Development of Measurement Methods for Monitoring the Effects of Shed Fouling in a Fluid Coker Stripper

Fouling of the stripper sheds in fluid and flexi-cokers restricts solids recirculation, leading to flooding and a unit shutdown. This thesis develops non-intrusive methods to detect fouling growth and provide advanced warning before critical operating limits are reached. Experiments were performed in a geometrically scaled fluid coker using physical obstructions to mimic shed fouling. Differential pressure, radiation transmission, and heat transfer measurements were performed above the sheds to assess the effects of fouling. Each measurement technique can detect the changes in hydrodynamics from adding an obstruction to clean stripper sheds. When fouling obstructed 83% of the sheds’ open area, the required solids recirculation rate could not be maintained. Using various signal analysis techniques and wavelet filtering, pressure and radiation measurements can provide advanced warning that fouling is approaching critical conditions, as early as 89% and 86% of the critical fouling level, respectively.

Name thesis:degree_name

M Eng Sci

Discipline thesis:degree_discipline

Chemical and Biochemical Engineering

Grantor dc:publisher

The University of Western Ontario

Year dc:date.issued

2026

Author dc:creator

• McIllwraith, William

Advisors dc:contributor.advisor

• Briens, Cedric
• Pjontek, Dominic

• Recirculating Fluidized Bed
• Fluid Coker
• Stripper
• Sheds
• Fouling

Language dc:language.iso

en

Handle dc:identifier.uri

https://hdl.handle.net/20.500.14721/39596

OAI identifier oai:identifier

oai:uwo.scholaris.ca:20.500.14721/39596