Introduction
The Short Contact Time Riser Test (SCT-RT) Unit is a bench-scale fluidised bed system designed to accurately evaluate Fluid Catalytic Cracking (FCC) catalyst performance at commercially representative contact times of 1–3 seconds.
Reliable catalyst selection depends on lab-scale testing that closely replicates refinery operation. The SCT-RT unit achieves this by combining:
- Realistic deactivation of fresh FCC catalysts, and
- Adiabatic short-contact-time cracking, simulating commercial FCC riser behavior.
This short contact time riser technology was pioneered by Albemarle and has been commercially available through 360°KAS since 2006. The SCT-RT unit has proven to be the most cost-effective laboratory method for testing FCC catalysts at realistic feed and vapor contact times.
In operation, pre-heated feedstock is injected into a fluidised bed of hot FCC catalyst, providing:
- Rapid and uniform catalyst–oil mixing
- Efficient cracking at very short contact times
- Fast disengagement and stripping of cracked products
The system features an inert quartz glass reactor, eliminating metal interference at high temperatures and allowing direct visual monitoring of fluidisation. The SCT-RT is delivered as a fully automated PLC- and SCADA-controlled unit with comprehensive data acquisition and compatibility with equilibrium catalysts prepared using the 360°KAS Cyclic Deactivation (CD) Unit.
Short Contact Time Riser Test (SCT-RT) Unit – Features
- Type of Reactor: Fast Fluidised Plug Flow
- Catalyst Intake (dependent on the cat-to-oil ratio): Min 12 g – Max 24 g
- Feed injection time: 1.00 sec.; adjustable up to 3 sec.
- Fluidising Medium: Nitrogen
- Capacity: Up to 6 tests per 8 hours
- Type of control: Sequence control and temperature control PLC/ PC
- Gas flow control: Instrument-based
- HMI & Data Acquisition: In Touch – Wonderware
- Approximate Dimensions: 2940 x 970 x 2100 (WxDxH in mm)
CLIENT SUCCES STORIES
Succesful FAT FCC Catalyst Cracking Evaluation Unit
The largest refinery in Taiwan uses our lab-scale FCC Catalyst Cracking Evaluation Unit: the Short Contact Time Riser test (SCTRT). This unit can be operated under isothermal as well as semi-adiabatic conditions to closely mimic a commercial FCC unit.
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