Effect of hydrogen partial pressure on catalytic reforming process of naphtha

Abstract

The semi catalyst regenerative commercial naphtha catalytic reforming of Kaduna Refinery, Nigeria is modelled and simulated with general process modelling systems (gPROMS) model builder 5.0.0 which is a computational tool in modelling process and complex chemical engineering processes. The thermodynamic and kinetics parameters used are obtained from the referenced literature. The model was validated with data from literature and was used to simulate the commercial data of KRPC. Simulation results obtained were good compared with the plant and literature data and these results were used in monitoring the plant performance and the temperature and concentration profiles of the parafins, naphthenes and aromatics as they change across the reactor bed heights. Hydrogen partial pressure effect on the product quality, aromatics and product yields were studied. It was found that an increase in hydrogen hydrocarbon ratio of 5.6 to 7.4, aromatics yield decrease from 58.5% to 55.5%, reformate yield increases from 52,805 kg/h to 53,234.5 kg/h, hydrogen yield increases from 10,955 kg/h to 14,515 kg/hr. The percentage weight of coke on the catalyst decreases with increase in hydrogen hydrocarbon ratio of 5.6 to 7.4 from 1.8%wt to 1.289%wt, 3.297%wt to 2.415%wt, 4.457%wt to 3.351%wt and 5.1850%wt to 3.983%wt for reactors 1, 2, 3 and 4 respectively.