Modern hydroprocesses for the synthesis of high-quality low-viscous marine fuels

Abstract

Basic physicochemical and service properties inherent in middle distillate fractions from hydrocatalytic and thermodestructive processes are studied for one Russian refinery from the viewpoint of using them as potential components for low-viscous marine fuels (LMFs) with improved environmental and low-temperature properties. A laboratory-scale flow-through setup loaded with an industrial nickel–molybdenum catalyst is used for the hydrocracking of vacuum gasoils (with T_ebp ranging from 500 to 580°C) at 340–380°C and 15.0 MPa. The highest yield of the light hydrocracking gasoil (LHCG) is observed upon the processing of vacuum gasoil (T_ebp, 350–500°C) at 360°C, the highest cetane index (53 points) and the lowest sulfur content (7 ppm) being characteristic of the obtained LHCG. With heavier vacuum gasoil, the total yields of target distillates and the yield of LHCG decrease. In terms of physicochemical and service properties, the obtained LHGC is a high-quality component of LMFs. Comparative properties of the hydrorefined virgin diesel fraction, light gasoils obtained via catalytic cracking, slow coking, and the promising hydrocracking process are analyzed. The physicochemical, environmental, and main service properties inherent in the middle distillate fractions of secondary processes are determined depending on their hydrocarbon and nonhydrocarbon compositions, and on the content of key components. Based on these dependences, recommendations are made for the production of optimum low-viscous marine fuels with improved environmental and low-temperature properties.