Oxygen enrichment in FCC plants

Fluidized catalytic cracking (FCC) is the basic process of gasoline production. This process is primarily used to convert vacuum gasoil from the crude distillation unit into gasoline blending components and fuel oils.

The FCC splits heavier and more complex hydrocarbons into lighter ones. Vacuum gas oil is used as the starting point, often mixed with refinery residues. The resulting "main products" are:

• Gas fraction (mainly C3 / C4)
• Liquid fraction (mainly gasoline)
• Coke (solid deposit on the catalyst)

Oxygen enrichment during regeneration allows the refinery operator to

• Increase FCC capacity
• Be more flexible in feedstock selection
• Use heavier feedstocks
• Increase gasoline yield
• Reduce byproducts