Investigation and Simulation of Catalytic Reforming Reactions of Iraqi Heavy Naphtha Using Pt-Sn/Al2O3 and Pt-Ir/Al2O3 Catalysts

Abstract

In the present work experimental and simulation studies have been carried out to describe the reaction kinetics of catalytic reforming process using Iraqi heavy naphtha as a feedstock. Two types of bi-metals catalysts were prepared (Pt- Sn/Al2O3 and Pt-Ir/Al2O3) supported on γ-Al2O3. The main three described reforming reactions were investigated (dehydrogenation, dehydrocyclization, and hydrocracking) to characterize catalysts performance in term of activity and selectivity. The performances of catalysts were investigated under the following operating conditions: reaction temperature range of 480-510 ˚C, weight hour space velocity range of 1-2 hr-1, pressure at 6 atm, and hydrogen to hydrocarbon ratio of 4:1. The results showed that the higher conversion of Iraqi heavy naphtha components (i.e., paraffins and naphthenes) increased with temperature whereas, weight hourly space velocity has shown inverse impact on conversion. On the other hand, it was concluded that the yields of aromatics and high components are increased for both types of catalysts (Pt-Sn/Al2O3 and Pt-Ir/Al2O3) under the same operating conditions. A comprehensive mathematical model and simulation was developed in the present work to describe the reaction kinetics of reforming reactions. The comparison between the concentration of (paraffin’s, naphthenes, and aromatics), and temperature profile of experimental and simulation results showed a good agreement and the deviation confined between them in the range of 1.93% to 14.51%.

Keywords

• experimental and simulation
• catalytic reforming
• and pt
• catalysts