METHOD OF PREHEATING DEHYDROGENATION REACTOR FEED

摘要

Methods and systems for heating a reactor feed in a multi reactor hydrocarbon dehydrogenation process. The methods and systems are advantageously employed for the production of styrene by the catalytic dehydrogenation of ethylbenzene. The catalytic dehydrogenation process employs heating steam operating at a steam to oil ratio of about 1.0 or less and relatively low steam superheater furnace temperature, such that all components exposed to steam in the process (outside of the fired heaters) can be constructed with standard metallurgy.

主权项

1. A method of heating a reactor feed in a multi reactor hydrocarbon dehydrogenation process comprising the steps of:
(i) heating a first reheating steam stream against flue gas from one or more fired heaters, after the reheating steam stream heats a first reactor product stream in one or more first reactor product stream indirect heating apparatuses, to provide a preheating steam stream; (ii) heating a first reactor feed stream comprising a hydrocarbon and optionally feed steam, with the preheating steam stream in a first reactor feed stream indirect heating apparatus prior to entering a first reactor, to provide a preheated hydrocarbon stream and a cooled preheating steam stream; (iii) heating the cooled preheating steam stream in one of the one or more fired heaters to provide a second reheating steam stream; (iv) directing the second reheating steam stream to one of the one or more first reactor product stream indirect heating apparatuses to provide heat to the first reactor product stream and a cooled reheating steam stream; (v) heating the cooled reheating steam in one of the one or more fired heater to provide a heating steam stream; and (vi) mixing the heating steam stream with the preheated hydrocarbon stream prior to entering the first reactor.