| Abstract: | A novel fluid catalytic cracking (FCC) process, that utilizes a downer reactor, has been developed to enhance the yield of light olefins under high‐severity reaction conditions. The effect of heavier feedstock on this high‐severity fluid catalytic cracking (HS‐FCC) process has been investigated using a small‐scale HS‐FCC pilot plant (0.1 b/d). Hydrotreated and virgin vacuum gas oils (VGO), hydrotreated and virgin atmospheric residues (AR) were used as test‐feeds in a previous study. The yield of desired products, such as gasoline and light olefins, produced from virgin VGO cracking was 79 wt.‐%, which is much higher than that obtained from a conventional FCC process. In the case of hydrotreated VGO, the yield of desired products decreased to 76%, however. On the other hand, AR feeds exhibited a performance similar to VGO with a slight increase in coke formation. In this study microactivity test (MAT) results are reported in which the activity and selectivity of the Y‐zeolite based catalyst is evaluated. Kinetic modeling was also done based on a four‐lump reaction model. |
