FCC heat balance control effect on resid processing efficiency and flexibility

Whereas recent advances in catalyst formulations, reactor vapor/catalyst separation, feed distribution and catalyst regeneration have all contributed to ever increasing yields and ability to process residual stocks, the ability to independently control the catalyst circulation rate is the most important variable that an operator can manipulate to extract the maximum benefit from a given feedstock. The flexibility to adjust the catalyst circulation rate provides a means to obtain the optimum yields from a given feedstock. This independent control of the catalyst circulation rate can be best achieved via the installation of a catalyst cooler.