Dynamic modeling and simulation of a fluidized catalytic cracking process.Part II: Property estimation and simulation

A dynamic simulator was developed which implements the detailed dynamic mod el for an FCC process and the model solver presented in Part I of this pape r. The simulator incorporates the correlation equations developed in this s tudy for the thermodynamic properties and transport parameters contained in our model. First, the simulator was validated by comparing the overall ste ady-state behavior of the system with those in the literature. Then, base c ase steady-state profiles were obtained for major process variables in the reactor riser and regenerator of an industrial scale FCC unit. Next, the is sue of multiple steady states in FCC operations was addressed and confirmed by investigating the sensitivity of our model to initial conditions. Final ly, the dynamic responses to step changes in three major process inputs wer e presented and discussed with an emphasis on the interaction between the r eactor and regenerator dynamics. (C) 2001 Published by Elsevier Science Ltd .