渣油深度转化提高轻油收率技术的重大进展

目前全球炼油厂工业应用的渣油深度转化技术主要有两种:一是焦化,二是沸腾床加氢裂化。焦化技术最大的问题是把一部分渣油原料变成了石油焦和少量气体;而沸腾床加氢裂化技术的渣油转化率也只有55%～75%,渣油仍未得到高效利用,且装置投资大,操作复杂。所幸的是,现在渣油深度转化提高轻油收率技术有了新进展。沸腾床加氢裂化集成技术——LC-MAX工艺和H-Oil-延迟焦化集成工艺已经开发成功,正在准备工业应用,其中LC-MAX工艺渣油转化率可达80%～90%,并且提高了加工原料的灵活性,降低了反应系统的投资和操作费用。另外,渣油悬浮床加氢裂化技术也取得了突破性进展,正在建设工业装置的有KBR公司的VCC技术、UOP公司的Uniflex技术、Eni公司的EST技术和委内瑞拉国家石油公司的HDHPLUS技术。VCC技术的渣油转化率可达95%;Uniflex技术采用纳米级催化剂,转化率可达90%以上;而EST技术首套工业装置将加工难以转化的乌拉尔原油减压渣油,如果渣油转化率能达到95%,且能长期运转,将是渣油深度转化技术的重大突破。渣油悬浮床加氢裂化技术是当今炼油工业的世界级难题和前沿技术,国家"十二五"规划要求炼油行业到2015年轻油收率从目前的75%左右提高到80%。为此,建议抓紧组织产学研三结合的研发团队,充分发挥国家重点实验室和国家工程研究中心的作用,高度重视渣油悬浮床加氢裂化催化剂的筛选工作。同时,国家有关部门要加大支持和协调力度,确保到2015年取得重大突破。

Major Advances in Technology for Raising Naphtha Yield by Residuum Deep Conversion

There are currently two major residuum deep conversion technologies used by refineries worldwide-coking and fluidized bed hydrocracking.The biggest problem with coking technology is that it converts part of residuum into petroleum coke and a small amount of gas,while the residuum conversion rate of fluidized bed hydrocracking technology is also only 55%-75%.Residuum is not efficiently utilized,equipment investment is high and equipment operation is complicated.However,fortunately new progress has been made in the development of technology for raising naphtha yield by means of residuum deep conversion.Fluidized bed hydrocracking integrated technology-LC-MAX and H-Oil delayed coking integrated technology have been successfully developed and preparations for industrial application are under way.LC-MAX technology has a residuum conversion rate of up to 80%-90% and also raises feedstock flexibility,in turn reducing investment and operation cost in reaction systems.Breakthroughs have also been made in suspension bed residuum hydrocracking technology.Technologies that are being deployed in industrial units include KBR′s VCC technology,UOP′s Uniflex technology,Eni′s EST technology and PDVSA′s HDHPLUS technology.The residuum conversion rate of VCC technology can reach up to 95%.Uniflex uses nano catalyst and its residuum conversion rate can exceed 90%.The first industrial unit adopting EST technology will process Ural vacuum residuum,which is very difficult to convert.If the residuum conversion rate can reach 95% and the unit can achieve long-term operation,it would be a significant breakthrough in residuum deep conversion technology.Suspension bed hydrocracking is a major challenge and cutting edge technology for the world′s oil refining industry.The national Twelfth Five Year Plan has required the refining industry to raise its naphtha yield to 80% by 2015 from the current some 75%.The author of this article suggests establishing research and development teams combining production,academic and research forces,giving full play to national key laboratories and national engineering research centers,and placing a high value on the screening of residuum suspension bed hydrocracking catalysts.In addition,the government should step up its support and coordination to ensure that breakthroughs can be made before 2015,the article said.