Fluor utilized advanced process modeling in developing kinetic models and designing the reactor.
Fluor’s contribution to the project was expertise in thermodynamic properties, optimizing kinetic models through the capabilities provided by the Aspen PlusTM process simulator (specifically, Data-Fit), and flowsheet development to control reactor performance over the life of the catalyst.
Fluor worked with the company's research & development team to develop and validate a kinetic model using data generated from two types of laboratory-scale reactors. These efforts were aided by Aspen Plus capability such as flexible kinetic models and Data-Fit to regress laboratory data.
Fluor investigated catalyst properties relevant to process scale-up, assessed viable commercial reactor configurations and developed heat integration and process control scheme. Fluor subsequently performed a technology assessment for the entire plant.