(24d) Computational Study of the Influence of Injection Nozzles in FCC Industrial Risers

Petroleum is considered one of the most important resources nowadays because, in addition to dominating the world energy matrix, its derivatives are present in almost all human activities. Among its derivatives, gasoline is the most important and its production depends largely on the Fluid Catalytic Cracking process, also known as FCC. However, the study of the FCC process is complex as it involves several simultaneous phenomena. In this sense, modeling and simulation, in this case by computational fluid dynamics, are tools that enable the development and optimization of these equipments. Among the process variables that were highlighted in the literature in recent years, we can found the injection nozzles, however, simulations of industrial risers with these structures are still scarce. Therefore, this study validated a specific modeling able to simulate these structures, highlighting the weaknesses of the models currently used. Finally, a numerical study was carried out, through statistical tools, to evaluate the influence of the nozzles, varying some of the geometric parameters that define this equipment. Thus, it was possible to evaluate the parameters which have more influence on the sense of the gasoline yield. The results showed the existence of a statistical correlation between the yield of gasoline and the angle of the nozzle relative to the riser.