(154a) Maximizing FCCU Propylene Production at Minimum CAPEX

Various market drivers are influencing refiners to consider more economical methods for shifting fuel production to petrochemicals/chemicals, thereby reducing energy consumption and carbon emissions, and providing a lower carbon footprint with less impact on the environment. FCCUs have the flexibility to process feedstocks at varying severities to optimize profitability and shift the product slate toward petrochemicals. Maximizing propylene production from FCCUs is one means of making a shift in the product slate.

However, for existing processing units, this shift requires an economical means of retooling existing assets to achieve the shift in yields. Divided wall column (DWC) technology is a means of providing a much lower CAPEX revamp to overcome the light ends recovery section limitations and provide for a more environmentally friendly design.