14/15 Fall semester
Petroleum and Gas
Processing(TKK-2136)
Instructor: Rama Oktavian
Email: rama.oktavian86@gmail.com
Office Hr.: M.13-15, Tu. 13-15, W. 13-15, Th. 13-15, F. 09-11
Outlines
1. Catalytic reforming
2. Reformer configuration
3. Reformer material balance
4. Isomerization
Catalytic reforming
Catalytic reforming
Catalytic reforming process
a catalytic process which converts low octane naphthenic into higher octane
reformate products. It is a highly endothermic process requiring large
amounts of energy.
the process of transforming C7–C10 hydrocarbons with low octane numbers to
aromatics and iso-paraffins which have high octane numbers
gasoline blending and aromatic rich reformate for aromatic production
Catalytic reforming
Reformer feed characterization
Catalytic reforming
Reformer feed and product characterization
FEED
PRODUCT
Paraffins
30-70
30-50
Olefins
0-2
0-2
Naphthenes
20-60
0-3
Aromatics
7-20
45-60
Catalytic reforming
Research Octane Number (RON)
the percentage by volume of iso-octane in a mixture of iso-octane and nheptane
Catalytic reforming
Role of reformer
Catalytic reforming
Role of reformer
The catalytic reformer is one of the major units for gasoline
production in refineries.
It can produce 37 wt% of the total gasoline pool.
Other units
- fluid catalytic cracker (FCC)
- alkylation unit
- isomerization unit
Catalytic reforming
Reforming reaction
1.
2.
3.
4.
5.
6.
Naphthene Dehydrogenation of Cyclohexanes
Paraffin Dehydrogenation
Dehydrocyclization
Isomerization
Hydrocracking Reactions
Coke Deposition
Reforming reaction network
Catalytic reforming
Calculating dehydrogenation reaction
Catalytic reforming
Reforming reaction
1.
2.
3.
4.
5.
6.
Naphthene Dehydrogenation of Cyclohexanes
Paraffin Dehydrogenation
Dehydrocyclization
Isomerization
Hydrocracking Reactions
Coke Deposition
Catalytic reforming
Process step in catalytic reforming
1. Feed preparation: Naphtha Hydrotreatment
removal of the various catalyst poisons - sulfur, nitrogen, halogens, oxygen,
water, olefins, di olefins, arsenic and other metals
Catalytic reforming
Process step in catalytic reforming
2. Preheating: Temperature Control
3. Catalytic Reforming and Catalyst Circulation and Regeneration incase of
continuous reforming process
4. Product separation: Removal of gases and Reformate by fractional
Distillation
5. Separation of aromatics in case of Aromatic production
Catalytic reforming
Classification of process
1. Semi-Regenerative Fixed Bed reactors
2. Cyclic Fixed Bed Reformers - Adding an extra-reactor to avoid shutting
down the whole unit during regeneration. Three reactors can be running
while the forth is being regenerated
3. Continuous Reformers
Catalytic reforming
Classification of process
1. Semi-Regenerative Fixed Bed reactors
Catalytic reforming
Semi-Regenerative Fixed Bed reactors
first reactor
Reactions such as dehydrogenation of
paraffins and naphthenes which are very
rapid and highly endothermic
Catalytic reforming
Semi-Regenerative Fixed Bed reactors
second reactor
Reactions that are considered rapid,
such as paraffin isomerization and
naphthens dehydroisomerization, give
moderate temperature decline
Catalytic reforming
Semi-Regenerative Fixed Bed reactors
Third reactor
slow reactions such as dehydrocyclization
and hydrocracking give low temperature
decline.
Catalytic reforming
Classification of process
1. Semi-Regenerative Fixed Bed reactors
Catalytic reforming
Classification of process
3. Continuous Reformers
Licensed by CCR Platforming UOP Process
Process description
- The catalyst moves downwards by gravity from the first reactor (R1) to the
forth reactor (R4)
- The catalyst is sent to the regenerator to burn off the coke and then sent
back to the first reactor R1
- The final product from R4 is sent to the stabilizer and gas recovery section
Process variable
- operated at lower hydrogen partial pressure (PH2 = 3 bar)
- reformate yield gain of nearly 10 vol%
Catalytic reforming
Classification of process
3. Continuous Reformers
Catalytic reforming
Variable process
1. Catalyst type – affect basic catalyst formulation (metal-acid loading),
chloride level, platinum level, and activator level - The catalyst used for
reforming is a bifunctional catalyst composed of platinum metal on
chlorinated alumina
2. Reaction temperature – control the reaction rate and product, usually
operates at 560 C, above that temperature will form petroleum coke
3. Space velocity – higher space velocity will decrease residence time and
lower Octane number of product
4. Reactor pressure – will affect to yield of product or hydrogen formation
5. Hydrogen/Hydrocarbon ratio
Catalytic reforming
Catalyst type
 The catalyst used for reforming is a
bifunctional catalyst composed of platinum
metal on chlorinated alumina.
Platinum
chlorinated alumina
the centre for the
dehydrogenation reaction
an acidic site to promote
structure changes
- cyclization of paraffins
- isomerization of the
naphthenes.
Catalytic reforming
Catalyst type
 Impurities that might cause deactivation
or poisoning of the catalyst include: coke,
sulphur, nitrogen, metals and water.
 The reformer should be operated at high
temperature and low pressure to minimize
coke deposition.
Catalytic reforming
Process comparison
Catalytic reforming
Calculating material balance in catalytic reformer
Yield correlations for the reformer were developed as given
Catalytic reforming
Calculating material balance in catalytic reformer
Example
Solution
Catalytic reforming
Calculating material balance in catalytic reformer
Solution
Isomerization
Isomerization of Light Naphtha
 Isomerization is the process in which light
straight chain paraffins of low RON (C6, C5
and C4) are transformed with proper
catalyst into branched chains with the same
carbon number and high octane numbers.
 Light naphtha from the hydrotreated
naphtha (HTN) C5=80 ˚C is used as a feed
to the isomerization unit.
Isomerization
Isomerization reaction
 Isomerization is a reversible and slightly exothermic reaction:
 The conversion to iso-paraffin is not complete since the
reaction is equilibrium conversion limited. It does not depend
on pressure, but it can be increased by lowering the
temperature.
 However operating at low temperatures will decrease the
reaction rate. For this reason a very active catalyst must be
used.
Isomerization
Isomerization catalysts
 Two types of isomerization catalysts
The standard Pt/chlorinated
alumina with high chlorine content
The Pt/zeolite catalyst
Isomerization
Standard isomerization catalysts

This bi-functional nature catalyst consists of highly
chlorinated alumina responsible for the acidic function of
the catalyst.

Platinum is deposited (0.3–0.5 wt%) on the alumina matrix.

Platinum in the presence of hydrogen will prevent coke
deposition, thus ensuring high catalyst activity.

The reaction is performed at low temperature at about
130 ˚C to improve the equilibrium yield.
Isomerization
Zeolite catalyst
Zeolites are used to give an acidic function to the
catalyst.
 Metallic particles of platinum are impregnated on the
surface of zeolites and act as hydrogen transfer centres.
The zeolite catalyst can resist impurities and does not
require feed pretreatment, but it does have lower activity
and thus the reaction must be performed at a higher
temperature of 250 ˚C (482 F).
Isomerization
Isomerization catalyst comparison
Isomerization
Isomerization yield
The reformate yield from light naphtha isomerization
is usually very high (>97 wt%).
Typical yields are given in Table
Isomerization
Isomerization yield balance
Isomerization
Solution
Isomerization yields