Kinetic study and Modeling of heavy Naphtha Catalytic Reforming process in AL-Daura Refinery

Abstract

In the present work, kinetics and modeling of heavy naphtha catalytic reforming process in Al-Daura refinery-Midland refineries Company were studied. A proposed reaction scheme involving (15 pseudo components) connected together by a network of 30 reactions for components in the C₆-C₈₊ range have been modeled. In the present work, kinetics and modeling of heavy naphtha catalytic reforming process in AL-Daura refinery-Midland refineries Company were studied. A proposed reaction scheme involving (15 pseudo components) connected together by a network of 30 reactions for components in the C₆-C₈₊ range have been modeled. The proposed model has been solved numerically using the 4th order Runge–Kutta approach. Alteration of components and temperature, with time and reactor length was evaluated. Results showed that the rate of formation of aromatics is becoming slower as the reactants proceed to the third reactor. The catalytic reaction rates in the reformer are well represented by the Hougen-Watson Langmur-Hinshelwood (HWLH) type form. The deactivation of catalyst causes the reactor behavior to continue changing over a longer period of time. This clearly seems to pay off in the scenario where coke deposition plays such a major role. It was also found that the rate of coke formation increases with the progress from first to the last bed, so keeping a decreasing inlet temperature profile from first to the last bed would lead to more uniform coke content in each bed. The production rate of reformate has a negative impact on the octane number. Temperature drop across the first reactor (~ 45^oC) is larger than the temperature drops across the other two reactors (10-12^oC). This could be related to the endothermic reaction rate which is faster in the first reactor. The results show that perfect agreement of temperatures, compositions, and fractions molar flow rate at the exit of the third reactor is obtained between predicted values and industrial values.This confirmed the reliability of the present model.