FCC Pretreat Catalysts
In the FCC Pretreat (FCCPT) application, performance is measured by many metrics and success is achieved thru the application of a custom-designed catalyst system. We work with customers to access the feeds, designs and objectives of the integrated FCC PT / FCC complex and develop a solution that will help them to reliably maximise their facility’s profitability within their specific constraints.
An Integrated Approach to the FCC Pretreat + FCC Unit
Title: Shell FCCPT/FCC Video
Duration: 04:04
Description:
2D animation about Shell’s Catalyst and Technologies FCC Pretreat and FCC integrated approach and solutions to improve overall refinery operations.
[Background music plays]
Modern, motivational music.
[Animated sequence]
‘Shell Catalysts & Technologies’ logo with pecten is at the center of a white screen. Logo fades out.
[Female voiceover]
The refining business is constantly changing.
[Animated sequence]
A blue and yellow globe animates in at the center of the screen, rotating. Camera zooms into globe to reveal a blue sky with white clouds, and continues to zoom into the clouds to land at a refinery, with a brown, one-story building in the forefront. The sun and the clouds appear over the refinery landscape.
[Female voiceover]
We are always looking for ways to adapt to new market requirements, variable feedstocks and evolving environmental landscapes.
[Animated sequence]
The refinery scene transitions from day to night, with the sun setting, the moon and stars going up, and the lights of the building turning on at night. Then the sun rises again, simulating a timelapse effect.
[Female voiceover]
Industry changes motivate my talented engineers, operators and project staff to continue to push the performance and capabilities of our units. While we know improvement is a result of our joint efforts, sometimes we can get caught up in our own focus areas without seeing the big picture.
[Animated sequence]
Camera zooms into building window to reveal a single operator working at a control room. He is sitting at a round desk with multiple screens in front of him, typing and clicking his mouse. Camera zooms out and pans right to reveal the rest of the control room staff, hard at work, with more screens above the round desks.
[Female voiceover]
For example, my FCC Pretreat engineers often consider the best way to deal with issues that affect their unit’s overall margin and reliability, such as feed impacts, product quality targets, run-lengths and reactor temperatures.
[Animated sequence]
Cut to office with ‘FCC PRETREAT ENGINEERS’ text at the upper center of the screen. FCCPT staff is sitting at separate cubicles working. Thought bubbles pop up above each one of the staff members with different icons that represent FCCPT issues: a dollar sign with a doughnut chart around it, a bar chart, an area chart, a pie chart, a line chart, and a cone chart.
[Female voiceover]
Similarly, my FCC engineers are maximizing rate or conversion within unit constraints, such as air blower, wet gas compressor limits and catalyst circulation--all while evaluating catalyst technologies and losses.
[Animated sequence]
Camera pans right to reveal another office with ‘FCC ENGINEERS’ text at the upper center of the screen. FCC staff is also sitting at separate cubicles working. Thought bubbles pop up above each one of the staff members with different icons that represent FCC issues: a single cone chart with a bar chart under it, a cone chart with two doughnut charts under it, a line chart, a cone chart with multiple cones, a different line chart and a pie chart with a doughnut chart next to it.
[Female voiceover]
With our drive to safely and reliably produce ultra low sulfur gasoline and chemical feedstocks, we knew we had to improve our current capability and profitability.
[Animated sequence]
Camera zooms into one of the windows of the office to reveal the exterior of the refinery, with white clouds floating in the blue sky. ‘SAFETY,’ ‘RELIABILITY,’ ‘CAPABILITY’ and ‘PROFITABILITY’ text animates at the center of the frame, above the refinery structures.
[Female voiceover]
Our goal is always to attain reliable and predictable operations, while pushing overall unit performance. But, where to start?
[Animated sequence]
Diagonal wipe transition to a half dark red and half light red background. ‘FCC PRETREAT’ and ‘FCC INTEGRATION’ text animates at the upper left corner of the frame. A refinery block diagram with flow arrows animates in to illustrate FCCPT and FCC process.
[Female voiceover]
We decided to call Shell Catalysts & Technologies.
[Animated sequence]
Camera zooms out to reveal that block diagram is on a computer screen. A right hand moves up and in frame while holding a cellphone. ‘SHELL CATALYSTS & TECHNOLOGIES TRANSFORMING ENERGY TOGETHER’ logo is on the phone screen under a contact icon and above a green call icon. A left hand moves up and in frame to press the call button.
[Female voiceover]
As an owner, operator, licensor and supplier, Shell has the expertise and practical experience to further increase the value from our refinery.
[Animated sequence]
Slide down transition to reveal a white background with ‘SHELL CATALYSTS & TECHNOLOGIES TRANSFORMING ENERGY TOGETHER’ logo at the upper left corner of the screen. A checklist with the items ‘OWNER,’ ‘OPERATOR,’ ‘LICENSOR’ and ‘SUPPLIER’ animates at the center of the screen. The checklist slides left and off frame while a yellow world map slides in frame. Red dots populate on the map to illustrate the Shell Catalysts & Technologies locations around the world.
[Female voiceover]
Their technology-driven perspective and integrated approach to FCC Pretreat and FCC improvements were exactly what we needed.
[Animated sequence]
Slide left transition to the same white background with three circles at the center of the frame. The circles are connected by a grey dotted line and arranged in the shape of a triangle. The upper light blue circle features a male character wearing a yellow hard hat with ‘SHELL’ text on it, the lower left purple circle features a female character wearing a red hard hat with ‘FCC PRETREAT ENGINEER’ text on her blue shirt, and the lower right orange circle features a male character wearing a red hard hat with ‘FCC ENGINEER’ text on his blue shirt. The three characters are smiling. The three circles converge to one light blue circle.
[Female voiceover]
The conversation started with a collaborative diagnosis of our refinery's current capability, assessing technology enablers to meet our target operation. Shell brought our FCC Pretreat and FCC teams together, to make sure we could maximize our yield and octane performance gains, as well as optimize our chemical feedstock production.
[Animated sequence]
Multiple circles of different colors expand to reveal a bird’s eye view of seven team members sitting around a table, with an ‘OBJECTIVES’ checklist on top. They talk to each other while ‘OPTIMIZATION,’ ‘MARGINS,’ ‘FLEXIBILITY,’ ‘CONVERSION,’ ‘CYCLE LIFE’ and ‘RELIABILITY’ text animates around the table, one by one.
[Female voiceover]
They broaden our options, helping us evaluate upstream vacuum tower upgrades, mild hydrocracking revamps and deasphalting unit integrations.
[Animated sequence]
Diagonal wipe transition to a half dark blue and half light blue background. A cog icon animates in and spins next to ‘VACUUM TOWER UPGRADES’ text. A chart with increasing arrows icon animates under first icon and next to ‘REVAMP TO MHC’ text. A performance icon animates under second icon and next to ‘DEASPHALTING UNIT INTEGRATIONS’ text.
[Female voiceover]
Shell’s recommendation allowed us to plan for various technology improvements that unlocked our FCC Pretreat and FCC potential.
[Animated sequence]
The three icons with their respective text move to the right side of the frame while a reactor-shaped unit with a keyhole slides in frame. A key with a ‘$’ sign slides into the keyhole. The three icons with their respective text slide right and out of frame while the key slides left and out of frame. The reactor unit remains on the left side of the screen. The keyhole animates out while the reactor opens up. Diagonal blue wipes animate behind reactor and transition to a half grey, half white background. Camera zooms in to the reactor.
[Female voiceover]
First, we developed a custom-designed catalyst system in the FCC Pretreat, utilizing CENTERA GT technology. This platform builds upon the proven success of the CENTERA portfolio, which has already provided performance gains for our site and other refineries.
[Animated sequence]
Camera slowly tilts up on reactor, as catalyst is loaded in the unit. The bottom of the reactor is filled with solid dark blue color, the middle is filled with green color and the upper section is filled with grey color. The ‘CENTERA GT’ logo slides right from behind the reactor, stays in place and then slides left to disappear behind the reactor. Camera zooms out to show the entire reactor unit, as ‘OBJECTIVES’ checklist animates in, connected to the reactor by a dotted line. A pen checks off the first checkbox on the list.
[Female voiceover]
These activity gains can help us increase sulfur and nitrogen removal, aromatics saturation, as well as enable higher conversion levels.
[Animated sequence]
The checklist animates out while a blue icon with an ‘S’ animates on the right side of the reactor, next to ‘SULFUR AND NITROGEN REMOVAL’ text. The ‘S’ later transitions to an ‘N’. A line chart icon animates under the first icon and next to ‘AROMATICS SATURATION’ text. A bar chart icon animates under the second icon and next to ‘HIGHER CONVERSION LEVELS’ text.
[Female voiceover]
We further enhanced the performance of our catalyst system and reduced our capital expenditure by incorporating Shell’s HD reactor internals technology.
[Animated sequence]
Diagonal wipe transition to an exterior view of the refinery. Camera pans right to show different units and lands on the reactor internals unit, which is being installed. The ‘OBJECTIVES’ checklist animates next to the reactor. A pen checks off the second checkbox on the list. A crane moves into frame from right to left while checklist animates out. ‘SHELL HD REACTOR INTERNALS’ text slides left from behind the reactor unit.
[Female voiceover]
The solution also included installing Shell’s FCC feed nozzles, which have a robust and reliable design for better feed atomization. This upgrade improved our liquid yields and reduced our thermal by-products, increasing our conversion and feed flexibility.
[Animated sequence]
Diagonal wipe transition to a half light yellow, half dark yellow background. We see a tight shot of the bottom of the FCC reactor, where the feed nozzles are located. Feed particles go up while catalyst is sprayed. Particles become a darker brown color when they come in contact with catalyst. ‘SHELL FCC FEED NOZZLES’ text animates next to the unit. The ‘OBJECTIVES’ checklist animates below the text. A pen checks off the third checkbox on the list.
[Female voiceover]
Additionally, the team selected Shell’s FCC close-coupled reactor cyclones, which minimize post riser cracking to alleviate the wet gas compressor constraint. This reduced our operational expenditure by limiting catalyst losses, lowering maintenance and overall downtime.
[Animated sequence]
Camera tilts up to top of FCC unit to show close-coupled reactor cyclones, as the ‘OBJECTIVES’ checklist remains on screen. ‘SHELL FCC CLOSE-COUPLED CYCLONES’ text animates next to the unit and above checklist. A pen checks off the fourth checkbox on the list.
[Female voiceover]
Shell employed its integrated process modeling throughout this journey, to help us understand the impact and benefits to BOTH the FCC Pretreat and FCC units.
[Animated sequence]
Diagonal wipe transition to a half dark green, half light green background. Two staff members with red hard hats are sitting at a desk in front of a computer screen, talking and pointing at the screen. ‘INTEGRATED PROCESS MODELING’ text animates on the computer screen. Camera zooms in to a full screen view of the computer screen, as the process modeling diagram animates below the ‘INTEGRATED PROCESS MODELING’ text.
[Female voiceover]
With a joint objective and collaborative approach, we combined my teams’ capabilities with Shell’s operation and technology experience to achieve our project goals.
[Animated sequence]
Diagonal wipe transition to a half dark red, half light red background. Four hands slide in four puzzle pieces with different charts to form a squared shape puzzle. The puzzle moves back and to the left of the frame while the ‘OBJECTIVES’ checklist animates next to it, connected to it by a dotted line. All four checkboxes are already checked off.
[Female voiceover]
The result? Increased uptime, reduced operating costs, feed flexibility, greater reliability and yield improvements.
[Animated sequence]
Diagonal wipe transition to the exterior view of the refinery. An increased uptime icon, a ‘$’ sign cog icon with an arrow pointing down, a flexible feed drop icon, a magnifying glass icon with a checkmark and a bar chart icon animate at the center of the frame.
[Female voiceover]
Shell is now part of our team. We can count on them to drive value to our refinery today and in the future.
[Animated sequence]
Camera zooms out as icons animate out. Camera continues to zoom out and travels through the arms of the male Shell representative character, to reveal him standing in between the female FCC Pretreat engineer character and the male FCC engineer character. They are all smiling and looking at the camera with their hands on their hips, with the refinery far in the background. Scene fades out and transitions to a white background. ‘SHELL CATALYSTS & TECHNOLOGIES TRANSFORMING ENERGY TOGETHER’ logo fades in at the center of the frame.
[Background music plays]
Shell mnemonic.
[Animated sequence]
Shell pecten animates in.
Industry-leading FCC Pretreatment Catalyst Solutions
Refiners worldwide are reporting significantly enhanced refinery economics after working with Shell Catalysts & Technologies to optimise the performance of their integrated Fluid Catalytic Cracking (FCC) complexes.
Shell Catalysts & Technologies offers a range of industry-leading FCC pretreatment catalyst solutions and works closely with refiners to design catalyst systems that match their specific performance goals. We follow a highly diagnostic process in which we listen to customers to gain a thorough understanding of their situation. This enables us to devise a value-adding catalyst system designed to lie within those constraints and leverage the most value from their assets.
Success in this application with a large variety in feeds and objectives requires catalyst systems that combine main-bed catalyst performance with SENTRY portfolio protection from poisons and foulants ; integrated offerings for improved process performance upstream, internal, and downstream from the CFH; and technical excellence to develop, monitor and optimise unit performance.
Sustaining leadership in this application comes through the cornerstones of ensuring day-to-day performance together with continuous improvement, technical expertise, and focused research & development program that has been providing market-leading FCCPT solutions for years. These cornerstones are enabled by broad-based refining knowledge, an ability to engage, diagnose, develop and lead change and an ability to gain customers trust and grow long-term relationships.
Building on the proven capability and reliability of the CENTERA™ technology platform, Shell is now delivering the CENTERA GT™ level of performance. In the FCC Pretreat application, performance is measured by many metrics and success is achieved through the application of a custom-designed catalyst system. Enabling continued FCCPT performance gains, three new products have been developed providing top-tier performance in HDS, HDN, and AroSat while maintaining the proven stability and contaminant tolerance Shell FCCPT catalysts have been well known for.
Catalyst | Type/Applications | Description |
---|---|---|
DN-3655 | FCC Pretreat | CENTERA GT DN-3655, a step-out Type II nickel-molybdenum catalyst for FCC feed pretreatment (FCC-PT). Compared to previous generations, CEN-TERA GT DN-3655 provides significant nitrogen removal (HDN) and sulfur removal (HDS) improvements. It is especially well-suited for high-quality FCC feed production in moderate to high-pressure units processing difficult feeds, where nitrogen removal and hydrogenation reactions are valued to improve FCC conversion levels. CENTERA GT DN-3655 enhances HDS and HDN performance and stability across a broad range of scenarios, particularly in high severity applications that require maximum activity to overcome unit limitations. Applications where DN-3655 is particularly well-suited include:
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DN-3651 | FCC Pretreat | CENTERA® DN-3651 is Shell Catalysts & Technologies’ is an industry-proven high activity NiMo catalyst for moderate-to-high pressure FCC Pretreat operation. DN-3651 has very high HDS and HDN activity while it maintains ASCENT stability and metals capacity for improved cycle performance with exceptional polyaromatic saturation optimising FCC conversion |
DN-3551 | FCC Pretreat | ASCENT DN-3551 is a widely used proven catalyst featuring high activity, exceptional metals capacity and stability for improved cycle performance and reliability when processing difficult feedstocks. |
CENTERA GT DC-2655 | CENTERA GT DC-2655 is a new Type II Co-Mo with Ni promoter catalysts for FCC-PT service providing step-out gains in performance from previous generations. Enhances FCC Pretreat performance and stability across a broad range of scenarios, particularly in applications that require very high activity to overcome unit limitations. Applications where DC-2655 is particularly well suited:
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CENTERA™ GT DC-2656 | CENTERA™ GT DC-2656 is a new Type II Co-Mo with Ni promoter catalysts for FCC-PT service providing step-out gains in performance from previous generations. Provides the deep desulfurisation required to meet clean fuel requirements and flexibility to process heavier feeds, maximise ULSD cut points, and extend unit cycle length. DC-2656 is especially suited for high-quality FCC feed production in moderate-to-high pressure units where desulfurisation (HDS), denitrification (HDN), and hydrogenation reactions improve FCC conversion and reduce sulfur related operational constraints. Either by itself or combined with a customised catalyst system, DC-2656 generates balanced performance and superior FCC feed quality across a broad range of high severity scenarios requiring maximum activity. Applications where DC-2656 is particularly well-suited include:
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Get More Out of Your Catalysts
We devise a value-adding catalyst system designed through a highly diagnostic process. We listen to customers to gain a thorough understanding of their situation and offer our experience to help our customers reach the best outcomes.
We recognise that simply installing industry-leading catalysts doesn’t guarantee best-in-class outcomes. Strategic design of the overall catalyst system is also critical. It is essential that this takes into account site-specific constraints such as hydrogen availability, FCC unit capabilities, and feedstock options.
Additionally, the refiner’s unique operational objectives must be factored into the catalyst system from the start. For instance, different refiners will have different targets for cycle life, product slate, and emission rates based on historical performances and goal-setting. With Shell Catalysts & Technologies, these goal-setting conversations drive our solution design process from the outset.
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