Q&A

Question 34: What strategies (operational, technological, logistical) do you consider for slurry streams that will not meet the IMO specifications?

What strategies (operational, technological, logistical) do you consider for slurry streams that will not meet the IMO specifications?

(2019) Question 35: What is the importance of sodium to reliability in the coker? What are some of the potential sources of the sodium in coker feed? In light of IMO how should sodium be managed in purchased coker feed?

Sodium in the coker feed can be introduced via sodium content of the salts in crude, caustic addition at the crude unit for corrosion control purposes, as a contaminant in recovered oil material in the refinery, sodium content of other purchased feedstocks (as mentioned in the question) among others.

(2019) Question 36: With higher anticipated charge rates at the coker due to IMO, what are your best practices around defoamer application to minimize impact on hydrotreater catalyst life?

With higher anticipated charge rates at the coker due to IMO, what are your best practices around defoamer application to minimize impact on hydrotreater catalyst life?

(2019) Question 37: With higher anticipated charge rates at the coker due to IMO, what are your best practices around defoamer application to minimize impact on hydrotreater catalyst life?

As equipment ages and reaches end of useful life, the opportunity arises with necessary replacement to include enhancements or upgrades at little additional cost.

(2019) Question 38: What are your guidelines for cleanliness of reactor vessel and overhead lines during Turnaround?  Do you have limits on reactor temperatures during dry-out to prevent the ignition of coke in the reactor?  What actions do you take if coke starts to burn?

What are your guidelines for cleanliness of reactor vessel and overhead lines during Turnaround?  Do you have limits on reactor temperatures during dry-out to prevent the ignition of coke in the reactor?  What actions do you take if coke starts to burn?

(2019) Question 39: What are your best practices for transferring FCC catalyst into/from pneumatic trailers and rail cars to ensure personnel safety and catalyst containment?

These trailers are often referred to as pneumatic, dry bulk, or pressure differential (PD) trailers. On-road trailers and railcars have similar functionality although railcars are not usually rated for vacuum, nor do they usually have a filter system. Both types of transport vessels have multiple hoppers.

(2019) Question 40: What rationale have you used to justify replacing the FCCU regenerator or reactor vessel?

What rationale have you used to justify replacing the FCCU regenerator or reactor vessel?

(2019) Question 41: How reliable are main air blower check valves?  What are some improved designs or some things to avoid?  Are there any alternatives?  If multiple branches, is there one check valve in the main branch or one check valve per branch, where is it located?  What is your maintenance or inspection best practices?

How reliable are main air blower check valves?  What are some improved designs or some things to avoid?  Are there any alternatives?  If multiple branches, is there one check valve in the main branch or one check valve per branch, where is it located?  What is your maintenance or inspection best practices?

Question 42: What are your best practices to minimize catalyst carry over to the main column on start up?

Catalyst loss events experienced while bringing the FCC online after a shutdown are troublesome as they can add significant cost and delay to the startup. Because the main air blower is run close to design conditions throughout the startup, losses are more frequently observed from the reactor side.

(2019) Question 43: What are your best practices when shipping ecat, fines, feed, and slurry to suppliers for testing?  Please also comment on some best practices for sampling equilibrium catalyst.

When shipping ecat or fines, an appropriate sample container should be used. Catalyst suppliers will typically provide refiners with sample containers if needed. Catalyst shipping containers should be made of plastic or metal.

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