Hydrodynamics of a fluid catalytic cracking stripper using γ-ray densitometry

Abstract

The fluid catalytic cracking (FCC) stripper is a critical unit operation in petroleum refining that removes entrained hydrocarbons from spent catalyst before it is regenerated. This study characterises the hydrodynamics of an industrial FCC stripper using γ-ray densitometry, providing non-invasive measurements of solid phase distribution within the operating unit.

γ-Ray densitometry measurements were carried out using a Cs-137 radioactive source to determine radial and axial solids holdup profiles at different operating conditions. The effects of gas velocity and catalyst circulation rate on the solid phase distribution were investigated. The experimental data reveal the complex three-dimensional flow structure within the FCC stripper, including the significant influence of the internal disk-and-donut baffle geometry on local flow patterns. The measured solids holdup profiles exhibit pronounced asymmetry, highlighting the need for fully three-dimensional computational simulations to accurately predict FCC stripper hydrodynamics. The experimental dataset provides valuable benchmark data for the validation of CFD models of industrial FCC strippers.

@article{veluswamy2011hydrodynamics,
  title         = {Hydrodynamics of a fluid catalytic cracking stripper using $\gamma$-ray
                  densitometry},
  author        = {Veluswamy, Ganesh K and Upadhyay, Rajesh K and Utikar, Ranjeet P and Evans,
                  Geoffrey M and Tade, Moses O and Glenny, Michael E and Roy, Shantanu and Pareek,
                  Vishnu K},
  year          = 2011,
  journal       = {Industrial \& Engineering Chemistry Research},
  publisher     = {American Chemical Society},
  volume        = 50,
  number        = 10,
  pages         = {5933--5941},
  doi           = {10.1021/ie1021877}
}