The Total Petrochemicals/UOP Olefin Cracking Process (OCP) is used to primarily produce propylene from C4 to C8 olefins supplied by steam crackers, refineries and/or methanol-to-olefins (MTO) plants.
The Olefin Cracking Process was jointly developed by Total Petrochemicals (formerly ATOFINA) and UOP to convert low-value C4 to C8 olefins to propylene and ethylene. The process features fixed-bed reactors operating at temperatures between 500°C and 600°C and pressures between 1 and 5 bars gauge.
This process uses a proprietary zeolitic catalyst and provides high yields of propylene. Usage of this catalyst minimizes reactor size and operating costs by allowing operation at high-space velocities, and high conversions and selectivities without requiring an inert diluent stream. A swing-reactor system is used for catalyst regeneration. Separation facilities depend on how the unit is integrated into the processing system.
The process is designed to utilize olefinic feedstocks from steam crackers, refinery FCC and coker units, and MTO units, with typical C4 to C8 olefin and paraffin compositions. The catalyst exhibits little sensitivity to common impurities such as dienes, oxygenates, sulfur compounds and nitrogen compounds.
Economics: Capital and operating costs depend on how the process is integrated with steam cracking, refinery or other facilities.
Yields: Product yields are dependent on feedstock composition. The process provides propylene/ethylene production at ratios of nearly 4:1. Case studies of olefin cracking integration with naphtha crackers have shown 30% higher propylene production compared to conventional naphtha-cracker processing.
Licensor: UOP LLC, A Honeywell Company
