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High-Conversion Hydrocracking

Given today’s challenging context for the refining industry, making the most out of every unit is the key for maximizing profitability.

Hydrocracking is an instrumental unit that contributes in meeting the modern refinery’s market objectives by converting heavy feeds into high-value products: clean fuels or premium feedstock for petrochemicals.

HyK™

HyK™ is Axens high conversion Hydrocracking technology that converts middle distillates or heavy distillates into more valuable products. Apart from the conventional Straight Run VGO, other feeds that could be processed in a hydrocracker includes:

  • Heavy Coker Gasoil (HCGO) produced from Delayed coker or Flexicoking process,
  • Deasphalted oil (DAO) from SDA,
  • VGO cut produced from Resid hydrocracker (ebullated bed or slurry technology),
  • Straight run kerosene and diesel,
  • LCO coming from FCC,
  • LCGO from coker.

In order to adjust the product yields and meet the most profitable production targets it is necessary to choose the right process scheme for each project:

  • “Once-Through scheme” offers the possibility to produce middle distillates and valorize the VGO feeds as top-quality Group III lubes or petchem feedstock,
  • “Single Stage with Recycle scheme” boosts the conversion and selectivity towards valuable fuels with moderate increase of the investment cost,
  • “Two-Stage scheme” offers the best selectivity towards high-value middle distillates or naphtha for petchem while minimizing the unconverted bleed.
Expertise Axens’ commercial fixed-bed hydrocracking expertise spans over 60 years
Over 40 licensed units covering all types of configurations
Commercial Bulletin
Related Offer
Modular Unit
HCK scheme

HyK™ with Renewable Lipids Co-Processing

Renewable low carbon transportation fuels are playing an important role in the effort to reduce greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions. 

Backed by a long history of strong R&D programs with lipidic feeds and hydroprocessing technologies, Axens offer a complete range of solutions with a possible phased investment approach on the path to decarbonization.

Flexibility
Assets flexibility
Feedstocks flexibility
Product flexibility
Commercial Bulletin
Catalysts

Hydrocracking Catalysts

Axens' Hydrocracking Catalysts upgrade a wide range of heavy feedstocks to produce the desired slate of products while meeting ultimate quality targets.

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Gradings

Arsenic Management

Arsenic is by far the most severe poison for Catalysts. Arsenic maximum allowable content on hydroprocessing catalysts during operation, depending upon the service, is in the range of hundreds of wppm.

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Gradings

Gums & Polymer formation control

Pressure drop induced by gum formation is frequently encountered in unit processing some cracked feedstock derived from various conversion processes. The olefins and mainly the diolefins contained in these streams tend to polymerize and get oxidized forming a crust which deposit in the upper layers of the reactor.

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Gradings

Nickel & Vanadium Management

Nickel and vanadium are naturally present in Crude Oil and usually in fractions boiling over 500°C. Nickel and vanadium poisoning affect only VGO and resid hydrotreaters and hydrocrackers.

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Gradings

Silica Management

Silicon is a well-known widespread poison for hydroprocessing catalysts. The main contributor to silicon is the Delayed Coker. In addition, there is a general tendency in the oil production industry to use more silicon-based flow improvers.

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Gradings

Speciality Bed Topping

In Hydroprocessing reactors, pressure drop is mainly induced by particulates build-up and gum formations. Pressure drop not only affect the capacity of the unit but can also have detrimental impact on the distribution.

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Furnaces

Furnace(s) is a key equipment considering the need for optimal operation of unit. Thanks to an extensive design experience with feedbacks from operators and a complete knowledge of this process, Heurtey Petrochem Solutions provides an unparalleled service such as these following features:

  • High fuel efficiency (94%+) depending on fuel S level
  • Fully Modularized
  • Lowest Emission (95%+ reduction with emission reduction technology)
  • Optimized Plot Plan
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Consulting, Studies & Audits

Axens offers a customized approach, including tailored studies, audits and consulting services, covering technical and operational challenges.

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Unit Revamps & Retrofits

You face many challenges, which include operating in a safe, reliable and environmentally sound manner while responding to changing markets dynamics.

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Modular Units

A modularization strategy offers superior benefits versus on-site manufacturing. During the last 40 years, Axens has supplied over 500 modular units, both onshore and offshore, providing tailor-made designs according to client project specifications.

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Customer Training

Designed for all Axens technologies, dedicated to operators & engineers, Axens offers customized training solutions to all our licensees, covering the whole range of Axens technologies.

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Technical Support & Performance Management

Axens is fully committed to be your partner and provide assistance and support during your project lifecycle, from conception to start-up & running operations.

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Digital Services & Applications

Axens' digital platform combines real-time data and digital solutions to optimize operations, reduce environmental impact, and lower costs while maximizing profitability. By delivering actionable insights and detailed performance reports, it enhances asset operation and performance for smarter, more efficient outcomes.

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Catalyst Protection Systems

Impurities, fines, gums, scales and inorganic matter can be carried over with the feed. While catalyst performance is steadily increasing due to constant innovation, they are often more sensitive to poisoning.

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Reactor Internals

In today’s complex environment, refineries and petrochemical plants around the world need advanced solutions to reach operational excellence. In units featuring fixed-bed reactors, the use of high-efficiency reactor internals are essential to help achieve this goal.

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2026 AFPM Summit
The Summit delivers world-class technical sessions dedicated to improving plant-wide performance in the refining and petrochemical industries. Join and network with dedicated industry subject matter experts in Grapevine to discover the latest strategies and emerging innovations, and find immediate solutions to implement at the site level. With over 70 sessions, we guarantee to deliver the curriculum you need to succeed.
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Resources

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Technical Article - Guiding the crude-to-chemicals complex towards a net-zero future

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Technical Article - Transforming a refinery unit into a key component of end-of-life plastic circularity

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Insight

Maximizing the Production and the Transformation of Aromatics

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Insight

Targeting the Highly Coveted Olefins

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Insight

Maximizing the Production and the Transformation of Aromatics

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Insight

Targeting the Highly Coveted Olefins

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Insight

Two Conversion Routes to Maximize the Economic Returns of a Crude-to-Chemicals Project

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Insight

Recommended Process Routes for Maximized Oil Conversion to Aromatics and Olefins

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Oil Refining
Case Study

Case Study - Refining petrochemicals integration

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Whitepaper

White Paper - Crude-to-Chemicals

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Technical article

Technical Article - Guiding the crude-to-chemicals complex towards a net-zero future

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Technical article

Technical Article - Transforming a refinery unit into a key component of end-of-life plastic circularity

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Technical article

Technical Article - Upgrade Vacuum Residues And Other Hard-to-Convert Heavy Ends To Get More ULSD Through Hydrocracking Solutions

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Technical article

Technical Article - Technology Advances Enable Crude To Chemicals Projects

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Press release

Successful startup of Axens’ Residue Hydrocracking Unit and High Conversion Hydrocracking Unit at Shenghong’s Integrated Refinery Axens 渣油加氢裂化及高转化率加氢裂化装置在盛虹炼化一体化项目中 成功投产

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Press release

Fuhaichuang Petrochemical Selects Axens Ebullated-Bed Residue Hydrocracking Technology (H-Oil®) to Boost the Profitability of its Assets

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Press release

Successful operation of Axens’ units and digitalization at the ERC refinery

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Press release

Axens’ recent Successes in Hydrocracking

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