Fluid catalytic cracking

Processing & Refining Equipment

Fluid Catalytic Cracking (FCC) is one of the most important conversion processes in a refinery. It breaks heavy, low-value hydrocarbon molecules (vacuum gas oil) into lighter, high-value products like gasoline and propylene.

The process uses a fluidized bed of catalyst powder that circulates between a reactor (where cracking occurs) and a regenerator (where coke deposits are burned off the catalyst to restore its activity). The FCC unit is often called the 'gasoline machine' of the refinery.