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 with a hydrogenation/dehydrogenation catalyst consisting of a noble metal on a support 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.; passing the first stream to a fractionation unit to generate an overhead stream comprising C7 and lighter paraffins, and a bottoms stream comprising heavier hydrocarbons; passing the overhead stream to a high temperature reforming reactor system thereby generating a reformate product stream, wherein the high temperature reforming reactor system is operated at a temperature between 540° C. and 580° C.; and passing the bottoms stream to a second reforming reactor system, thereby generating a second effluent stream; and passing the second effluent stream to the high temperature reforming reactor system.