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Chapter No 2
Chapter No 2
Chapter No 2
PROCESS DESCRIPTION
Definition / Function:
The main function or purpose of this unit is to prepare hydrotreated naphtha
as feed for the plateformer unit by a catalytic refining process. As we know that
heavy naphtha from stabilizer column still contains some N 2, O2, sulphur, metals
(traces) and olefins etc. These impurities remove from the feed by different
reactions in the presence of H2.
removal of these materials by Hydrotreating will give longer ultimate catalyst life
in the Platforming process unit. Sulfur is temporary poison to the Platforming
catalysts. Alternate Platforming activity causes an unfavorable change in he
product distribution and increases coke laydown. Organic nitrogen is also
temporary poison to the Platforming catalyst. It is extremely an important one,
however, and a relatively small concentration of nitrogen in the Platforming feed
will cause a large activity offset as well as deposit ammonium chloride salts in the
Platforming process unit cold section.
Oxygen compounds are detrimental to the operation of Platformer. Any
oxygen compound, which is not removed in the Hydrotreater, will be converted to
water in the Platforming process unit thus, affecting the water/chloride balance of
the Platforming catalyst. Large amounts of olefins contribute to increase coking of
Platforming catalyst. Also, olefins can polymerize at Platforming operating
conditions, which can result in exchanger and reactor fouling.
The naphtha Hydrotreating process makes a major contribution to the ease
of operation and economy of Platforming. Much greater flexibility is affordable in
the choice of allowable charge stocks to the Platforming process unit. Because this
unit protects the Platforming catalyst, it is important to maintain consistently the
good operation in the Naphtha Hydrotreating Process unit.
It can be seen that the primary function of the naphtha hydrotreating
process unit can be characterized as a “clean up” operation. As such the unit is
critical to the refinery downstream operations.
Platforming Process unit. There are six basic types of reactions that occur in the
naphtha Hydrotreating process.
Reactions:
1. Conversion of organic sulfur compounds to hydrogen sulfide.
2. Conversion of organic nitrogen compounds to ammonia.
3. Conversion of organic oxygen to water.
4. Saturation of olefins.
5. Conversion of organic halide to hydrogen halides.
6. Removal of Organo-metallic compounds.
1) Sulfur Removal:
For by metallic Platforming catalysts, the feed naphtha must contain
less than 0.5 by weight ppm sulfur to optimize the selectivity and stability
characteristics of the catalyst. In general, sulfur removal in the Hydrotreating
process is relatively easy, and for the best operation of the Platformer, the
hydrotreated naphtha sulfur content should be maintained well below the 0.5
weight ppm maximum.
However hydrotreated naphtha feed with too low sulfur content, i.e. less
than 0.1 wt. ppm, to platformer process unit may result in coke ball formation in
the Platforming reactors and sulfur contents in the hydrotreated naphtha to the
Platforming process unit must be controlled above 0.1 by wt. ppm, by injecting
organic sulfur compounds in the Platforming Process unit.
(a) (pyridine)
(b) (Pyrrole)
(c) (Methylmamine)
3) Oxyg
4) oxygen Removal:
Organically combined oxygen, such as phenol and alcohol, is
removed in the Naphtha Hydrotreating unit by hydrogenation of the carbon-
hydroxyl bond, forming water and the corresponding hydrocarbon. The reaction is
detailed below.
(Phenols)
5) Olefin Saturation.
Olefin saturation is almost as rapid as desulfurization. Most straight
run naphthas contain only trace amounts of olefins, but cracked naphthas usually
have high olefin concentration. Processing high concentrations of olefins in the
Naphtha hydrotreating unit must be approached with care because of the high
exothermic heat of reaction associated with saturation reaction.
Cobalt molybdenum catalysts are selective for sulfur removal and nickel
molybdenum catalyst are selective for nitrogen removal although both catalysts
will remove both sulfur and nitrogen. Nickel molybdenum catalyst has a high
hydrogenation activity than cobalt and molybdenum, which results, at the same
operating conditions in a greater saturation of aromatic rings. Simply stated, if
sulfur reduction is the primary objective, then cobalt molybdenum will reduce a
sulfur a given amount at a less severe operating condition with lower hydrogen
consumption than nickel molybdenum catalyst. If nitrogen reduction or aromatic
ring saturation is desired, nickel molybdenum catalyst is the preferred catalyst.
Catalyst consumption varies from .001 to .007 lb/bbl feed depending upon
the severity operation and the gravity and metal contents of the feed.
time and reactions are brought to a greater degree of completion. For straight run
naphtha desulfurization, 20 to 35 kg/cm^2g (300 to 500 psig) reactor pressure is
normally used, although design pressure can be higher if feed nitrogen and/or
sulfur contents are higher than normal. Cracked naphthas contain substantially
more nitrogen and sulfur than straight run naphthas and consequently require
higher processing pressures, up to 55 kg/cm^2g (800psig). Similarly higher
operating pressures are necessary to completely remove organic halides.
The selection of the operating pressure is influenced to a degree by the
hydrogen to feed ratio set in the design, since both of these parameters determine
hydrogen partial pressure in the reactor. The hydrogen partial pressure can be
increased by operation at a higher ratio of gas to feed at the reactor inlet. The
extent of substitution is limited by economic considerations.
The unit has been designed so that the desulfurization and the
denitrification reactions go substantially to completion well below the design
temperature of the reactors, for the design feedstock. Small variation in pressure or
hydrogen gas rate in the unit will not cause change enough to be reflected by
significant differences in the product quality.
b) Temperature:
Temperature has a significant effect in promoting hydrotreating reactions.
Its effect, however, is slightly different for each of the reactions that occur.
Desulfurization is increased as the temperature is raised. The desulfurization
reaction begins to take place at temperature as low as 230 ºC (450 ºF) with the rate
of reaction increasing markedly with temperature. Above 360 ºC (680 ºF) there are
only slight increases in further removal of sulfur compounds due to temperature.
The decomposition of chloride compounds in low concentrations (<10 wt.
ppm) will occur at about the same temperature as sulfur compound decomposition.
Normal reactor design temperature for both straight run and cracked
naphthas (SRN) are 399ºC (750ºF) maximum. Actual operating temperature will
vary, depending the feed type, from 285ºC (550ºF) to 385ºC (650ºF). cracked
stock may require processing at higher temperatures because of the higher sulfur,
nitrogen and olefin contents. For these feeds, the reactor delta T will be in the
range of 10-55ºC (20-100ºF).
As the catalyst ages, the product quality may degenerate, which may be
corrected by increasing reactor inlet temperature. If increasing the temperature
does not improve the product quality, regeneration or the change of catalyst will
be required, depending on history of the operation and catalyst state.
d) Space Velocity:
The quantity of catalyst per unit of feed depends upon feed stock properties,
operating conditions and product quality required.
LHSV:- hourly volumetric liquid flow rate per unit of reaction volume
GHSV:- hourly volumetric gas flow rate per unit of reaction volume
WHSV:-hourly mass feed flow rate per unit of catalyst mass
The approximate ranges of space velocities depend upon the various feed types.
Production of gasoline from naphtha 27
Chapter # 2 Process Description
Stabilized heavy naphtha from intermediate storage tanks and H 2 gas from
plate forming unit compressor’s mix together and passes through the shell sides of
exchanger .it is preheated by reactor’s effluent containing hydrotreated naphtha
vapors, H2, NH3, H2S, & water vapors which is passing through the tube sides .to
get the heat about 615 ºF .it enters in the furnace in vapor state and then into the
reactor .reactions take place in reactor a and the reactor effluent comes out from
the bottom. it is after passing exchangers and cooled down from air & water
coolers collected in product seperator vessel in the form of condensate and non
condensable gases. it is drain with water from seperator bottom naphtha is
Production of gasoline from naphtha 28
Chapter # 2 Process Description
collected in vessel between the water and non condensable gases.H 2 rich gas is
sent to kero hydrobon unit from the top if the unit is running.
Hydrotreated naphtha from the product seperator is pressured to stripper after gaining
heat from stripper’s effluent in the exchangers function of stripper is to remove all light
hydrocarbons,H2S water and NH3.it happens due to low pressure of stripper (115 psig) &
high bottom reboiler temperature(432ºF).all these light H/C comes out from top and
collected in reflux drum .after condensation by coolers to prevent corrosion by H 2S uni
core is injected at the inlet of coolers top temperature of column is maintained as 210 ºF
by total reflux non condensable gases like H 2S & NH3 sent to fuel gas system from the
bottom of stripper treated naphtha which is free from all impurities is sent to either
intermediate storage tanks or direct to the plateformer unit after cooling by coolers
&exchangers.
Importance:
It is the most important process in refinery due to several reasons some are
as follows:-
3. Dehydrocyclization of paraffins.
4. Hydrocracking
.
1) Dehydrogenation of Naphthenes:
Conversion of aromatics from naphthenes (either a cyclohexane or a
cyclopentane) is termed as dehydrogenation reaction as we know that naphthenes
are most desirable feed component which is easy to promote and produce
hydrogen and aromatics as by-product, therefore it is extremely rapid reaction and
catalyzed by metal function.
2) Isomerization
3) Dehydrocyclization Of Paraffins:
This reaction involves very difficult molecular rearrangement from paraffin
to naphthene. It is favored by low pressure and high temperature .during reaction it
faces both metal as well as acid functions of catalyst.
4) Hydrocracking:
This reaction breaks large straight chain paraffins & naphthenes into
smaller Paraffins. It is relatively rapid reaction and favored by high temperature &
pressure .it consumes hydrogen which cause in lower platformer yield due to
exothermic reaction. It needs acidic function of catalyst.
1) Catalyst Type:
The selection of catalyst has made according to the processing requirements
in order to get the better yield activity and stability of product. A bimetallic
catalyst platinum/rhenium is use recently a high stability is loaded in the reactor
due to the sensitivity of these catalyst it is very necessary to pay close attention to
the contaminants and operational setup in daily operation to get full benefits.
The purpose of platinum of the catalyst is to promote dehydrogenation and
hydrogenation reactions, i.e. the production of aromatics, participation in
hydrocracking, and rapid hydrogenation of carbon –forming precursors. For the
catalyst to have an activity for isomerization of both paraffins and naphthenes, the
initial cracking step of hydrocracking, and participate in paraffin
dehydrocyclization, it must have an acid activity. The balance between these two
activities is most important in a reforming catalyst and, in fact, may require being
different to different duties. For example, in the production of aromatics from
naphthenes it is important that hydrocracking should be minimized to avoid loss of
yield, and thus the acid activity should be lower than in the case of gasoline
production from a Paraffin feed, where dehydrocyclization and hydro cracking
play an important part.
The acid activity can be obtained by means of halogens (usually fluorine of
chlorine up a about 1 per cent wt in catalyst) or silica incorporated in the alumina
base. Platinum content of the catalyst is normally in the range 0.3-0.8 per cent wt.
At higher levels there is some tendency to effect de-methylation and naphthene
ring opening, which is undesirable, while at lower levels the catalysts tend to be
less resistant to poisons.
The choice of platinum content of the catalyst is, in general one of
economics. Platinum is extremely expensive (about pound 50/troy ounce) and the
metal content of the catalyst represents a substantial amount of capital tied up. As
the platinum content of catalyst is reduced its resistance to deactivation is also
reduced, and the reduction of capital invested must be balanced against the
reduction of time between regenerations and a reduction of ultimate catalyst.
Normally the high platinum catalyst ( 0.6 -0.8 percent wt Pt) are used for severe
operations such as the production of 100 octane number gasoline from feeds with
only moderate naphthene contents .
2) Reactor Temperature:
The temperature at which catalyst beds are held is the primary variable
available to the refiner to control the product quality. Platforming catalysts are
capable of operation over a wide range of temperature with little adverse effect on
product yield and catalyst stability. Very high temperature above 538 0C can cause
thermal reaction that will decrease Platforming yields and increase catalyst
deactivation.
Required temperature on each reactor inlet is 950 ºF by a furnace before
each reactor .it is controlled by automatic temperature control system increase
temperature above 1010ºF may cause thermal reaction which will decrease
platformer yield catalyst stability.
3) Space Velocity:
The measurement of naphtha which is processed over a given amount of
catalyst in a specific period is called space velocity .if this amount is taken in
volume it is called LHSV (liquid hourly space velocity).
Space velocity will determine the limits of product quality (i.e. Octane no.).
The greater the space velocity, the lower the limit, or maximum octane possible.
Reactor temperatures are interchangeable with LHSV, and the two together
determine the product quality. Within normal Platforming-unit design parameters,
space velocity has little effect on the product yields and product stability (on a
barrel-per pound basis).
4) Reactor Pressure:
The average catalyst pressure in the reactor in each of three reactors has
350 psig pressures which are controlled by automatic pressure control system.
Reactor pressure is more accurately defined as the average catalyst
pressure. For practical purposes, a close approximation is the last reactor inlet
pressure. Separator pressure, as an operating parameter, is of limited value since
pressure drop from unit to unit is can be considerably different and even with same
unit the pressure drop will vary considerably with charge rate, recycle gas-rate,
recycle gas gravity, etc.
The reactor pressure effects the Platforming yields reactor temperature
5) Hydrogen / HC Ratio:
It is defined as the mole of recycle hydrogen per mole of naphtha taken at
the unit .recycle hydrogen is necessary to increase the catalyst stability .increase
H2/HC ratio helps naphtha to move faster through reactors in hydrotreated naphtha
and 90% pure H2 gas are used with a mole ratio of 1:7.
Properties Test
Initial boiling point (i.b.p)
Medium boiling point (m.b.p) 50% ASTM distillation
End boiling point (f.b.p)
7) Feed Additives:
To maintain the chloride content and the acidic function of bimetallic
catalyst, chloride and water injection is necessary, we know that these properties
helps in dehydrocyclization and isomerisation reactions. If these reactions
decrease the aromatics and iso-paraffin content decreases which have good octane
numbers. Its mean overall catalyst activity decreases, therefore PDC (propylene
dichloride ) is injected to the feed before it enter the furnace .condensed water
injection helps to redistributes the chloride through whole catalyst bed.
requirement is 950 ºF. Then after it enters in the second furnace and second reactor
&third furnace and third reactor respectively in first two reactors due to
endothermic reactions hydrogen is consumed due to exothermic reaction without
temperature drop.
After cooling from air and water coolers reactor effluent is collected in
product seperator drum as condensed platformate with non condensable gases and
water from there compressor suction H 2 gas recycle it and sent to feed line
hydrocarbon unit feed and fuel /gas system water is drawn from the bottom.