Schedule:
| PRESENTATION | SPEAKER |
| Laboratory Evaluation of the Attrition Resistance of FCC Catalysts | Melissa Clough, BASF |
| Combined High-Energy Synchrotron X-Ray Diffraction and Computed Tomography to Characterize Fracture Behavior of Sand | Khalid Alshibli, University of Tennessee |
Laboratory Evaluation of the Attrition Resistance of FCC Catalysts
Melissa Clough, BASF
The attrition resistance of the FCC catalysts influences the reliability of FCC operations. Different methods have been developed to evaluate the attrition resistance of FCC catalysts in a laboratory scale. Selecting the proper testing methods is a critical part of the catalyst evaluation, especially for units that are sensitive to catalyst fines generation. In this talk, the attrition resistance obtained from different testing methods are compared and discussed. The effect of testing conditions on the results is studied. Using Population Balance Model (PBM) developed by BASF, we correlate the attrition mechanism in laboratory testing to the attrition process in FCC units.
Combined High-Energy Synchrotron X-Ray Diffraction and Computed Tomography to Characterize Fracture Behavior of Sand
Khalid Alshibli, University of Tennessee
Nondestructive 3D synchrotron micro-computed tomography (SMT) is a powerful imaging technique for geomaterials with a micron resolution. It can be used to acquire in situ scans of specimens and monitor deformation, crack initiation, etc. 3D x-ray diffraction (3DXRD) microscopy is also a non-destructive 3D technique that can be used to monitor in situ dynamic processes of polycrystalline materials. 3DXRD offer complementary measurements for SMT to experimentally characterize the consitituive behavior of geomaterials. It represents a new opportunity to experimentally measure lattice strains of crytalline materials. The presentation will discuss the potential of both SMT and 3DXRD in testing geomaterials with emphasis on the behavior of silica sand.