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Dates: May 12, 2022
Also known as a Cat Cracker, the Fluid Catalytic Cracking Unit (FCCU) is a piece of refining equipment used to convert the heavy portion of crude oil feedstock into lighter petroleum products, including liquified petroleum gas and gasoline.
FCCUs use a chemical process known as cracking to break down large hydrocarbon molecules into smaller molecules by exposing them to a catalyst and extreme heat. Common catalysts include zeolite, bauxite, silica-alumina, and aluminum hydrosilicate. Once the FCCU process is complete, product is then sent to a hydrocracker for further processing.
Since they were introduced in the 1940s, FCCUs have improved the efficiency and output of countless refineries and have become essential to the industry.
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Contribute to DefinitionHot spots – localized areas of overheating in pressure equipment – can lead to deformation or even loss of process containment. It is important to understand the effects of elevated temperature caused by hot spots on the mechanical integrity of...
Summertime requires refiners to push even harder on certain equipment, such as the Fluid Catalytic Cracking Unit (FCCU), alkylation unit, and reformers to be able to meet increased demand. Warmer ambient temperatures can negatively affect process...
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The U.S. Chemical Safety Board (CSB) has released an animation depicting the February 18, 2015 explosion and fire at the ExxonMobil (now PBF Energy) refinery in Torrance, CA.
Exxon Mobil Corp plans to complete an overhaul of a gasoline-producing fluidic catalytic cracker (FCC) at its 502,500 barrel-per-day (bpd) Baton Rouge, Louisiana, refinery by April 5, sources familiar with plant operations said on Thursday.
TotalEnergies SE plans to begin restarting the gasoline-producing fluidic catalytic cracker unit at its 225,500 barrel-per-day Port Arthur, Texas, refinery by Oct. 14, said sources familiar with plant operations on Thursday.
Chevron is considering permanently closing the gasoline-producing FCC at its 112,229 bpd Pasadena, Texas refinery as part of a possible reconfiguration of the plant, said sources familiar with the company’s deliberations.
Reliance Industries forced to shut FCCU at Jamnagar Refinery for maintenance.
Royal Dutch Shell Plc stopped a leak on Tuesday in the shut gasoline-producing fluidic catalytic cracker (FCC) at its 318,000 barrel-per-day (bpd) joint venture Deer Park, Texas, refinery, said sources familiar with plant operations.
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Exxon Mobil Corp completed the restart on Wednesday of the gasoline-producing fluidic catalytic cracker (FCC) at its 369,024-barrel-per-day (bpd) refinery in Beaumont, Texas, sources familiar with plant operations said.
Exxon Mobil plans to shut the small gasoline-producing unit at its 560,500 barrels-per-day Baytown, Texas, refinery by early next week because of low demand due to efforts to halt the spread of the coronavirus pandemic.
Lyondell Basell Industries reportedly raised production on the gasoline-producing unit at its 263,776-barrel-per-day (bpd) Houston refinery on Wednesday.
BP Plc began a planned overhaul on Wednesday of the small gasoline-producing fluidic catalytic cracking unit (FCCU) at its 430,000 barrel-per-day (bpd) Whiting, Indiana, refinery
Phillips 66 restarted the gasoline-producing fluidic catalytic cracking unit (FCCU) at its 253,600-barrel-per-day (bpd) Alliance, Louisiana, refinery following a month-long shutdown
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The gasoline-producing unit at Marathon Petroleum Corp’s 585,000-barrel-per-day (bpd) Galveston Bay Refinery in Texas City, Texas, may remain shut for two to eight weeks for repairs.
The U.S. Chemical Safety Board (CSB) recently released a Factual Investigative Update regarding their investigation of the April 26, 2018 explosion and fire at Husky Energy's 50,000 bpd Superior Refinery. According to the CSB, evidence collected to...
Today, the U.S. Chemical Safety Board (CSB) released its final report into the February 18, 2015, explosion at the ExxonMobil refinery in Torrance, California. The blast caused serious property damage to the refinery and scattered catalyst dust up...