Successful Start-Up of the First Solid Catalyst Alkylation Unit

摘要

The first commercial scale solid acid catalyst (SAC) alkylation unit was safely and successfully started up in August 2015 at Shandong Wonfull Petrochemical Group Co. The unit has a capacity of 2,700 BPD of alkylate production and is located in Zibo, Shandong Province, Peoples Republic of China. The startup of the unit went smoothly, and the alkylate quality being produced is of excellent quality, i.e., RON 95-98, RVP < 6.5 psi, and sulfur content < 1 ppmwt. The alkylation unit at Shandong Wonfull Petrochemical Group employs AlkyClean? technology, jointly developed by CB&I, Albemarle Catalyst, and Neste Oil. The process employs a robust zeolite catalyst formulation coupled with a novel reactor processing scheme to deliver a high quality alkylate product. The process consists of three main sections: feedstock pretreatment, reaction/regeneration, and product fractionation. The reaction section utilizes multiple reactors to accommodate both continuous alkylate production and intermittent regeneration. This paper will cover start-up highlights such as process performance, time for stabilization of the unit and project execution. Wonfull is pleased to report that the unit has met all expectations and enables them to produce a high octane, low RVP, low sulfur alkylate without the potential safety and environmental problems associated with conventional liquid acid technologies. For refiners that want, or must, avoid liquid acid catalyzed alkylation processes, CB&I's AlkyClean technology provides an effective and, most importantly, a fully commercially demonstrated solution.