Computational fluid dynamics (CFD) prediction of mass fraction profiles of gas oil and gasoline in fluid catalytic cracking (FCC) riser

Abstract

Fluid catalytic cracking (FCC) is an important process for the conversion of gas oil to gasoline. The paper is an attempt to model the phenomenon theoretically; using commercial computational fluid dynamics (CFD) software and 3-lump kinetic model. Geometry, boundary conditions and dimensions of industrial riser for catalytic cracking unit is conferred for 2D simulation using commercial CFD code. Continuity, momentum, energy and species transport equations, applicable to two phase solid and gas flow, are used to simulate the physical phenomenon efficiently. This paper uses the granular Eulerian multiphase model with k–ε turbulence and species transport. Time accurate transient problem is solved with the prediction of mass fraction profiles of gas oil, gasoline, light gas and coke. The output curves demonstrate the mass fraction and distribution of temperature in both phases. At the end comparison of the computational results with other computational and experimental data available in literature is also given.

Keywords

• FCC riser
• Computational fluid dynamics (CFD)
• Cracking reaction kinetics
• Hydrodynamics