Modeling, simulation and structural analysis of a fluid catalytic cracking (FCC) process

Fluid catalytic cracking (FCC) is an important chemical process that is widely used to produce valuable petrochemical products by cracking heavier components. However, many difficulties exist in modeling the FCC process due to its complexity. In this study, a dynamic process model of a FCC process is suggested and its structural observability is analyzed. In the process modeling, yield function for the kinetic model of the riser reactor was applied to explain the product distribution. Hydrodynamics, mass balance and energy balance equations of the riser reactor and the regenerator were used to complete the modeling. The process model was tested in steady-state simulation and dynamic simulation, which gives dynamic responses to the change of process variables. The result was compared with the measured data from operating plaint. In the structural analysis, the system was analyzed using the process model and the process design to identify the structural observability of the system. The reactor and regenerator unit in the system were divided into six nodes based on their functions and modeling relationship equations were built based on nodes and edges of the directed graph of the system. Output-set assignment algorithm was demonstrated on the occurrence matrix to find observable nodes and variables. Optimal locations for minimal addition of measurements could be found by completing the whole output-set assignment algorithm of the system. The result of this study can help predict the state more accurately and improve observability of a complex chemical process with minimal cost.