Objective The purpose of the project is to prove the feasibility of the microfiltering process using CARBOSEP membranes in an industrial environment to eliminate catalyzer fines contained in slurry oil, basic product from a catalytic cracker fractioning tower, and especially :- confirm the separation and capacity performances previously obtained with a laboratory pilot unit- test the mechanical reliability of the unit- determine operating cycle times- evaluate operating costs- serve as a sizing and extrapolation base for a future unit- and lastly to evaluate operating modes and especially drop viscosity, eliminate polyaromatic molecules and more than four cycles, etc.PERFORMANCES- Since 15/11/89, the unit has operated under very satisfactory conditions requiring hardly any intervention from the refinery personnel.- The membrane filtering efficiency is very good. The filtrate has a fine content less than 10 ppm.- The unit responds reversibly to load quality fluctuations (viscosity) and no longer clogs irreversibly.- Manual regulation consisting in adjusting the transmembrane load loss to the load viscosity has given satisfaction. The filtrate flow is relatively constant (2.3 T/h).- The concentrate flow is now adjusted to maintain the load flow which maintains the maximum temperature (265 deg. C) in the loop.- Under these conditions, Table 2 below shows that the system has effectively attained the objective for which it was sized.PROJECT SUCCESSWe can now conclude with regards to the positive results of these tests performed on an industrial site. These tests made it possible to make the following progress :- Control of a new tangentialmicrofiltering process with a highly clogging and viscose product.- Information feedback may have spinoffs even outside the petroleum domain.- Incorporation of the temperature-viscosity relationship, especially important for this process (refer to Figures 8 and 9) with an industrial unit.- Consequently, the regulation method has been reviewed and we are now capable of designing a regulation system for a future plant.- We have learned how to evaluate, in a better manner, the brittleness of filtering membranes. This made it necessary to develop installation and sealing test procedures which have given full satisfaction.- Works continued after the end of this contract made it possible to envisage the construction of new filtering modules benefiting from experience feedback.- A double packing pump has been successfully used under exceptionally severe operating conditions and without any wear on the packing.- Generally speaking, the choice of equipment : regulation valves, flowmeters, etc. seems to have been correct. However, it is necesary to wait for the results from the inspection operation which will take place at the end of the current tests.- The measurement analysis technique for catalyzer fines has been tested for this type of fluid and can be routinely applied if certain precautions are taken.The project consists in the replacement of the traditional equipments (hydrocyclones, electrostatic balls loaded contactors) keeping back the fines in the catalytic slurry oil by a microfiltration loop. This loop which contains microfiltration barriers, is fitted to keep back the fines the diameter of which is superior to a certain value (said cutting value), and allows to keep back these fines totally, and not just partially like in traditional equipments.The use of these barriers to keep back fine particles of catalyst in the concentrate is new. Programme(s) ENG-ENDEMO C - Programme (EEC) of demonstration projects and industrial pilot projects (EEC) in the energy field, 1985-1989 Topic(s) 1.6 - TREATMENT OF WASTE Call for proposal Data not available Funding Scheme DEM - Demonstration contracts Coordinator GERTH EU contribution No data Address 232 AV. NAPOLEON BONAPARTE 92500 Rueil Malmaison France See on map Total cost No data
