On August 5, a virtual meeting of the Best FCC Units Practices Group, belonging to ARPEL Refining Committee was held.

In this meeting, two topics were discussed: the catalyst selection process, and particulate emissions in the regenerator effluent gases.

The presentation was made by two Ecopetrol professionals: Neyla Brochero from the Barrancabermeja Refinery, and Carlos Mario Ríos from the Cartagena Refinery.

Selecting catalysts for FCC units is a very important issue for refinery economics because, in addition to the cost involved, it is crucial to achieve the production goals that make the refineries profitable, an aspect of utmost importance.

The process of selecting the right catalyst is time consuming, since catalytic runs are usually carried out in pilot plants, using the available load for these units and comparing the results obtained by the different catalysts available in the market.

Once the catalyst is purchased and used in the plants, the results are achieved in no less than six months, and if it not suitable, the correction may take more than one year.

As for the second topic addressed during the virtual workshop, i.e., particulate emissions in the regenerator effluent gases, it is fundamentally an environmental issue that is becoming more and more critical due to its increased legal requirements, thus implying a greater operational control with the help of new technologies and improved procedures to regulate the operation.

In some countries, and particularly in refineries with nearby populations, legal requirements have increased so significantly that the only way to achieve the new specifications is by installing a filter house, with an investment of more than US$ 40 million.

Link to the meeting: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MlKlagBfYas&t=21s