Hydrogen requirement in different technological schemes of refining sour crudes

Abstract

1. The total hydrogen requirement in the mild processing of sour crudes is fully satisfied by the hydrogen from catalytic reforming. The catalytic reforming hydrogen satisfies 37–70% of the total hydrogen requirement for processing the fractions from 350 to 500°C and above 500°C of sour and high-sulfur crudes in thermal catalytic processes, and 20–60% in hydrocracking. 2. The hydrocracking processes, particularly under high pressure and for processing residual feedstock, require large amounts of specially manufactured hydrogen. Therefore, cheaper methods of manufacturing hydrogen should be developed. 3. For manufacturing products of identical quality, the crude processing schemes which include hydrocracking can have better technoeconomic indices than those which include thermal catalytic processes, despite the high requirement of specially manufactured hydrogen.