Delayed Coking, Thermal Cracking, Visbreaking Pilot Plants

Thermal cracking processes are used in petroleum refineries to upgrade and convert petroleum resid. Resid is the heavier material bottoms from atmospheric and vacuum distillation of crude oil. An initial atmospheric distillation may be required on your feedstock to remove the lighter material prior to vacuum distillation. Intertek PARC will assist you in selecting the appropriate distillation strategy.  Intertek PARC offers vacuum distillation services to produce resids utilizing the following:

• PARC Unit P-13 is a continuous vacuum distillation column which can accommodate a capacity of 15 gallons per hour at 2-3 mm Hg vacuum to achieve deep cuts up to 1025°F.  Steam assistance is available as needed.
• PARC Unit EFV uses continuous flash vaporization chamber to minimize the residence-time and potential cracking .  The flash vaporizer operates with a capacity of up to 2.5 liters/hr at 2-3 mm Hg vacuum and can achieve deep cuts up to 1100°F.

Delayed coking converts the resid into higher value, lighter coker liquids such as naphtha, light coker gas oil and heavy coker gas oil.  Petroleum coke (petcoke) is also generated via thermal cracking and can be either anode grade or needle grade coke.

• PARC Unit P-2:
• Three online coker drums of either 22 or 80 liters in volume each.
• Feed rates range from 1-3 gal/hr
• Total liquid product generation or multi-product distillation capability
• Once-through or recycle operation
• PARC Unit P-3:
• One 5-liter coker drum
• Feed rates range from 800 to 1600 cc/hr
• Total liquid product
• Once-through operation

Visbreaking is characterized by the mild thermal cracking of residual fuels primarily to reduce viscosity, i.e., increase flow characteristics.  Both PARC Units P-2 and P-3 have the capability of routing feed from the cokers instead to visbreakers.  Intertek PARC has two delayed coking  / visbreaking solutions available:

• PARC Unit P-2:
• 130 foot coil with about 3 liter volume.
• PARC Unit P-3:
• 50 foot coil with about 250 ccs volume.

For urgent enquiries or information please call +011 412 423 1120 x408 or send an Email

Around-the-clock unit pilot plant operation and analytical control permits timely, cost-effective and accurate technology evaluations. The pilot plants employ up-to-date automation including on-stream analyzers, computer data logging and material balance documentation. Unit modifications can be made to meet client project specifications, logging and material balance documentation. Unit modifications can be made to meet client project specifications.