A Midwest US refiner was realizing stripper tower flooding downstream of its 120 MBPD Fluid Catalytic Cracker Upper Gas Concentration (FCC UGC) Unit which resulted in both production and operational losses estimated at $125K per year. A Pentair competitor was supplying the cartridge elements for the 42” O.D. vessel, which was manufactured in 1981. Refinery engineers declared it to be undersized for the most recent operational conditions. What is Dr. Grace's diagnosis?
