System and method for on stream catalyst replacement

摘要

A process for operating a reforming reactor system comprising operating a plurality of reactors until at least one reactor is deemed to have an operational issue, wherein each of the plurality of reactors contains a catalyst capable of converting at least a portion of a hydrocarbon stream to aromatic hydrocarbons, isolating the at least one reactor deemed to have the operational issue from a remaining plurality of reactors that continue to operate to convert at least the portion of the hydrocarbon stream to aromatic hydrocarbons while the at least one reactor deemed to have the operational issue is isolated from the plurality of remaining reactors, addressing the operational issues, returning the at least one reactor to the hydrocarbon stream by connecting the reactor to the remaining plurality of reactors, and resuming operations of the reforming reactor system to convert at least the portion of the hydrocarbon stream to aromatic hydrocarbons.

主权项

1. A process for operating a reforming reactor system comprising:
operating a plurality of reactors until at least one reactor is deemed to have an operational issue, wherein each of the plurality of reactors contains a catalyst capable of converting at least a portion of a hydrocarbon stream to aromatic hydrocarbons, wherein the plurality of reactors comprises three or more serially connected reactors, wherein the hydrocarbon stream flows along a first flow path through the plurality of reactors in a first order, and wherein the at least one reactor is adjacent to a second reactor of the plurality of reactors in the first flow path; isolating the at least one reactor deemed to have the operational issue from a remaining plurality of reactors that continue to operate to convert at least the portion of the hydrocarbon stream to aromatic hydrocarbons while the at least one reactor deemed to have the operational issue is isolated from the plurality of remaining reactors; addressing the operational issues; reconnecting the at least one reactor to the remaining plurality of reactors at a new location to form a second flow path of the hydrocarbon stream through the plurality of reactors, and wherein the at least one reactor is not adjacent to the second reactor in the second flow path; and resuming operations of the reforming reactor system to convert at least the portion of the hydrocarbon stream to aromatic hydrocarbons.