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Does anyone have any experience with catalyst fluidization in oxychlorination zone of Regeneration tower in continuous catalyst regeneration unit? We have experienced high catalyst dumping recently after this unit shutdown. This catalyst dumping contains high catalyst dust. Is there any parameter to check whether is the catalyst fluidized or broken inside the Regeneration tower?
Thank you very much.
 
Answers
13/02/2018 A: naveed bilal, Pak-Arab refinery Limited, naveedbilal@yahoo.com
Check Regeneration Tower's Burn Zone Gas flow,Reheat Zone Gas Flow (which is usually 10% of Burn Zone Gas Flow) & Gas Flow on the top of Regeneration Tower (this is gas flow on top regenerator is provided to avoid catalyst fluidization).
30/11/2016 A: Peter Marsh, XBP Refining Consultants Ltd, peter.marsh@xbprefining.co.uk
What makes you think you have fluidisation in the oxychlorination zone of the Regenerator Tower? A temporary increase in catalyst fines dumping rate is normal after a cold shutdown of the CCR section due to contraction/expansion of Regenerator Tower internals during cooldown/warmup and catalyst bed compaction. If you are seeing consistently high catalyst fines content at the Dust Collector, it could be due to excessive elutriation gas velocity or catalyst attrition due to mechanical damage of the reactor internals, Lock Hopper valve internals (if Atmospheric CCR) or the Dur-o-lok couplings on the catalyst life line if they have been disturbed/replaced recently. If you are seeing a much higher catalyst fines collection rate (kg/d) but with a similar particle size distribution, it could be due to damage to the dust Collector Filter elements. A catalyst fines survey across the entire CCR section will help to determine where the problem lies.
30/11/2016 A: Sridhar Balakrishnan, Bharat Oman Refineries Limited , laksrid@yahoo.com
One of the parameter would be catalyst sieve analysis. Technology provider recommends the required sieve sizes.