RESIDUE STABILITY STUDY IN A THERMAL CATALYTIC STEAM CRACKING PROCESS THROUGH THEORETICAL ESTIMATION OF THE SOLUBILITY PARAMETER

Abstract

A theoretical model is applied to calculate the theoretical distributions of the solubility parameter of resins and asphaltenes, so as to evaluate residue quality of a thermal catalytic steam cracking process more in depth. It is attempted to explain the greater stability of such process in regard to visbreaking residue. Theoretical solubility profiles calculated upon physicochemical characterization of these chemical groups coincide with the experiment stability results obtained from the pilot plant runs of 1barrel/day capacity.

Results evidence that thermal catalytic steam cracking produces a residue with a less content of asphaltenes than that produced in Visbreaking, and that such residue is more easily soluble according to the solubility profile estimated. Likewise, compatibility index between resins and asphaltenes indicates that, though asphaltene nature plays an important role in the greater stability of thermal catalytic steam cracked residues with regard to those visbroken, the greater relative quantity of resins seems to be the main factor for the case analyzed in this study.

ACKNOWLEDGMENTS

Authors would like to thank L. Carbognani, Y. Espidel and M. Rosa-Brussin for their interesting discussion while carrying out this study, as well as to J. Bruzual and C.D. Ceballo for his valuable cooperation for its publication.