Developing a Two-Phase Bubble Mathematical Model of the Oxidative Regeneration of a Cracking Catalyst

Abstract A mathematical model of the oxidative regeneration of a cracking catalyst is developed that considers the patterns of reactions, the diffusion of reactants, and the hydrodynamics of the process in order to improve the technology by modeling the full cycle of catalyst movement. The model is used to determine the boundaries of the existence of a bubble regime, the parameters for stabilizing the boiling layer, and the optimum conditions for conducting the process. Raising the air flow rate to 27.8 m3/s increases the operating speed to 0.386 m/s, destroying the fluidized bed in the regenerator for catalyst particles with sizes of 4 × 10−5 to 1.6 × 10−4 m. It is established that the air flow must be no greater than 16.7 and 25 m3/s in order to stabilize the fluidized bed in a regenerator of particles with sizes of 8 × 10−5 to 1×10−4 m.