Regeneration of Fixed-Bed Catalytic Reactors Deactivated by Coke: Influence of Operating Conditions and of Different Pretreatments of the Coke Deposits

摘要

The regeneration of coked fixed-bed catalytic reactors has been studied experimentally. Different types of coke distribution have been artificially created in order to study their influence upon the temperatures reached during regeneration. The effect of the oxygen concentration in the reactor feed and the total gas feedrate have also been studied. In addition, a study has been carried out of different coke pretreatments with the aim of eliminating part of the hydrogen-rich coke fractions prior to regeneration, thereby reducing temperature increases during the subsequent regeneration process. A new parameter, the Thermal Aging Index, has been proposed, as a means to quantify the impact that different regeneration procedures may have on a catalyst.