Search results for " cracking"
showing 7 items of 37 documents
Brittle failure in polycrystalline RVEs by a grain-scale cohesive boundary element formulation
2013
Polycrystalline materials are commonly employed in engineering structures. For modern applica- tions a deep understanding of materials degradation is of crucial relevance. It is nowadays widely recognized that the macroscopic material properties depend on the microstructure. The polycrystalline microstructure is characterized by the features of the grains and by the phys- ical and chemical properties of the intergranular interfaces, that have a direct influence on the evolution of the microstructural damage. The experimental investigation of failure mechanisms in 3D polycrystals still remains a challenging task. A viable alternative, or complement, to the experiments is Computational Microm…
IM-5 zeolite for steam catalytic cracking of naphtha to produce propene and ethene. An alternative to ZSM-5 zeolite
2013
Steam catalytic cracking of naphtha in smaller FCC units can be considered an option to produce more ethene and propene. These units will operate at high reaction temperatures and in the presence of steam. The profitability of these units could be improved with the use of new catalysts with higher activity and hydrothermal stability, without compromising the selectivity to light olefins. We have explored the possibilities of IM-5 zeolite for high temperature steam catalytic cracking (SCC) of a naphtha, as an alternative to commonly used ZSM-5 zeolite. So, we compare the catalytic activity, the effect of operating variables of the process and the yields of interest products between the two z…
Performance improvements of asphalt mixtures by dry addition of polymeric additives
2017
This paper shows the results of an experimental study concerning the development and optimization of asphalt mixtures for binder and base courses, improved with specifically engineered additives. The focus was on the mechanical improvements of the mixtures as achievable via dry modification with polymeric additives by making use of aggregate and bitumen of average quality, as locally available, in order to limit the consumption of virgin materials. The results allowed interesting conclusions to be drawn about the use of polymeric additives for these mixtures. In particular, the modified mixtures proved to have better performance in terms of both permanent deformation resistance and stiffnes…
Stabilization of ZSM-5 zeolite catalysts for steam catalytic cracking of naphtha for production of propene and ethene
2012
In order to increase ethene and propene, naphtha steam catalytic cracking has been considered. The cracking of C 5-C 12 n-alkanes with ZSM-5 has been studied in absence and in presence of steam and the influence of the operation variables was studied. Irreversible catalyst deactivation by dealumination also occurs in the reactor when the cracking is carried out in the presence of steam. To diminish steam deactivation, the influence of zeolite Si/Al framework and a postsynthesis treatment by phosphorous have been studied and optimized. Much more stable catalyst can be achieved that result in an increase in activity without penalty for production of ethene and propene.
Multiscale modeling of polycrystalline materials: A boundary element approach to material degradation and fracture
2015
Abstract In this work, a two-scale approach to degradation and failure in polycrystalline materials is proposed. The formulation involves the engineering component level (macro-scale) and the material grain level (micro-scale). The macro-continuum is modeled using a three-dimensional boundary element formulation in which the presence of damage is formulated through an initial stress approach to account for the local softening in the neighborhood of points experiencing degradation at the micro-scale. The microscopic degradation is explicitly modeled by associating Representative Volume Elements (RVEs) to relevant points of the macro continuum, for representing the polycrystalline microstruct…
Optimal die Design for Cold Extrusion Processes
1999
The design of cold extrusion processes requires the optimisation of several process variables in order to obtain a defect free product. The fulfilment of different objectives, such as the minimisation of forming loads or the homogeneity of the deformations, is highly requested. Nevertheless, several other relevant aspects of extrusion processes have to be taken into account and require a suitable optimisation of the process parameters and in particular of the die shape. In this paper, tool life has been assumed as the most relevant goal and an effective die design procedure as been setup. It is well known that fatigue cracking of the dies is the principal cause of dies failure in cold extru…
Influence of the process variables on the product distribution and catalyst decay during cracking of paraffins
1986
Abstract The influence of the partial pressure of the hydrocarbon, reaction temperature, time on stream and the presence of olefins on the product distribution and the kinetics and decay during the cracking of n-heptane on an REHY zeolite were studied. It was found that the isomerization to cracking ratio depends on the hydrocarbon partial pressure. The active sites for cracking and isomerization are not the same and those for cracking decay faster, the selectivity changing with the degree of decay of the zeolite. The protolytic to β-cracking ratio, and therefore the paraffin to olefin ratio, are a function of the partial pressure of n-heptane. Both reactants and products have a marked infl…