TWO-STAGE REFORMING PROCESS CONFIGURED FOR INCREASED FEED RATE TO MANUFACTURE REFORMATE

摘要

Described herein is a two-stage reforming process using a unique configuration which allows the reforming unit to operate at a higher naphtha feed rate as compared to conventional reforming configurations. In the unique reforming process described herein, a naphtha feedstock undergoes a distillation step prior to the first reforming stage. The distillation step separates the naphtha feedstock into a top light a C₇ stream, which typically accounts for between 5 and 20 percent of the overall feedstock, and a C₈+ stream. The C₈+ stream undergoes reforming in a first stage consisting of at least one reactor containing conventional metallic reforming catalyst, under conditions sufficient to convert the C₈+ stream into a first intermediate reformate. The C₇ stream, bypasses the first stage and is combined with the intermediate reformate, and reformed in the second stage, at lower pressure than in the first stage, over a reforming catalyst containing a medium pore zeolite.