Catalytic Reforming Process

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Presentation Outlines

Catalytic Reforming Process?

Purpose of Catalytic Reforming Process

Reactions in Catalytic Reforming

Process Steps in Catalytic Reforming

Classification of Catalytic Reformer Process

Conclusion

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 Catalytic Reforming Process

BACKGROUND

In the 1940s, Vladimir Haensel, a research chemist working for Universal Oil

Products (UOP), developed a catalytic reforming process using

a catalyst containing platinum.

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 Catalytic Reforming Process

INTRODUCTION

Catalytic reforming is a chemical process used to convert petroleum

refinery naphthas distilled from crude oil (typically having low octane ratings)
into high-octane liquid products called reformates, which are premium blending
stocks for high-octane gasoline.

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 Catalytic Reforming Process

It transforms low octane naphtha into high-octane motor gasoline blending stock and

aromatics rich in benzene, toluene, and xylene with hydrogen and liquefied petroleum
gas as a byproduct.

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 Catalytic Reforming Process

CATALYSTS

Typical catalysts that are used in catalytic reforming are mono-metallic, bi-
metallic or tri-metallic catalysts supported on aluminum, such as platinum
(Pt/Al2O3), Platinum-Iridium (Pt-Ir/Al2O3) or Platinum-Iridium-Tin (Pt-Ir-Sn/Al2O3)
respectively.

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 Catalytic Reforming Process

Various commercial catalytic reforming processes.

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 Catalytic Reforming Process

OCTANE NUMBER OF HYDROCARBONS

Paraffins < Naphthenes <

Aromatics

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 Purpose of Catalytic Reforming Process

To improve the octane number of the feedstock, especially of heavy naphtha.

Reducing antiknock quality of naphtha.

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 Reactions in Catalytic Reforming

Following are the most prevalent main reactions in catalytic reforming

1. Dehydrogenation of naphthenes to aromatics

2. Isomerisation of paraffins and naphthenes

3. Dehydrocyclisation of paraffins to aromatics

4. Hydrocracking of paraffins to lower molecular weight compounds

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 Reactions in Catalytic Reforming

Dehydrogenation:

The dehydrogenation of naphthenes to convert them into aromatics.

Example:

Conversion of methylcyclohexane (a naphthene) to toluene (an aromatic).

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 Reactions in Catalytic Reforming

Isomerisation:

The isomerisation of normal paraffins to convert them into isoparaffins.

Example:

The conversion of normal octane (n-paraffin) to 2,5-Dimethylhexane(an isoparaffin).

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 Reactions in Catalytic Reforming
Dehydrocyclisation:

The dehydrogenation and aromatization of paraffins to aromatics (commonly called

dehydrocyclization).

Example: The conversion of normal heptane to toluene.

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 Reactions in Catalytic Reforming

Hydrocracking:

The hydrocracking of paraffins into smaller molecules.

Example: The cracking of normal heptane into isopentane and ethane.

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Favorable Conditions for Different Reforming Reactions

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 Process Steps In Catalytic Reforming

Basic steps in catalytic reforming involve

Feed preparation: Naphtha Hydrotreatment

Preheating: Temperature Control,

Catalytic Reforming and Catalyst Circulation and Regeneration in case of

continuous reforming process

Product separation: Removal of gases and Reformate by fractional Distillation

Separation of aromatics in case of Aromatic production

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 NAPHTHA HYDRO TREATMENT

Naphtha hydrotreatment is important steps in the catalytic reforming process for

removal of the various catalyst poisons.

It eliminates the impurities such as sulfur, nitrogen, halogens, oxygen, water,

olefins, di olefins, arsenic and other metals present in the naphtha feed stock to
have longer life catalyst.

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 NAPHTHA HYDRO TREATMENT
Sulphur: Mercaptans, disulphide, thiophenes and poison the platinum catalyst.

Maximum allowable sulphur content 0.5 ppm or less and water content <4 ppm.

Fixed bed reactor containing a nickel molybdenum where both hydro de sulphurisation
reactions and hydro de nitrification reactions take place.

The catalyst is continuously regenerated.

Liquid product from the reactor is then stripped to remove water and light
hydrocarbons.

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 NAPHTHA HYDRO TREATMENT
Various sections in the naphtha hydro treatment unit are:

Charge Heater:

Preheating reactor feedstock to reaction temperature of 340 o C.

Charge heater has four passes four gas burners.

Heater tubes are made up of SS-321

Reaction Section:

The reactor consists of two catalyst beds.

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 NAPHTHA HYDRO TREATMENT

Stripping Section:

Stripping section uses air for stripping the light ends mainly hydrogen sulfide from

reactor product, stripper temperature 172o C.

Stripper Reboiler:

Stripper reboiler supply heat required for striper.

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 NAPHTHA HYDRO TREATMENT

Operating Variables Naphtha Hydrotreatmernt

•Reactor temperature

•Space velocity

•Hydrogen partial pressure

•H2/HC ratio, feed quality

•Stripper bottom temperature

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Hydrotreatment of Naphtha Flow Chart

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 Classification of Catalytic Reformer Process

Current catalytic reforming processes are commonly classified into three types
based on regeneration systems work of the catalyst. These includes:

semi-regenerative catalytic reformer process (SRCRP)

cyclic regenerative catalytic reformer process (CRCRP)

continuous catalytic regeneration reformer process (CCRRP)

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 Semi-Regenerative Catalytic Reformer Process
(SRCRP)

SRCRP is the oldest reforming process that is used for the production of gasoline
and rich aromatic compounds.

It usually has three or four reactors in series with a fixed-bed catalyst system.

A semi-regenerative process uses low platinum and regeneration is required only once
a year.

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 Semi-Regenerative Catalytic Reformer Process
(SRCRP)

The catalyst activity decreases gradually due to the formation of coke and affects

the yield of aromatics and the hydrogen by-product.

This process can achieve an octane number in range of 85- 100, depending on the

feedstock, gasoline qualities, and required additives.

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Schematic Process Diagram of SRCR

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Some of the Main Features, Advantages and Disadvantages of each Type
of Catalytic Reforming Processes

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 Conclusion

In the whole we can say that catalytic reforming process is one of the most important
processes in the petroleum and petrochemical industries which produce high octane
number gasoline.

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Thank You

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