Optimum operating conditions of the catalytic reformers in the Basrah refinery plant

Other Title(s)

الظروف التشغيلية المثلى المحفزة في مصفى البصرة

Dissertant

al-Zuwar, Ala Jabir Dawud

Thesis advisor

Jasim, Ala Abd al-Razzaq

Comitee Members

Jawad, Najm A.
Zachi, Aziz H.
al-Faizi, Mustafa M.
Sukkar, Khalid Ajami

University

University of Basrah

Faculty

Engineering College

Department

Department of Chemical Engineering

University Country

Iraq

Degree

Master

Degree Date

2012

English Abstract

The catalytic reforming processes ameliorated the specifications of gasoline production in which a heavy naphtha with low octane number is converted to a reformate with high octane number through a group of catalytic reactions such as dehydrogenation, isomerization, dehydrocyclization and hydrocracking.

At the same time, it produces hydrogen (H2) and liquefied petroleum gas (LPG) as its by-products.

In Basrah refinery, there are two types of catalytic reformers where the first type is working as a radial flow and the second type with an axial flow.

Both feedstock systems input from the top section and output from the down section of the reactor.

In the present work the theoretical proposal model depends on the industrial system found in the Basrah refinery plant.

The system is provided with three catalytic reformers and a central furnace for amending the decrease in heating due to the effect of endothermic reactions.

Temperature is considered as one of the important factor to produce a good gasoline while other factors such as pressure and feed flow rate are tested to improve the quality of gasoline production.

The aim of this work can be divided into two parts.

The first part deals with the simulation of catalytic reformed system relative to Basrah refinery plant where the typical conditions of the catalytic reforming reactors are ( 500 °C ) and (30 atm) for the first and second reactors while the 3rd reactor is operated at (490 °C) and (30 atm).

So, in the this section the effect of these conditions, operating temperature and pressure and hydrogen to hydrocarbon ratio, will be tested over a wide range of operation conditions.

The change in properties of gasoline production due to the change in operating conditions will be discussed and investigated.

A computer program by using visual basic version 6.0 is used for solving the differential equations that describe the profiles of products mole flow rates and temperatures along the catalyst bed for the three reactors.

The theoretical results obtained are compared with the industrial data and gave, a good agreement. The second part of this work deals with the optimum design of catalytic reformer system.

The optimum yield of aromatic production is selected by testing the values of operating conditions over a wide range.

The Genetic algorithm method GA in [ MATLAB)) [7.6.0.324 (R2008a)] program is used to solve the optimization model.

The model is operated under temperature and pressure constrains so, the model can be considered as non liner optimization model with multi-constrains.

The behavior of aromatic yield shows two scenarios when the operating temperature is changed from 300-650oC.

Also, the effect of operating pressure have given the same scenarios when it varied from (10 to 60 atm.).

The results show that the values of optimum temperature, pressure and hydrogen to hydrocarbon ratio (5.9) relative to Basrah refinery plant are 505 oC and 30 atm.

respectively.

Main Subjects

Engineering & Technology Sciences (Multidisciplinary)
Chemistry

Topics

• Computing
• Petroleum
• Iraq
• Basra
• Petroleum refineries

No. of Pages

94

Table of Contents

• APA
• MLA
• AMA

Language

English

Data Type

Arab Theses

Record ID

BIM-317139