APPLICATION OF VARIABLE REACTION ORDER KINETICS TO PREDICT HYDROTREATING CATALYST DEACTIVATION RATE

摘要

A kinetic study was carried-out on the Rabigh Refinery Hydrotreating Unit data to determine the catalyst deactivation rate and process performance.The study shows that hydrodesulfurization reactions can be best explained by the variable reaction order kinetics due to changing feedstock composition.The kinetic study results in a catalyst deactivation rate of 1.3 deg C/month.Refinery economics favored processing more heavy gas oils at the expense of slightly higher catalyst deactivation rate.