Simulation of packed bed reactors for naphtha reforming unit

Abstract

The study focused on the performance evaluation of catalytic naphtha reforming unit via a packed bed reactors arranged in series. Three series arranged packed bed naphtha reforming reactors were developed and simulated using Aspen hysys software and steady state performance models of the packed bed naphtha reforming reactor were developed through the application of the principle of conservation of mass and energy to predict both the yields of theses reactors, their dimensions in terms of length, diameter, height, volume and temperature effects or progressions along the reactors’ length respectively. Three main reaction paths were considered in this research study that include the conversion of naphthenes to aromatics, naphthenes to paraffins and hydrocracking of paraffins. The developed performance models yielded first order ordinary differential equations which were solved using Runge-Kutta fourth order ODE45 solver. The packed bed reactor operating conditions of temperature and pressure are between 4800C and 5200C and 2atm respectively with ninety percent (90%) conversion. The simulated reactor performance model for the three reactors yielded 29.7 m3, 40.78 m3 and 52.33 m3 for reactor volume, catalyst bed height of 11m, 12.98 m, 16 m, and reactor’s diameter of 1.85 m, 2 m and 2.04 m respectively.