An Experimental Study of the Coking Process

Abstract

The coking process includes two dynamic and isothermal steps. In this process, some factors control the coke formation kinetics. In this research, effects of some important and effective parameters of feed on the quality of petroleum coke were studied. Two hydrocarbon residue feeds; Cracked Fuel Oil (CFO) and Styrene Monomer Tar (SMTAR) were used at 500°C with atmospheric pressure of nitrogen used as an inert gas. Rate of weight loss and gas evolution from these feeds were considered by data of thermal analysis TG (thermogravimetry) and DTG (derivative thermogravimetry). Based on the results, CFO was assigned as the better feed. After selecting better feed, simultaneous thermogravimetry-differential analysis (TG-DTA) was used to study the pyrolysis kinetics of CFO. Samples were heated in a TG-DTA apparatus in nitrogen atmosphere at a temperature range of 37-600°C. The activation energy (Ea) and pre-exponential factor (A) were calculated from the experimental results by using a three stage Arrhenius-type kinetic model and showed that CFO pyrolysis kinetics at temperature ranges 37-285, 320-450 and 467-600°C follows first, second and first order kinetics, respectively. Attentive to temperature increase and reaction progress, activation energy and pre-exponential factor indicated different values at each stage. Also, kinetics of the isothermal step of coke formation was studied during heating of CFO. Samples were reacted in a tube furnace at 450°C and with nitrogen atmosphere. The kinetics of coke formation for petroleum residue was followed by solvent extraction (insolubility in hexane (HI), toluene (TI)) and a development of TI approximate to apparent first order kinetics. The rate constant at this temperature was calculated and it was also observed that the coke formation had been started at a temperature below 450°C.