The aim of this study is to obtain a model that can simulate the performance of an industrial fluid catalytic cracking (FCC) unit in steady and dynamic state, and which will subsequently be used in studies of control and real time optimisation. In this paper, a dynamic model for a R2R type FCC unit is presented. The model includes the riser, the stripper/disengager, the regeneration system and the catalyst transport lines. Mass, energy and pressure balances are performed for each of these sections. Simulation results for steady state are presented and compared qualitatively to those obtained from previous FCC models. The dynamic behaviour of the system is explored through two perturbations in open loop, one on the fresh feed flow rate and one on the air flow rate to the first regenerator. The results illustrate the consistency of the model and are in agreement with what has been observed in studies available in the open literature. (c) 2006 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.