FCC NOx Reduction Methods for Compliance

This technical report discusses various methods for reducing nitrogen oxides (NOx) emissions in fluid catalytic cracking (FCC) units, focusing on compliance with increasingly stringent regulations. It outlines both capital investment and non-capital project options available to refiners. The report details capital project strategies such as selective catalytic reduction (SCR), selective non-catalytic reduction (SNCR), and proprietary NOx reduction technologies, along with their operational principles and potential NOx reduction efficiencies. Additionally, it covers non-capital strategies including CO promoter optimization, oxygen and carbon monoxide optimization, feed nitrogen reduction, flue gas ammonia injection, and the use of NOx reduction additives. A case study from Placid Refining Co. is presented, illustrating a successful NOx reduction strategy that combines an additive with optimized process variables. The report emphasizes the importance of balancing operational conditions to minimize NOx emissions while maintaining efficiency in FCC operations.