Modeling the performance of a bench-scale reactor sustaining HDS and HDM of heavy crude oil at moderate conditions

An approach to model the hydrodesulfurization (HDS) and hydrodemetallization (HDNi and HDV) of a heavy crude oil (21°API and 3.51 wt% sulfur) was developed. By using data obtained from an experimental bench-scale reactor at different reaction conditions of LHSV (0.33–1.5 h−1), temperature (380–420 °C) and pressure (6.9 MPa) keeping constant the hydrogen-to-oil ratio at 5000 std ft3/bbl oil, the kinetic model parameters were derived. The isothermal operation of the reactor was verified. The reactor was modeled as one-dimensional heterogeneous. Although several assumptions have been made, the simulated results agree well with experimental information. The developed model is able to simulate the HDS and HDM reactions and to perform predictions at different pressure of that used to determine the parameters.

► A one-dimensional heterogeneous reactor model has been developed.
► Experimental data from bench-scale reactor were used to determine kinetics.
► All aspects involved in the determination of model parameters are discussed.
► Good agreement between experimental and predicted values was obtained.