Catalytic reforming—the impact of process and regeneration conditions on catalyst cycle duration and product quality at the Rijeka Oil Refinery

The impact of catalytic reforming and catalyst regeneration process parameters on cycle duration and product quality was investigated. Overall data were based on catalyst manufacturer data and process data of the Platforming plant at the Rijeka Oil Refinery (Croatia). Used catalyst was Pt–Re on high purity aluminia as carrier.For the reformate octane number of 99 the reduction of charge from the designed 90 m3/h to 75 m3/h results in the lowering of the Start of Run reactor temperature from 515.2 to 511.0 °C with a hydrogen/hydrocarbon ratio of 7.3:1 and 23 bar at the high pressure separator. Knowing the maximal inlet reactor temperatures at Platforming of around 528 °C for the existing catalyst type, it turns out that the temperature range of catalyst usability goes up from 12.8 to 17.1 °C. In this way, from a cycle duration of 116 days, we come to a more acceptable duration of 198 days. Such cycle duration enables two catalyst regenerations per year.Catalyst cycle duration, as well as the quality of catalytic reforming products, greatly depends on the way catalyst regeneration is carried out. This relates to the distribution of active metal sites on catalyst fines after the coke, deposited on the catalyst, had been burned out. Regeneration process itself must be adjusted to the maximum allowed operating pressure and the maximum volume flow of gas phase through the high pressure catalytic section.