Dynamic modeling and simulation of hydrotreating of gas oil obtained from heavy crude oil

This paper describes a dynamic heterogeneous one-dimensional model of trickle-bed reactor used for catalytic hydrotreating of oil fractions. The model takes into consideration the main reactions occurring in the hydrotreating process: hydrodesulfurization, hydrodenitrogenation, hydrodearomatization (mono-, di-, and polyaroamatics), olefins hydrogenation, and mild hydrocracking (gas oil, naphtha, and gases). Kinetic parameters were determined from experimental data obtained in an isothermal bench-scale reactor during hydrotreating of atmospheric gas oil coming from a heavy crude oil over a commercial CoMo catalyst. The developed model was used to predict the dynamic behavior of an industrial hydrotreating reactor within a wide range of reaction conditions. Changes in concentration, partial pressure, and temperature profiles are simulated and discussed as a function of reactor axial position and time. The simulation results obtained with the proposed dynamic model showed good agreement with experimental data.

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► A dynamic heterogeneous one-dimensional reactor model was developed.
► Main reactions occurring in the hydrotreating process are considered.
► Kinetics was extracted from bench-scale unit experimental data.
► Heavy oil-derived gas oil and commercial CoMo catalyst were used for hydrotreating.
► Simulation results showed good agreement with experimental data.