Dynamic Matrix Control (DMC) on all the FCC gas plants and DMC on reactor and regenerator systems. One FCC has a complete process training simulator, and we are in the process of installing simulators on all of our FCC’s.

(2010) Question 73: What levels of distillate boiling range material do you include in the FCC feeds? Discuss the yield and heat balance implications of varying the feed distillate content. What equipment/technology options do you employ to minimize the distillate levels

There are several examples of how yield data can be used to identify hardware issues in the FCCU. For example, a decrease in cat to oil and/or catalyst circulation (which leads to a decrease in overall conversion and liquid yield) can be the result of a high regenerator dense bed temperature at constant process conditions. Several mechanical/hardware issues can contribute to higher regenerator temperatures.

(2010) Question 74: Please discuss how yield data can be used to identify hardware issues. What hardware issues can you address to fix dry gas and benzene production?

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Q&A

(2010) Question 70: How can you minimize the possibility of ignition and fire in the structured packing of main fractionators after they are opened for maintenance? Do you use chemicals to improve this procedure?

(2010) Question 72: With advance controls on the FCCU and gas plants, what are refiners doing to train new operators and keep their experienced operators sharp and ready to handle FCCU upsets and emergencies? Are refiners using simulators to help with the training and retraining?

(2010) Question 73: What levels of distillate boiling range material do you include in the FCC feeds? Discuss the yield and heat balance implications of varying the feed distillate content. What equipment/technology options do you employ to minimize the distillate levels

(2010) Question 74: Please discuss how yield data can be used to identify hardware issues. What hardware issues can you address to fix dry gas and benzene production?