Methods and systems for separating para-xylene using a radial flow simulated moving bed chamber

A system for separating para-xylene comprising:

• a radial flow simulated moving bed chamber comprising a plurality of adsorbent beds configured in an annular ring;
• at least four channels positioned at a bottom portion of the simulated moving bed chamber fluidly connected with first, second, third, and fourth ones of the plurality of adsorbent beds for providing or withdrawing a respective one of a feed stream comprising para-xylene and other C8 aromatic hydrocarbons, a desorbent stream comprising a desorbent material, an extract stream, and a raffiante stream;
• and
• a rotary valve positioned externally to the simulated moving bed chamber for directing the flow of the respective feed, desorbent, extract, and raffinate streams to a respective one of the four channels.

A method for separating para-xylene comprising the steps of:

• providing a feed stream comprising para-xylene and other C8 aromatic hydrocarbons to a first adsorbent bed within a radial flow simulated moving bed chamber, wherein providing a feed stream comprises providing a catalytically reformed naphtha stream;
• providing a desorbent stream comprising a desorbent material to a second bed within the radial flow simulated moving bed chamber;
• circulating the feed stream and the desorbent stream radially within the radial flow simulated moving bed chamber to third and fourth beds within the radial flow simulated moving bed chamber;
• withdrawing an extract stream comprising the para-xylene and desorbent material from the third bed;
• withdrawing a raffinate stream comprising the other C8 aromatic hydrocarbons and desorbent material from the fourth bed;
• and
• further comprising distilling the extract stream to separate the para-xylene from the desorbent material.