Research in Petroleum Refining & Petrochemicals at KFUPM
Refining & Petrochemical Research at KFUPM Center for Refining and Petrochemicals (CRP) • Established in 1978 • Emphasis on Client-Funded Industrial Research • Current Research Areas: Desulfurization, Alkylation, Cat Cracking, Polymers
Center of Research Excellence in Refining & Petrochemicals (CoRE-PRP) • Established in 2007 by Ministry of Higher Education • Emphasis on catalysis research in olefins, aromatics, polyolefins • Promotion of graduate and post-graduate research KAUST – Center-in-Development in Petrochemicals & Polymers (KAUST-CID) • Established in 2008; Awarded by King Abdullah University for Science & Technology
• Current research areas: aromatics and polyolefins • Promotion of graduate and post-graduate research 2
CRP - Mission & Vision Mission Conduct client-driven research in petroleum refining and petrochemicals areas, which are of strategic importance to Saudi Arabia Vision To be a leading research center in refining and petrochemicals through innovative basic and applied research
CRP - Objectives
Align research activities with national needs; and extend Kingdom’s knowledge base
Develop strategic alliances with national, regional and international institutions
Customer focused R&D activities with interdisciplinary approach and world class facilities
CRP Major Research Areas Refining Research (ongoing projects) Heavy oil upgrading (FCC and hydroprocessing) Clean fuels ( reforming catalysts for hydrogen production) Development of novel FCC catalysts with enhanced propylene production Performance evaluation of commercial catalysts Technical services to refining industries Evaluation of adsorbents for drying of natural gas Development of FCC additives for enhancing propylene (NSTIP)
Major Research Areas Petrochemicals Research
Para-xylene via transalkylation of heavy aromatics Naphtha catalytic cracking to light olefins
Toluene methylation to: paraxylene or styrene Metathesis of butenes to propylene
Dehydrogenation of EB to styrene Catalysts for LAB Synthesis Technical services and catalyst screening to petrochemicals industries
Major Research Areas Polymer Research Development of heterogeneous polyolefin catalysts Polyolefin characterization and applications Development of novel polyalphaolefin drag reducing agents Develop UV stabilizer-based formulations suitable for harsh climatic conditions of the Arabian Gulf region
CRP Manpower
Sr. Research Engineer Research Engineers Research Scientist s Engineers Scientists Lab Technicians Admin Staff
1 5 10 3 4 6 2
Full time Researchers = 16 Support Staff = 15 Several faculty members & students from Chemistry, Chemical and Mechanical Engineering Departments are team members in our ongoing projects.
Laboratories and Facilities
Laboratories and Facilities
10
FCC Catalysts Testing Units
Circulating Riser Unit ASTM-Micro Activity Test (MAT) unit Advanced Catalytic Evaluation (ACE) Unit Circulating Downer Pilot Plant (Grace-Davison) Fixed-bed Flow Reactor for Naphtha cracking Catalyst deactivation units Analytical Support
Refinery gas analyzers ( FID & TCD GCs) Detailed hydrocarbon analyzer (PIONA) Carbon/sulfur analyzer XRD Analyzer
Major FCC Catalyst Testing Units
Fixed-bed flow reactor system: Naphtha catalytic steam cracking to light olefins
Advanced Cracking Evaluation (ACE): Laboratory scale system for studying FCC catalysts
HS-FCC Process: Basic Development
30 BD Demonstration Plant Overview
• Joint Partnership between KFUPM, with Saudi Aramco, JX Nippon
Comparative Yields: VGO Feed
HS-FCC Process and Yields Flue Gas
60
Hopper
More gasoline at same light olefins
Feed
Downer Product
Combustion air as lift medium
Lift Line
Stripper
Gasoline (wt%)
50
Downer
40 Riser
30 20 More light olefins at same gasoline
10 0
Steam
Regenerator Air
0
10
20
Light Olefins (wt%)
A 3,000 bbl/day is in the test phase at JX Nippon Mizushima refinery (Process licensors: Axens and Stone & Webster)
14
30
40
For further information: Director, Center for Refining & Petrochemicals Research Institute, KFUPM, Dhahran 31261, Saudi Arabia Telephone: +966-3-860-2029 • Fax: +966-3-860-4509 Email: crp@kfupm.edu.sa; Web : http://ri.kfupm.edu.sa/crp/