Modelling, simulation and sensitivity analysis of naphtha catalytic reforming reactions

• Published in: Computers & chemical engineering 2019-11, Vol.130, p.106531, Article 106531
• Main Authors: Yusuf, Aminu Zakari, John, Yakubu Mandafiya, Aderemi, Benjamin Olufemi, Patel, Raj, Mujtaba, Iqbal M.
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Fixed bed reactor; Modelling; Naphtha; Reforming; Simulation
• ISSN: 0098-1354; 1873-4375
• DOI: 10.1016/j.compchemeng.2019.106531

•Detailed steady-state modelling and simulation was carried out.•A comprehensive sensitivity studies and analysis of naphtha reforming model was carried out.•Effect of operating conditions on catalyst weight of four catalytic fixed-bed reactors was simulated and investigated. In this paper, a model of catalytic naphtha reforming process of commercial catalytic reforming unit of Kaduna Refining & Petrochemical Company (KRPC) is adopted and simulated using the gPROMS software, an equation-oriented modelling software. The kinetic and thermodynamic parameters and properties were obtained from literature. The model was used to monitor the behaviour of the temperature and concentrations of parafins, naphthenes and aromatics with respect to the changing heights of the reactors. A comprehensive sensitivity analysis of the product quality (Aromatics) and product yield, reformate, lighter gases and hydrogen yields is performed by varying the operating conditions of the reaction and the following conclusions were made. It was found that the production of aromatics, hydrogen yield, lighter gases and coke on catalyst increase with increasing temperature of the reaction while the reformate yield decreases with the increasing temperature and vice versa. The aromatics, hydrogen yield, coke on catalyst and lighter gases decrease with increasing pressure while the reformate yield decreases with decreasing pressure and vice versa. Hydrogen-hydrocarbon ratio (HHR) affects the product quality slightly by increasing the reformate and hydrogen yield and decreasing the aromatics slightly as well decreasing the coke on catalyst.