Modeling of Catalytic Reforming of Straight-Run Gasoline: The Influence of Process Parameters on the Composition of Reforming Products

Abstract

The computer simulation was based on an adequate kinetic model with allowance for deactivation of the Pt-Sn catalyst. Weight proportions of the target reforming products (benzene, toluene, xylenes) were calculated by varying sequentially the process parameters: temperature between 480 and 550 °C, pressure between 6 and 10 atm, volume feed flow rate between 0.9 and 1.5 h^–1, hydrogen-rich gas circulation ratio between 400 and 550 m³/m³. It was established that the inlet temperature elevation, pressure reduction and a decrease in the hydrogen-rich gas circulation ratio led to an increase in the total yield of arenes but not to change in the proportions of different arenes. These results agreed with the theoretical assumptions and analytic data on the real platformate. Reduction of the volume feed flow rate at otherwise identical conditions resulted in improvement of the expected yield of arenes and in a change in proportions of arenes in the platformate: the proportion of xylenes decreased but the proportion of benzene and toluene increased.