CATALYTIC REFORMING

ROLE OF REFORMER
1. PROCESS DESCRIPTION
 To upgrade low octane number straight-run
naphtha's to higher-octane motor fuel
components by catalytically promoting specific
groups of chemical reactions.
 In catalytic reforming the change in the boiling
point of the feed stock passed through the unit is
relatively small as the HC molecules are not
cracked but their structures are rearranged to
form higher octane aromatics. Thus catalytic
reforming primarily increases the octane number
of motor gasoline rather than increasing its yield.
WHAT IS OCTANE NO?
WHAT IS KNOCKING?
 OCTANE NUMBER

 The octane number (ON) is defined as the percentage

by volume of iso-octane in a mixture of iso-octane and
n-heptane.
 Octane number is a measure of resistance of gasoline
to detonation in spark-ignition internal combustion
engines.
 High octane rating means higher knocking resistance
tendency/anti-knocking tendency.
 The higher the octane number, the more compression
the fuel can withstand.
 High performance engines have higher compression
ratios and are therefore more prone to detonation, so
they require higher octane rating fuel.
OCTANE NUMBER OF HYDROCARBONS
Feedstock and Product
Feedstock: Heavy Naphtha
Paraffins 45-55 %
Olefins 0-2 %
Naphthenes 30-40 %
Aromatics 5-10 %

Product: High Octane Gasoline

Paraffins 30-50 %
Olefins 0%
Naphthenes 5 –10 %
Aromatics 45-60 %
3. TYPES OF REFORMING
Reforming is classified as :
1) Continuous : Catalyst can be regenerated
continuously and maintained at a high activity .
(Higher capital cost).

2) Semi- regeneration: Regeneration is required

at intervals 3 to 24 months depending on the
severity of operation. (Low capital cost).

3) Cyclic: compromise between the two extremes

having a swing reactor for regeneration
There are many chemical reactions that
occur in the catalytic reforming process

 (PONA) {Paraffin, Olefin, Naphthenes, Aromatic}

1) P → isomerizes to some extent converted to N, and N
subsequently converted to aromatics.
2) O → saturated to form P which then react as in (1).
3) N → converted to aromatics. {dehydrogenation}.
4) A→ unchanged.

Reactions leading to the formation of undesirable products

include:
1. Dealkylation of side chains on naphthenes and aromatics
to form butane and lighter paraffins
2. Cracking of paraffins and naphthenes to form butane and
lighter paraffins
4. REACTIONS OF REFORMING UNIT
 Dehydrogenation Of Naphthenes
The reaction of a cyclohexane to a corresponding aromatic is
extremely rapid and essentially quantitative. Naphthenes are
obviously the most desirable feed component because the
dehydrogenation reaction is easy to promote and produces by-
product hydrogen as well as the aromatic hydrocarbons.
 Isomerization of Naphthenes and Paraffins
These reactions are operated at high temperatures, the
thermodynamic equilibrium is not strongly in favor of the most
desirable (higher octane) branched isomers. These reactions are
promoted by an acidic catalyst function, and are only slightly
dependent on operating pressure.
 Dehydrocyclization of Paraffins
It is the most difficult platforming reaction to promote. It consists o
a very difficult molecular rearrangement from a paraffin to a
naphthene. The paraffinic cyclization becomes easier as the
molecular weight of the paraffins increase, then converted to
aromatics.
 Hydrocracking
A rapid reaction favored by high pressure and high temperature.
The disappearance of paraffins from the gasoline boiling range via
hydrocracking does concentrate aromatics in the product and hence
contributes to octane improvements. The reaction does, however,
consume hydrogen and results in lower reformates yield.
2. CATALYST SELECTION
 All of the reforming catalyst contains platinum
supported on a silica alumina base. In most cases
rhenium is combined with platinum to form a
more stable catalyst which permits operation at
lower pressure.
 Platinum serve as a catalytic site for
hydrogenation and dehydrogenation reactions.
 Chlorinated alumina provides an acidic site for
isomerization and hydro- cracking reactions and
cyclization.
 These catalyst require sulphur and nitrogen
content to be lower than 1ppm.
5. PROCESS FLOW DIAGRAM
PROCESS DESCRIPTION
The schematic flow diagram of this process is shown in
Figure. The name semi-regenerative comes from
regeneration of the catalyst in the fixed bed reactors
after shut down by burning off the carbon formed on the
catalyst surface. Reactions such as dehydrogenation of
paraffins and naphthenes which are very rapid and
highly endothermic occur in the first reactor, with high
temperature drop. Reactions that are considered rapid,
such as paraffin isomerization and naphthenes
dehydroisomerization, give moderate temperature
decline in the second reactor. Furthermore, slow
reactions such as dehydro-cyclization and
hydrocracking give low temperature decline in the third
reactor.
 Space velocity: The volume or weight of gas
and / or liquid passing through a given catalyst or
reactor space per unit time, divided by the
volume or (weight) of catalyst through which the
fluid passes. High space velocity corresponds to
short reaction time.

 WHSV: Weight hour space velocity = weight of

feed per hour per weight of catalyst.

 LHSV: Liquid hour space velocity = volume of

feed per hour per volume of catalyst.
Example (1):
Calculate the length of time between regeneration of
catalyst in a reformer operation at the following
conditions:

Liquid hourly space velocity (LHSV) = 3.0 v/hr/v

Feed rate = 5000 BPSD
Feed gravity = 55 API
Catalyst bulk density = 50 lb / ft3
No. of reactors = 3

Catalyst deactivates after processing 90 bbl of feed per

pound of catalyst. If the catalyst bed is 6 ft deep in each
reactor. What are the reactor inside diameters? Assume
an equal volume of catalyst in each reactor.