GC selected hte for the evaluation study in order to benchmark five commercial hydroprocessing catalyst systems using a 24-fold high throughput reactor system optimized for first-stage hydrocracking under commercially relevant conditions. The project was completed in 2018 with the overall aim of measuring catalyst performance (activity, selectivity, and stability) and determining key fractional product properties. The testing program at hte has provided GC with the relevant data to make the best decisions for the upcoming hydroprocessing catalyst change-out in 2020.

High throughput testing technology has become the industry standard for benchmarking several commercially available multistacked catalyst systems head to head under unit operating conditions and using the refinery’s typical feedstocks. It is the ideal way to properly identify the optimal catalyst system for a refinery’s specific process. Given the high stakes involved in the choice of catalyst for an operation cycle, selecting the appropriate testing technology for conversion units is pivotal, as it has a dramatic and lasting impact on the profitability of a refinery.

“We were satisfied with the performance of the benchmarking test carried out by hte, which produced the industrially relevant data we required to make the right decision for our catalyst change-out in a timely manner. Moreover, hte significantly relieved GC of the burden related to the contractual process with catalyst vendors. We will be happy to consider the services of hte for our future catalyst change-outs,” says Nattapong, Hydrocracker Unit Engineer at GC.

Wolfram Stichert, CEO at hte, comments: “We were pleased to have been selected by GC, a leading Asian integrated petrochemical and refining company, for such a crucial catalyst selection for their refinery. hte has always strived through innovative solutions to provide the most valuable services to its customers. Our latest 24-fold technology is the perfect illustration of this.”