Bobcat, there's a future for residues - Questions to Mathieu Digne, IFPEN Project Manager

The first step in the refining process – distillation – consists in separating the various components of crude oil on the basis of their boiling temperature. The heaviest fraction collected is called residue. Like all oil products, the residue must have all its sulfur impurities removed in order to comply with the specifications, which vary depending on its use and the geographic zone concerned.

Questions to...   Mathieu Digne, Bobcat Project Manager

What markets are being targeted by the improved version of the Hyvahl™ process?

M. D.: IFP Energies nouvelles and Axens developed the Hyvahl™ fixed-bed residue desulfurization process. In 2010, an R&D project was launched in order to improve this process and market a new range of catalysts designed to make it more efficient and more flexible. This is the Bobcat - Bottom Of Barrel Catalyst - project.

As part of the Bobcat project, we are working with Axens on both the catalysts used and the process itself. In the former case, the market is a very large one in terms of volume: each residue desulfurization unit uses several hundreds of tons of catalysts, which have to be replaced every year. We need to develop the most efficient products to stay ahead of the competition.

As far as the process is concerned, another type of market is targeted: the construction of new units, for which Axens sells licenses. It is necessary to anticipate customer demand – in terms of both the types of feeds and the uses if we are to be in a position to respond to calls for bids. In fact, uses have evolved significantly: the market for heavy fuels, used in thermal power stations, is falling. Hydrodesulfurization, used as a pretreatment for FCC units, is developing. Finally, the sulfur content specifications of bunker fuels are set to become stricter by 2020 leading to a new market for hydrodesulfurization.

What potential avenues for improvement are being examined as part of the Bobcat project?

M. D.: The current Hyvahl™ process chain involves several catalysts. Each one of these plays a specific role, such as hydrodemetalization, which is a preliminary step before desulfurization. We hope to add new efficient catalysts to the range, the aim being both to enhance the catalytic performance and be able to propose more flexible sequences, adapted to the needs of refiners. We are studying new catalysts and at the same time improving the efficiency of existing ones.

As far as improvement of the process is concerned, it is a matter of responding to the market trend, which is to use residues obtained by vacuum distillation, whereas previously units mainly treated atmospheric residues.

Operation of a residue hydrodesulfurization unit - (c) IFP Energies nouvelles

+ Research theme > Renewable energies > Fuels from biomass
+ Industrial development > Alternatives fuels