Simulation, optimization and control of fluid catalytic cracking unit for CO2 minimization

The simulation model of Fluid Catalytic Cracking (FCC) unit and many other refinery processes maximise the yields of fuels such as gasoline, diesel, propylene and minimise the yields of CO2. While the increased yields of gasoline, diesel and propylene add to the profitability of the refinery and meet the global demands for energy, minimising CO2 by choosing the best operational route that achieves the lowest carbon emission is required in all refinery processes. Research into how to either capture or reduce CO2 emission in the UK and all over the world is currently receiving very intense attention with the UK investing millions of pounds to see to its success. All current works on carbon footprint minimisation is a reactive approach, where CO2 is already produced and carbon capture plant is used to capture the already expelled CO2.

The aim of the PhD is to develop and implement optimal preventative approaches to reduce carbon footprint using modelling, simulation, optimisation and control studies, as well as experimental approach in the design and operation of FCC process and other refinery processes. When appropriate approaches are developed, the data produced and the approaches developed will also be exploited to improve fundamental understanding of equipment design that guarantees long-term preventive approaches to CO2 emission in not just the petroleum refineries, but all processes. gPROMS, Aspen Hysys/Plus, Matlab, Ansys-Fluent and AutoCad are among the many software available for both equation-oriented and sequential-modular approach simulation in this work.