KFBE

Fluidized Bed Structured Packing

YOU CAN RELY ON US.

™
Have you noticed these issues with your FCCU?
Hydrocarbon entrainment to the regenerator
Can lead to:
 Lower product recovery
 Elevated catalyst regenerator temperatures
 Reduced capacity, reliability, and operational flexibility
 Lower cat/oil ratios and reduced conversion

Excessive use of stripping steam

Can result in:
 Increased operational costs and burden to the utilities system
 Lower available capacity of the FCC main fractionator and its overhead condenser
 Excessive sour water discharge and increased costs in the Sour Water Stripper Unit

Excessive erosion of catalyst stripper internals

Can lead to:
 Costly and time consuming repairs
 Repeated cycles of damage and repairs
 Hot work at every turnaround

KFBE Packing

Typical FCC design with KFBE packing

in the annular catalyst stripper

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Other refiners have had the same issues.
And found the key to unlocking the potential of their FCCU is in the catalyst stripper.

Repeated upgrading of the FCCU for higher capacity, heavier feeds, and improved yields has left many
catalyst strippers with capacity and stripping efficiency constraints and erosion problems.

Trays block 50% of the vessel area

Reduces capacity
n Constricts flow area in pinch points
n Allows catalyst defluidization directly
above the tray

Reduces efficiency
n Isolates contacting to small zones
n Allows channeling and bypassing

Promotes erosion
n Catalyst and steam velocities are high
n Highest velocities at pinch points erode
ends of and holes in trays

Disc-and-donut Trays

KFBE packing uses the entire vessel volume

Maximizes available capacity
n Uses 95% of the vessel volume for process flow

Maximizes uniform residence time

n Eliminates empty zones and stagnant zones
of catalyst de-aeration
n Provides slow and uniform descent of catalyst
through the stripper

Improves stripping efficiency

n Provides maximum catalyst residence time
with low catalyst velocity
n Improves contact through smaller bubble size
n Reduces channeling and bypassing

KFBE Packing
Reduces erosion
n No pinch points of high velocity
n Low local velocities throughout entire bed

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KFBE packing is engineered for catalyst strippers.
Designed for the demanding needs of gas-solid fluidized bed systems, KFBE packing enhances
gas-solid contact without restricting flow or allowing solids stagnation.

The rugged metal plates turn and break up the catalyst promoting uniform fluidization and slow, uniform descent
of catalyst through the stripper. As steam rises in small turbulent bubbles, hydrocarbon is efficienctly stripped. The
durable construction is not susceptible to mechanical failure, and the open design resists coking.

Materials of construction
The most commonly used material is 410S with low alloy support beams. Hotter regenerated catalyst applications
frequently use 304H. Other materials are available depending on the specific design and customer request.

Multiple sizes
KFBE packing is available in five sizes to accommodate various vessel designs. For all sizes, the stripping efficiency per
layer is comparable. The packing size is selected to fit the available vessel height.

Size Layer Height Blade Width Blade Spacing Use

2A 10 in [254 mm] Narrowest Smallest Pilot and specialty units

2B 12 in [305 mm] Short available vessel height

2C 15 in [381 mm] Standard size

2D 18 in [457 mm] Excess available vessel height

2E 20 in [508 mm] Widest Largest Excess height/large manway

Flexible design
KFBE packing is manufactured in layers that are contoured to fit any vessel configuration. Designs account for out-of-
round tolerance on vessels as well as for thermal expansion. For older vessels with severely out-of-round shells or off-
center risers, measured dimensions can be used to design for proper fit.

Annular and full-circle units

KFBE packing is used in both annular strippers (those with a reaction riser in the middle of the stripper) and
full-circle strippers. In annular strippers, the packing, its support and its hold-down do not touch the reaction riser.

Cold and hot wall units

KFBE packing is used in both cold wall and hot wall catalyst strippers. Shell attachments can be welded to the shell
behind thermal refractory, abrasion lining, or no lining.

Annular KFBE packing for Full-circle KFBE packing layer

installation around the reaction riser for vessels with external risers
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KFBE packing optimizes stripping performance.
Robust and efficient, KFBE packing provides ease of installation and operating flexibility for retrofits
and new installations.

Installation is easy and can be accommodated during most FCC maintenance schedules. Each block of KFBE packing fits
through the vessel manways. Outer blocks are manufactured contoured to the stripper wall.

Robust and durable construction

n Resists mechanical failure in the normally hot, erosive service
n Withstands normal handling without damage
n Promotes reuse of packing through multiple campaigns

Easy installation, replacement and maintenance

n Shell attachments are one-time installation
n Installation of removable equipment takes hours or shifts, rather than days or weeks
n Allows easy removal for safe and unconstrained access during vessel inspection and maintenance
n Provides easy reinstallation
n Designed for out-of-round vessel tolerance and can be trimmed for excessive out-of-round or refractory bulges

Reduces number of permanent vessel shell attachments

n Removable support grids, packing and hold-down grids
n Support attachments are above and below the packing, not within the packed bed
n Support attachments can be given greater corrosion/erosion allowance

Maximizes use of vessel height

n Bed depths of 8 to 12 ft [2.4 to 3.6 m] are common
n Bed depths of 6 ft [1.8 m] can strip effectively

Maximizes catalyst stripping

n Least hydrocarbon lost to regenerator
n Lowest regenerator temperature; highest cat-to-oil ratio
n Fluidization maintained through the stripper for maximum head gain, often 39 lb/ft3 [625 kg/m3]
n Steam consumption as low as 2 lb/Mlb [2 kg/t] of catalyst
n Corresponding lower discharge of sour water

Avoids erosion in stripper

n Packing avoids pinch zones where catalyst and steam accelerate and pass through each other
n Local catalyst and steam velocities are low and uniform
n Packing allows high catalyst flux and/or high steam rate without erosion

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KFBE packing is proven technology.
With proven performance and reliability, KFBE packing has been installed in more than 80 catalyst
strippers and 14 other FCC vessels.
With original installations in operation more than 15 years, none of the installed units have experienced coking. All
installations continue operating with KFBE packing.

Premiere catalyst stripper technology

n Combined 500 years of operation experience
n Diameters up to 25 ft [7.6 m]
n Approximately half the units crack resid
n More than 10 units are designed for on-purpose propylene
n Design temperatures up to 1148°F [620°C] in spent catayst strippers
n Design temperatures up to 1500°F [816°C] in regenerated catalyst vessels
n More than 3.9 MM bbl/d installed FCC capacity

KFBE catalyst stripper packing

after 3 years operation

KFBE packing provides a short payback.

Customers who have upgraded to KFBE packing have realized significant benefits.

Reliability project pays out in under 6 months

A refinery replaced a shed deck design with KFBE packing to reduce stripping steam and avoid ongoing maintenance
issues. Applying KFBE packing reduced stripping steam use by 50%, increased available capacity in the main fractionator,
and reduced sour water discharge to the sour water unit. The reduction in sour water allowed the refiner to avoid a
capacity revamp in the sour water unit. Although the project was aimed at unit reliability, payout was less than 6 months.

Conversion increase project pays out in under 3 months

A small catalyst stripper caused FCCU capacity and feed limitations. Mechanical and structural constraints prevented the
refinery from considering a larger catalyst stripper. Revamping with KFBE packing reduced hydrocarbon product loss
to the regenerator, lowered regenerator operating temperature, and increased head gain over the spent catalyst line. The
combined effect of these improvements allowed the refiner to increase catalyst circulation by 5%, increasing conversion
by 3-5% depending on the feedstock. Payout of the project was less than 3 months.

Operation constraints revamp pays out in under 60 days

Poor catalyst stripping was causing excessive catalyst regeneration temperatures. Revamping the stripper with KFBE
packing allowed use of the existing catalyst stripper vessel, reduced the temperature in the regenerator dense bed
catalyst by 50°F, virtually eliminated after-burn in the regenerator and reduced stripping steam use by 40%. The higher
cat/oil ratio improved unit conversion by 3%. Payout for the revamp was less than 60 days.

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If you think we can help, let's talk . . .
KFBE packing is available through Koch-Glitsch Authorized Licensors, TechnipFMC and Axens,
or directly from Koch-Glitsch.

Koch-Glitsch is proud to offer its packed catalyst stripper technology in partnership with TechnipFMC and Axens, which
are both world leaders in FCC technology. KFBE packing technology from Koch-Glitsch is licensed through its technology
partners or is available directly from Koch-Glitsch.

Work with Koch-Glitsch's licensors to receive: Work directly with Koch-Glitsch if you need:
n Yield forecasts n Mechanical design
n Process guarantees n Equipment supply
n Project management n Field installation
n Mechanical reviews
n Process safety reviews
n P&ID reviews
n Start-up support
n FCCU troubleshooting
n Additional FCC technologies

Improve stripper performance and unlock the

potential of your FCCU
n Increase stripper capacity
n Improve hydrocarbon recovery
n Improve catalyst circulation
n Improve operational flexibility
n Reduce regenerator operating temperatures
n Reduce stripping steam requirement
n Reduce sour water discharge

KFBE Packing Director, FCC Technology R2R & FCC Technology Manager
4111 East 37th Street North 11740 Katy Freeway 89 Boulevard Fanklin Roosevelt BP 50802
Wichita, KS 67220 USA Houston, TX 77079 USA 95208 Rueil-Malmaison - Cedex, France
Tel: (316) 828-5110, Option 5 Tel: (281) 870-1111 Tel: +33 1 47 14 24 54
Fax: (316) 828-7985 Fax: (281) 249-8899 Fax: +33 1 47 14 25 00
www.koch-glitsch.com www.technipfmc.com/en/contact-us www.axens.com

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Koch-Glitsch Corporate Offices
Worldwide Headquarters
Koch-Glitsch, LP
4111 East 37th Street North Wichita, KS 67220 - United States tel: (316) 828-5110 fax: (316) 828-7985

Europe
Koch-Glitsch Italia S.r.l.
Via Torri Bianche, 3A 20871 Vimercate MB - Italy tel: +39-039-6386010 fax: +39-039-6386011

Asia
Koch Chemical Technology Group Singapore Pte. Ltd.
260 Orchard Road, #11-01/09 Singapore 238855 tel: +65-6831-6500 fax: +65-6835-2031
The Heeren

Koch-Glitsch (a division of Koch Asia-Pacific G.K..)

4th Floor, Takanawa Muse Bldg. Shinagawa ku, Tokyo 141-0022 Japan tel: +81-3-4332-5560 fax: +81-3-5423-1626
3-14-13 - Higashi - Gotanda

Koch-Glitsch (a division of Koch Chemical Technology Group India Pvt. Ltd.)

10th Floor, Corporate Park II Chembur, Mumbai 400 071 - India tel: +91-22-6771-7171 fax: +91-22-6771-7161
Sion-Trombay Road

For a complete list of Koch-Glitsch offices and facilities, visit us on the Web at www.koch-glitsch.com.

Emergency Numbers
United States/Latin America: 1-888-KOCH-911 (mass transfer), 1-316-207-7935 (mist elimination),
or your local Koch-Glitsch office.

Canada: 1-905-852-3381 (Uxbridge, Ontario).

Europe/Middle East/Africa: +39-06-928-911 (Italy), +44-1782-744561 (UK),

or your local Koch-Glitsch office.

Asia: +65-6831-6500 (Singapore) or your local Koch-Glitsch office.

Trademarks Patents
The following registered trademarks are owned by Koch-Glitsch, LP in the The following technologies are protected by one or more patents in
United States and may be registered in other jurisdictions. KOCH-GLITSCH and the USA; other foreign patents may be relevant: KFBE fluidized bed
“K” KOCH-GLITSCH. The following trademarks are owned by Koch-Glitsch, LP structured packing (US6224833).
in the United States and may be registered in other jurisdictions: KFBE and YOU
CAN RELY ON US. All other trademarks, service marks, or registered trademarks Legal Notice
that appear in this document are the trademarks or service marks of their The information contained in this bulletin is believed to be accurate
respective owners. and reliable, but is not to be construed as implying any warranty or
guarantee of performance.

Bulletin KFBE-02. Rev. 3-2017. Printed in USA.

© 2008-2017. Koch-Glitsch, LP. All rights reserved.