KFBE Packing

Before reactivation, catalysts employed in FCC plants (FCC- fluidized catalytic cracking) in refineries have to be freed from volatile constituents as completely as possible. This is normally carried out by injecting steam at the lower end of the stripper. The steam passes in counterflow through the catalyst, causing it to fluidize. Internals are employed in order to maximize contact between steam and solids and thereby improve the stripping effect. However, the results achieved by employing a conventional disk and donut combination are often inadequate.

On the other hand, incorporation of the KFBE packing, developed by the company and specially optimized for stripping applications in a comprehensive test series, leads to substantially better overall results/ The packing disperses the injected steam into much finer vapor bubbles than is normally achieved in conventional systems, and with much more even distribution in the catalyst bed. Consequently, the contact surface between the phases is greatly increased and the catalyst more uniformly fluidized and free of pulsation. This procedure improves mass transfer, lessens the burden on the solids trap, and reduces loss of expensive catalyst.

With this packing, the valuable hydrocarbons can be completely removed from the catalyst at a much lower steam consumption. This increases not only yield, but at the same time also reduces the specific air requirement for reactivation of the catalyst. In this way, catalyst capacity is improved not only in the reactivator but also in the complete plant itself.

The packing is also used with success in conjunction with fluidized solids for evening out and shortening drying processes.

Koch-Glitsch Mixing & Reaction Technology, 4111 East 37th St. North, Wichita, KS 67220. Tel: 316-828-4145; Fax: 316-828-4444.