KBC, the leading technology-based consulting company for the energy and chemical industry, announced the acquisition of kinetic reactor model technology for simulating ebullated-bed hydrocracking from Princeton Process Engineers (PPE).
The technology supports refineries in upgrading high sulphur residual oil into higher value products and is now available within KBC’s market-leading SIM Reactor Suite. Ebullated-bed technology has even more relevance today following recently imposed International Maritime Organization (IMO) marine sulphur emissions regulation. Due to this regulation, many oil refiners will suffer lower revenues from falling fuel oil prices and will have to consider changing feedstock and investing in new conversion technology.
This acquisition will further enhance the ability of refiners to use predictive analytical tools to assist them in making both operating and business decisions that result in safe, reliable and profitable operations. The ebullated-bed technology continues to deliver on KBC’s simulation vision for the energy and chemical industry to make the complex simple.
KBC chief executive Andy Howell said: “This is an excellent new addition to our SIM Reactor Suite, which enhances the unique domain knowledge embodied in people and tools at KBC. We are continually focused on advancing the core technology on which our simulation software is based so that we can address the ever-changing challenges faced by our industry. It enhances our refining customers’ ability to achieve excellence in their operations and further affirms KBC’s leadership in refinery-wide modelling. In addition to helping these customers address the challenges of changing sulphur emissions regulations, it also expands our low-carbon residue conversion technology modelling portfolio.”
PPE president Richard M Eccles said: “Ebullated-bed residue hydrocracking technology is well-proven and the leading way of creating value from even the most challenging residue feeds. PPE’s kinetic reactor model has the same first principles, kinetic foundation as KBC’s SIM Reactor Suite. PPE has collaborated with KBC in the past to combine the first-class technologies that both companies supply. The acquisition announced today will guarantee the availability of the technology and complete its integration with KBC’s software, bringing enhanced and sustained value to all refining customers.”