(290c) Review of Particle Attrition and Attrition Test Methods

Particle attrition is a major concern in the petroleum industry. It occurs in many process units (e.g., fluid catalytic crackers, risers, standpipes, conveying lines, fluidized beds, and hoppers) that involve flowing particulates. Particle attrition results in a loss of valuable catalyst mass and can lead to degradation of product quality and performance, as well as environmental problems. Hence, understanding and mitigating catalyst attrition is very important for successful process unit operation, control and economics. While there have been many previous studies on particle attrition, it is a complex process which depends on many factors (particle hardness, particle size and shape, impact velocity, etc). This talk will discuss current experimental methods for assessing attrition and significant findings to date.