The Increase in the Yield of Light Fractions During the Catalytic Cracking of C13-C40 Hydrocarbons

Background: The work performed constituted thermodynamic kinetic analysis of the chemical transformations of C13-C40 hydrocarbons during the catalytic cracking process. Objective: The objective of the work was to increase the yield of light fractions during the catalytic cracking of C13-C40 hydrocarbons. Method: Laboratory research to determine the structural grouped and individual composition of feedstock and products of catalytic cracking using liquid-adsorption and gas-liquid chromatography, chromato-mass spectrometry, n-d-m- and Hazelwood methods allowed a list to be made of catalytic cracking process reactions. Using Density Functional Theory, the thermodynamic parameters of the process reactions were determined and a formalized scheme of hydrocarbons transformations compiled based upon which the kinetic model of the process was documented and implemented programmatically. The determination of kinetic parameters of the reactions was carried out by solving the inverse kinetic problem using experimental data from an industrial plant and laboratory studies. Results: Using the kinetic model of the process, a study was conducted to determine the temperature in the catalytic cracking reactor aimed at achieving a process that yields gasoline fraction and light gas oil fraction. To achieve an optimum yield of high-octane (94.8) gasoline from catalytic cracking (59.30%), it is necessary to maintain the temperature at the exit of the ballistic separator at 530 °C. To achieve an optimum yield of light gas oil from catalytic cracking (12.09%), it is necessary to maintain the temperature at the outlet from the ballistic separator at the level of 520 °C. Conclusion: The use of a kinetic model of catalytic cracking allowed changes in the concentration of the reactants to be calculated as well as the yield and composition of the catalytic cracking products and ensured the selection of optimum conditions for increasing the yield of gasoline and light gas oil fractions based on group composition of raw material for catalytic cracking.