A novel integrated, thermally coupled fluidized bed configuration for catalytic naphtha reforming to enhance aromatic and hydrogen productions in refineries

摘要

In the recent years, refineries have focused on developing new ways to gain more from their asset utilization owing to increasing demand for high octane gasoline. In this regard, a thermally coupled fluidized bed naphtha reactor (TCFBNR) is proposed in this study. The first and the second reactors of a conventional catalytic naphtha reactor configuration (CR) are substituted by thermally coupled fluidized bed reactors. In this novel configuration, naphtha reforming reactions which are highly endothermic are coupled with the exothermic hydrogenation of nitrobenzene to aniline. Some drawbacks of CR such as pressure drop, internal mass transfer limitation and radial gradient of concentration and temperature are successfully solved in this novel configuration. In addition to some mentioned advantages" of this novel configuration, TCFBNR configuration enhances the aromatic production rate about 20.54% and 7.13% higher than CR and TCNR, respectively. Also, the TCFBNR is capable to enhance hydrogen production rate in the shell side, the aniline flow rate in the tube section and simultaneously improves the thermal behavior of endothermic side and reduces the undesirable temperature drop. The modeling results of TCFBNR is compared with the results of CR and thermally coupled fixed-bed naphtha reactor (TCNR). These studies provide a good initial insight for some modifications and revamping of the old facilities with more efficient ones.