CASE STUDY

FCC EXPANDER

SOUTH KOREA

FCC EXPANDER

Problem

The FCC Expander operators were
experiencing severe vibration due to catalyst
fines sticking on the rotating blades resulting
in a shutdown every six weeks, on average.

After Therma-Chem Treatment

Figure 1 shows the daily average vibration
level of the four vibration probes on the
expander for the prior year before using
Therma-Chem. Treatment with Turbo-Mor
commenced in October 2013 and Figure 2
reflects the first year of treatment. There were
no high vibration trips for the next 30 months
of operation. This presented a significant
saving for the plant.

Figure 1
Zrzut ekranu 2018 06 01 o 11.29.12 - FCC EXPANDER
Figure 2
Zrzut ekranu 2018 06 01 o 11.29.36 - FCC EXPANDER
left top1 icon 1 - FCC EXPANDER

Vacuum Tar Residue
and Fuel Gas Fired Boiler

Japan

High flue gas temperatures
and APH corrosion

left top1 icon 1 - FCC EXPANDER

HFO Fired Boiler

Saudi Arabia

Poor boiler efficiency and high
CO2 emissions

left top1 icon 1 - FCC EXPANDER

Coal Fired Boiler

Romania

Loss of boiler efficiency and
high CO2 emissions

left top1 icon 1 - FCC EXPANDER

Gas and HFO
Fired Boilers

Egypt

Efficiency loss due to fouling on
superheaters and economiser

mid1 right icon - FCC EXPANDER

Expander in FCC Unit

South Korea

Catalyst deposits on rotating
blades causing severe vibration

bot1 left icon - FCC EXPANDER

Shipping – LNG Tanker

Malaysia

Heavy deposits on combustion
and radiant sections of boilers
as well as back-end corrosion

right top icon - FCC EXPANDER

Process Heater

Belgium

Heater temperature limited
due to fireside conditions

right top icon - FCC EXPANDER

Process Heater

Singapore

Radiant temperature and
heater duty limited by fouling

right top icon - FCC EXPANDER

Gas Fired Reformer

UK

Unsustainable flue gas
temperature increase
due to fouling

right top icon - FCC EXPANDER

Refinery

Western Europe

Pre Shutdown Cleaning to
neutralized sulphur deposits