PROCESSES AND APPARATUSES FOR SEPARATING STREAMS TO PROVIDE A TRANSALKYLATION FEED STREAM IN AN AROMATICS COMPLEX

摘要

A process and apparatus for the production of at least one xylene isomer is provided. The process includes passing a first stream to one side of a split shell fractionation column and a second stream to the other side of the column. The second stream has a higher ratio of ethylbenzene to total C8 aromatics than the first stream. A first overhead stream from the one side is separated and passed as a mixed xylene product and a second overhead stream from the other side is separated and passed as feed to a para-xylene separation zone.

主权项

1. An apparatus for producing one or more xylenes, comprising:
a split shell fractionation column having an outer reactor shell and a baffle extending downward from an upper portion of the split shell fractionation column to a height less than a height of the fractionation column and separating the column into a first side and a second side; an inlet to the first side of the fractionation column in fluid communication with an outlet of a transalkylation zone; an inlet to the second side of the fractionation column in fluid communication with an outlet of a reforming zone; a first overhead outlet in communication with the first side of the fractionation column for withdrawing a C8 aromatics enriched stream; a second overhead outlet in communication with the second side of the fractionation column for withdrawing a C8 aromatics enriched stream; a bottoms outlet of the fractionation column for withdrawing a bottoms stream; and further comprising a reforming zone comprising a reforming catalyst for reforming one or more hydrocarbon compounds to increase aromatic compounds.