Analysis of the fluid-bed stability of FCC catalysts at high temperature in terms of bed elasticity

The effect of temperature on the fluid-bed stability of three FCC catalysts has been analyzed through considerations on fluid-bed elasticity. Experimental findings on the effect of temperature on the elasticity modulus at minimum bubbling conditions, (E)mb, were analyzed using the hydrodynamic fluid-bed stability model developed by Foscolo and Gibilaro (1984) and adopting the interparticle-forces-based stability criterion developed by Mutsers and Rietema (1977). For both models, the parameters which control changes in (E)mb with temperature are discussed, in order to establish the origin of the fluid-bed elasticity and analyze the ability of these models to discriminate between the relative importance of the hydrodynamic and interparticle forces on the stability of the fluidized catalysts.