Electronic Thesis and Dissertation Repository

Degree

Master of Engineering Science

Program

Chemical and Biochemical Engineering

Supervisor

Pjontek, Dominic

2nd Supervisor

Briens, Cedric

Abstract

Fluid CokingTM reactors are used to convert heavy hydrocarbons to lighter products via thermal cracking. Fouling can occur within the Fluid Coker cyclones, leading to shut down for maintenance and recovery. Hydrocarbon adsorption on carbonaceous materials was thus investigated to identify mitigation strategies for cyclone fouling. A vertically oscillating gas-solid contacting system capable of providing well-mixed conditions has been designed to measure adsorption kinetics on carbonaceous materials under relevant temperatures and pressures. Adsorption kinetics and equilibrium measurements are reported for isothermal conditions. Fluid coke, flexicoke, and coconut shell activated carbon were used as adsorbents. N-decane, n-dodecane, and mesitylene were used as aliphatic and aromatic vapor adsorbates. Adsorption measurements showed much faster kinetics, based on reaching equilibrium values, with coke compared to activated carbon (time constants of 83 s versus 1220 s, respectively). However, equilibrium adsorption uptake of activated carbon is more than an order of magnitude higher than coke.

Download

Share

COinS