Q&A

(2018) Question 50: Butylene demand and prices in relation to other refined products reached a record level in 2017. What caused it and what can we do in the FCC to produce more butylenes?

Higher demand for butylene is result of octane shortage in the gasoline market stemming from several main causes.

(2018) Question 55: With new challenges presented by the Refinery Sector and Maintenance Venting Rules oil circuits are taking longer to prepare for maintenance; what successes and challenges have you had in staging shutdown operations to allow for safe entry to the FCC reactor/regenerator section prior to clearing other sections of the unit?

With new challenges presented by the Refinery Sector and Maintenance Venting Rules oil circuits are taking longer to prepare for maintenance; what successes and challenges have you had in staging shutdown operations to allow for safe entry to the FCC reactor/regenerator section prior to clearing other sections of the unit?

(2018) Question 56: Excluding nickel passivation. How does antimony use in the reactor riser impact the FCC operations and equipment?

Antimony functions by attaching to a fresh Nickel molecule in the FCC feed and preventing it from laying down on the surface of the catalyst. Efficiency of antimony in passivating Nickel and tendency to have side effects is highly dependent on the carrier and distribution method. Antimony can be water based or oil based, with oil-based antimony having a higher lay down efficiency (approx. 85% typical) as compared to water based (approx. 65%).

(2018) Question 57: How are you optimizing the use of wet gas scrubbers caustic use and SOx additives?

You can utilize a SOx additive in addition to a Wet Gas Scrubber system in order to reduce caustic consumption and minimize cost. Utilizing a SOx additive can be optimized by calculating the caustic savings + value of additional liquid sulfur produced - the cost of the Sox additive.

(2008) Is your company planning to install modified HF acid capability (usage of the volatility suppressing additive)? What are the incentives for doing this? What alternatives have you considered?

In March 2006, in our continuing effort to support safe, reliable, and environmentally sound operation, we announced our plans to apply for a permit to independently initiate an alkylation process improvement project in our Philadelphia HF alkylation unit.

(2008) Question 74: Have you experienced a shortage of KOH supply for your HF alkylation unit? Are you concerned about KOH availability? What are your alternatives if KOH is unavailable?

METKA (Sunoco, Inc.) Sunoco has experienced significant shortages of KOH in both our northeast and mid-continent refinery complexes. This appears to be a universal issue. In addition, a primary supplier to the northeast claimed force majeure earlier this year.

Find the answer to your technical question in AFPM's extensive Q&A database.

Q&A

(2018) Question 50: Butylene demand and prices in relation to other refined products reached a record level in 2017. What caused it and what can we do in the FCC to produce more butylenes?

(2018) Question 56: Excluding nickel passivation. How does antimony use in the reactor riser impact the FCC operations and equipment?

(2018) Question 57: How are you optimizing the use of wet gas scrubbers caustic use and SOx additives?

(2008) Is your company planning to install modified HF acid capability (usage of the volatility suppressing additive)? What are the incentives for doing this? What alternatives have you considered?

(2008) Question 74: Have you experienced a shortage of KOH supply for your HF alkylation unit? Are you concerned about KOH availability? What are your alternatives if KOH is unavailable?