Integrated hydrogenation/dehydrogenation reactor in a catalytic reforming process configuration for improved aromatics production

摘要

A process for reforming hydrocarbons is presented. The process involves applying process controls over the reaction temperatures to preferentially convert a portion of the hydrocarbon stream to generate an intermediate stream, which will further react with reduced endothermicity. The intermediate stream is then processed at a higher temperature, where a second reforming reactor is operated under substantially isothermal conditions.

主权项

1. A process for producing aromatic compounds from a hydrocarbon feedstream, comprising:
passing the hydrocarbon feedstream to a hydrogenation/dehydrogenation reactor system and contacting the hydrocarbon feedstream with a hydrogenation/dehydrogenation non-acidic catalyst comprising a Group VIII metal on a support, wherein the support comprises an inorganic oxide material selected from the group consisting of alumina, magnesia, titania, zirconia, chromia, zinc oxide, thoria, boria, ceramic, porcelain, bauxite, silica, silica-alumina, silicon carbide, clays and mixtures thereof, to dehydrogenate naphthenes and hydrogenate olefins thereby generating a first stream with reduced naphthene and olefin content, wherein the hydrogenation/dehydrogenation reactor system is operated at a temperature between 420° C. and 460° C.; and passing the first stream to a high temperature reforming reactor system comprising a reforming catalyst, thereby generating a reformate product stream comprising aromatics, wherein the high temperature reforming reactor system is operated at a temperature between 540° C. and 580° C.