Hydrocracking of Vacuum Gas Oil: Conversion, Product Yields, and Product Quality over an Industrial Hydrocracking Catalyst System

Pilot plant experiments were conducted over an industrial hydrotreating/hydrocracking catalyst system using vacuum gas oil fraction obtained from a refinery crude distillation unit. Extensive pilot plant data were generated on the performance of industrial hydrocracking catalyst system with respect to conversion, product yields, and product quality at various operating conditions. The pilot plant experiments were carried out in a dual-reactor hydrotreating pilot plant system with downflow mode of operation. The temperature varied from 360 to 400°C and liquid hourly space velocity varied from 0.8 to 2.4 hr−1, keeping a constant pressure of 170 kg/cm2 and H2/HC feed ratio of 845 L/L. The hydrocracked total liquid product was distilled in a true boiling point distillation unit to obtain yields and qualities of different fractions such as naphtha, kerosene, diesel, and unconverted oil. The effect of operating conditions on the performance of the hydrocracking catalyst system was discussed in detail. The kinet...