# US 2013/0158310 A1 · Integrated hydrogenation/dehydrogenation reactor in a catalytic reforming process configuration for improved aromatics production

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- Number: US 2013/0158310 A1
- Document ID: US20130158310A1
- Status: Published application
- Kind: A1
- Application number: 13/327,170
- Filed: 2011-12-15
- Published: 2013-06-20
- Earliest claimed: 2011-12-15
- Assignees: Uop LLC
- Inventors: Manuela Serban; Kurt M. Vanden Bussche; Mark D. Moser; David A. Wegerer
- Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US20130158310A1

## CPC

- C10G 59/04: including at least one catalytic and at least one non-catalytic reforming step
- C10G 69/08: including at least one step of reforming naphtha
- C10G 2400/30: Aromatics
- C10G: CRACKING HYDROCARBON OILS; PRODUCTION OF LIQUID HYDROCARBON MIXTURES, e.g. BY DESTRUCTIVE HYDROGENATION, OLIGOMERISATION, POLYMERISATION (cracking to hydrogen or synthesis gas C01B; cracking or pyrolysis of hydrocarbon gases to individual hydrocarbons or mixtures thereof of definite or specified constitution C07C; cracking to cokes C10B); RECOVERY OF HYDROCARBON OILS FROM OIL-SHALE, OIL-SAND, OR GASES; REFINING MIXTURES MAINLY CONSISTING OF HYDROCARBONS; REFORMING OF NAPHTHA; MINERAL WAXES

## Abstract

A process for reforming hydrocarbons is presented. The process involves applying process controls over the reaction temperatures to preferentially convert a portion of the hydrocarbon stream to generate an intermediate stream, which will further react with reduced endothermicity. The intermediate stream is then processed at a higher temperature, where a second reforming reactor is operated under substantially isothermal conditions.

## Claims

### Claim 1

A process for producing aromatic compounds from a hydrocarbon feedstream, comprising:
passing the hydrocarbon feedstream to a hydrogenation/dehydrogenation reactor system, thereby generating a first stream; and
passing the first stream to a high temperature reforming reaction system thereby generating a reformate product stream.

### Claim 2 (depends on 1)

The process of claim 1 further comprising passing the reformate product stream to a reformate splitter, thereby generating a reformate overhead stream comprising C6 and C7 aromatics, and a bottoms stream.

### Claim 3 (depends on 2)

The process of claim 2 further comprising passing the reformate overhead stream to an aromatics recovery unit thereby generating an aromatics product stream comprising benzene and toluene, and a raffinate stream.

### Claim 4 (depends on 3)

The process of claim 3 further comprising passing the raffinate stream to the hydrogenation/dehydrogenation unit.

### Claim 5 (depends on 1)

The process of claim 1 wherein the hydrogenation/dehydrogenation reactor system uses a catalyst that performs two functions, one to hydrogenate olefins and one to dehydrogenate naphthenes.

### Claim 6 (depends on 1)

The process of claim 1 wherein the hydrogenation/dehydrogenation reactor system uses a metal only catalyst.

### Claim 7 (depends on 1)

The process of claim 1 wherein the high temperature reforming reactor system comprises a plurality of reactors with inter-reactor heaters.

### Claim 8 (depends on 1)

The process of claim 1 wherein the high temperature reforming reactor system is operated at a temperature between 540° C. and 580° C.

### Claim 9 (depends on 1)

The process of claim 1 wherein the hydrogenation/dehydrogenation reactor system is operated at a temperature between 420° C. and 460° C.

### Claim 10 (depends on 9)

The process of claim 9 wherein the hydrogenation/dehydrogenation reactor system is operated at a temperature between 425° C. and 450° C.

### Claim 12 (depends on 1)

The process of claim 1 wherein the feedstream is a full boiling range naphtha.

### Claim 13 (depends on 1)

The process of claim 1 wherein the first stream has a reduced olefin content.

### Claim 14 (depends on 1)

The process of claim 1 further comprising:
passing regenerated reforming catalyst to the high temperature reforming reactor, thereby generating a first catalyst stream; and
passing the first catalyst stream to a catalyst regenerator

### Claim 15 (depends on 1)

The process of claim 1 further comprising:
passing regenerated hydrogenation/dehydrogenation catalyst through the hydrogenation/dehydrogenation reactor, thereby generating a second catalyst effluent stream; and
passing the second catalyst effluent stream to a second catalyst regenerator.

### Claim 16

A process for producing aromatic compounds from a hydrocarbon feedstream, comprising:
passing the hydrocarbon feedstream to a hydrogenation/dehydrogenation reactor system, thereby generating a first stream;
passing the first stream to a high temperature reforming reaction system thereby generating a reformate product stream, operated at an inlet temperature between 540° C. and 580° C.;
passing a regenerated hydrogenation/dehydrogenation catalyst stream to the hydrogenation/dehydrogenation reactor system, thereby generating a hydrogenation/dehydrogenation catalyst effluent stream; and
passing a regenerated reforming stream to the high temperature reforming reactor, thereby generating a reforming catalyst effluent stream.

### Claim 17 (depends on 16)

The process of claim 16 further comprising:
passing the reformate product stream to a reformate splitter to generate a reformate overhead stream comprising C6 and C7 aromatics, and a reformate bottoms stream comprising C8 and heavier aromatics and hydrocarbons; and
passing the reformate overhead stream to an aromatics recovery unit, thereby generating an aromatics product stream comprising benzene and toluene, and a raffinate stream.

### Claim 18 (depends on 17)

The process of claim 17 further comprising passing the raffinate stream to the hydrogenation/dehydrogenation reactor.

### Claim 19 (depends on 17)

The process of claim 17 further comprising;
passing the hydrocarbon feedstream to a naphtha hydrotreater to generate a treated naphtha stream;
passing the raffinate stream to the naphtha hydrotreater; and
passing the treated naphtha stream and the treated raffinate stream to the hydrogenation/dehydrogenation reactor.