Ryuzo Tanaka
Chief Associate
Idemitsu Kosan Co., Ltd.
Japan
Dr. Tanaka has been working in the energy industry for almost 30 years. He is an expert on petroleum characterization, working for Idemitsu Kosan Co. as a Chief Associate. Visiting Professor at Nagoya University, and Scientific Advisor of JPEC (Japan Petroleum and Carbon Neutral Fuels Energy Center) are his other titles. He has led many heavy oil-related technology development projects at both Idemitsu and JPEC, and is currently involved in the development of technologies related to sustainable energy and materials.
Participates in
TECHNICAL PROGRAMME | Energy Fuels and Molecules
Pathways to Net-Zero Refining and Petrochemical Facilities
Forum 16 | Hall 9 - Technical Programme 3
29
April
14:30
16:00
UTC+3
Efforts are underway to expand the use of low-carbon feedstocks for decarbonizing petroleum refining and petrochemical processes. To advance this efficiently, sophisticated composition control of refining streams is essential. To achieve this, hydrocarbonomics technology, which expands petroleomics to various hydrocarbons beyond petroleum, is being developed. Low-carbon feedstocks obtained from the decomposition of biomass and used plastics contain a diverse array of molecules not found in petroleum. Proper handling of these feedstocks requires analysis and optimization using hydrocarbonomics technology.
In petroleomics, ultra-high-resolution mass spectrometry (FT-ICR-MS) is utilized to identify millions of petroleum molecules. Furthermore, hydrocarbonomics must handle not only petroleum molecules but also heteroatom-containing compounds unique to low-carbon feedstocks, such as oxygenates and chlorinated compounds. New analytical techniques are being developed to selectively detect and identify these heteroatom-containing compounds. Simultaneously, systems are being developed to feedback molecular composition information into the preparation conditions of low-carbon feedstocks and to reflect this information in the co-processing methods of low-carbon feedstocks with petroleum fractions. By comprehensively utilizing these technologies, the decarbonization of petroleum refining and petrochemical processes can be efficiently advanced.
As an example, the overall optimization of the ARDS-RFCC process is explained. In ARDS, atmospheric residue (AR) is desulfurized through fixed-bed catalytic reactions to produce desulfurized heavy oil (DSAR), which is then cracked in the RFCC fluidized bed to produce naphtha and gasoline fractions. In ARDS, catalyst deactivation due to coke degradation is a problem. On the other hand, in RFCC, the catalyst circulates between the reactor (riser) and the regenerator, burning off the coke produced in the reaction. Therefore, catalyst deactivation is not the main concern; rather, conversion rate and selectivity are crucial. By adjusting the ARDS catalyst, the molecular composition of DSAR is precisely controlled, suppressing catalyst deactivation in ARDS while achieving high conversion rates and selectivity in RFCC.
In petroleomics, ultra-high-resolution mass spectrometry (FT-ICR-MS) is utilized to identify millions of petroleum molecules. Furthermore, hydrocarbonomics must handle not only petroleum molecules but also heteroatom-containing compounds unique to low-carbon feedstocks, such as oxygenates and chlorinated compounds. New analytical techniques are being developed to selectively detect and identify these heteroatom-containing compounds. Simultaneously, systems are being developed to feedback molecular composition information into the preparation conditions of low-carbon feedstocks and to reflect this information in the co-processing methods of low-carbon feedstocks with petroleum fractions. By comprehensively utilizing these technologies, the decarbonization of petroleum refining and petrochemical processes can be efficiently advanced.
As an example, the overall optimization of the ARDS-RFCC process is explained. In ARDS, atmospheric residue (AR) is desulfurized through fixed-bed catalytic reactions to produce desulfurized heavy oil (DSAR), which is then cracked in the RFCC fluidized bed to produce naphtha and gasoline fractions. In ARDS, catalyst deactivation due to coke degradation is a problem. On the other hand, in RFCC, the catalyst circulates between the reactor (riser) and the regenerator, burning off the coke produced in the reaction. Therefore, catalyst deactivation is not the main concern; rather, conversion rate and selectivity are crucial. By adjusting the ARDS catalyst, the molecular composition of DSAR is precisely controlled, suppressing catalyst deactivation in ARDS while achieving high conversion rates and selectivity in RFCC.
