Reforming process
AssigneeChevron U.S.A. Inc.
InventorsCong-Yan CHEN, Emmanuel BEHRAZ
Life of this patent
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Abstract
An improved reforming process for producing aromatic hydrocarbons is disclosed. The process includes two reformers arranged in parallel flow configuration, with the first reformer being a conventional reformer comprising a catalyst selective for reforming C8+ hydrocarbons to a reformate and the second reformer comprising a catalyst selective for reforming C7− hydrocarbons to a reformate. In certain embodiments, the first reformer catalyst comprises a conventional alumina catalyst and the second reformer catalyst comprises a ZSM-5 catalyst.
Claims28
A reforming process for producing aromatic hydrocarbons comprising providing a hydrocarbonaceous feed predominantly comprising a naphtha fraction;
- separating the hydrocarbonaceous feed into a first feedstream predominantly comprising C8+ hydrocarbons and a second feedstream predominantly comprising C7− hydrocarbons;
- contacting the first feedstream, or a fraction thereof, with a first reforming catalyst in a first reformer comprising the first reforming catalyst under first reforming conditions effective to form a first reformate, wherein the first catalyst is primarily selective for reforming C8+ hydrocarbons to aromatic hydrocarbons;
- contacting the second feedstream, or a fraction thereof, with a second reforming catalyst in a second reformer comprising a second catalyst under second reforming conditions effective to form a second reformate, wherein the second catalyst is primarily selective for reforming C7− hydrocarbons to aromatic hydrocarbons and the second reformer is in parallel flow configuration with the first reformer;
- and optionally, combining the first reformate, or a fraction thereof, with the second reformate, or a fraction thereof.
A method for modifying a catalytic reforming process, wherein, the catalytic reforming process comprises a first reformer comprising a first reforming catalyst primarily selective for reforming C8+ hydrocarbons to aromatic hydrocarbons;
- the method comprising,
- separating a hydrocarbonaceous feed to the first reformer predominantly comprising a naphtha fraction into a first feedstream predominantly comprising C8+ hydrocarbons and a second feedstream predominantly comprising C7− hydrocarbons;
- adding a second reformer to the catalytic reforming process, in parallel flow configuration with the first reformer, the second reformer comprising a second reforming catalyst primarily selective for reforming C7− hydrocarbons to aromatic hydrocarbons;
- wherein the modified catalytic reforming process comprises:
- providing a hydrocarbonaceous feed predominantly comprising a naphtha fraction;
- separating the hydrocarbonaceous feed into a first feedstream predominantly comprising C8+ hydrocarbons and a second feedstream predominantly comprising C7− hydrocarbons;
- contacting the first feedstream, or a fraction thereof, with a first reforming catalyst in a first reformer comprising the first reforming catalyst under first reforming conditions effective to form a first reformate, wherein the first catalyst is primarily selective for reforming C8+ hydrocarbons to aromatic hydrocarbons;
- contacting the second feedstream, or a fraction thereof, in a second reformer comprising the second catalyst under second reforming conditions effective to form a second reformate, wherein the second catalyst is primarily selective for reforming C7− hydrocarbons to aromatic hydrocarbons;
- and
- optionally, combining the first reformate, or a fraction thereof, with the second reformate, or a fraction thereof.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.