Catalytic reforming process with increased aromatics yield
AssigneeUop LLC
InventorsRobert J. Schmidt, John Joseph Jeanneret, Srikantiah Raghuram, Beth McCulloch
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Abstract
A processing step is added to an existing catalytic reforming unit to increase the yield of aromatic product. The additional processing comprises separation of product from the reforming unit into an aromatic concentrate and a low-octane recycle stream which is upgraded by aromatization. The separation preferably is effected using a large-pore molecular sieve, and the aromatization with a nonacidic L-zeolite contained within the hydrogen circuit of the existing catalytic reforming unit.
Claims17
An add-on process for increasing the yield of aromatic product from an existing catalytic reforming unit which upgrades a hydrocarbon feedstock at reforming conditions in a hydrogen circuit with a reforming catalyst to obtain a reformate, the add-on process comprising the steps of:
- (a) processing the reformate in combination with an aromatics-enriched stream from step (b) in an adsorption separation zone to obtain an aromatic product stream and a recycle stream comprising normal and singly branched heptanes;
- and
- (b) converting the recycle stream in an aromatization zone within the reforming-process hydrogen circuit at dehydrocyclization conditions with an aromatization catalyst to obtain an aromatics-enriched stream which subsequently is processed according to step (a), said aromatization catalyst comprising a platinum group metal component and a non-acidic L-zeolite.
An add-on process for increasing the yield of aromatic product from a catalytic reforming unit which upgrades a hydrocarbon feedstock at reforming conditions in a hydrogen circuit with a reforming catalyst to obtain a reformate, the process comprising the steps of:
- (a) processing the reformate in combination with an aromatics-enriched stream from step (b) in a separation zone by sieve adsorption, using a molecular sieve having a pore size of at least about 7 angstroms which adsorbs aromatics and multiply branched paraffins from the reformate, into an aromatic product stream and a recycle stream comprising normal and singly branched heptanes;
- and,
- (b) converting the recycle stream in an aromatization zone within the reforming-process hydrogen circuit at dehydrocyclization conditions, comprising a pressure of from about 100 kPa to 6 MPa (absolute), a ratio of from about 0.1 to 10 moles of hydrogen per mole of hydrocarbon feedstock, a liquid hourly space velocity of from about 1 to 40 hr.sup.-1, and an operating temperature of from about 260.degree. to 560.degree. C., with an aromatization catalyst comprising a platinum-group metal component and a non-acidic L-zeolite to obtain an aromatics-enriched stream which subsequently is processed according to step (a).
An add-on process for increasing the yield of aromatic product from an existing catalytic reforming unit which upgrades a hydrocarbon feedstock at reforming conditions in a hydrogen circuit with a reforming catalyst to obtain a reformate, the process comprising the steps of:
- (a) processing the reformate in combination with an aromatics-enriched stream from step (b) in a separation zone by sieve adsorption, using a SAPO-5 molecular sieve which adsorbs aromatics and multiply branched paraffins from the reformate, into an aromatic product stream and a recycle stream comprising normal and singly branched heptanes;
- and,
- (b) converting the recycle stream in an aromatization zone within the reforming-process hydrogen circuit at dehydrocyclization conditions, comprising a pressure of from about 100 kPa to 6 MPa (absolute), a ratio of from about 0.1 to 10 moles of hydrogen per moles of hydrocarbon feedstock, a liquid hourly space velocity of from about 1 to 40 hr.sup.-1, and an operating temperature of from about 260.degree. to 560.degree. C., with an aromatization catalyst comprising a platinum-group metal component and a non-acidic L-zeolite to obtain an aromatics-enriched stream which subsequently is processed according to step (a).
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.