Introduction
SINOPEC has developed a new generation of continuous catalytic reforming process (CCR) with catalyst regeneration system regenerating the spent catalyst without shutting down the reaction part. It gives refiners flexibility to operate reforming unit under high severity conditions to obtain high aromatic yield and high hydrogen production rate.
Technical Characteristics
1. Operation Flexibility
Compared with similar technologies, with the same feedstock and at similar operating conditions, Sinopec’s continuous catalytic reforming technology exhibits higher gasoline yield, higher aromatics yield and higher hydrogen yield and lower carbon deposition rate, lower chloride emitting and longer catalyst life.
The technology operates with high flexibility. The liquid products can be used as either high octane number gasoline blending components or feedstocks of a downstream aromatic unit. Coke on catalyst is burnt out under high pressure. The regeneration process adapts to wide range of carbon content in spent catalysts.
2. Feed adaptability
Suitable feedstocks for the catalytic reforming technology include straight-run naphtha, hydrocracking naphtha, coker naphtha, catalytic cracking naphtha, ethylene pyrolysis gasoline and raffinate oil, etc.
Feed distillation range and impurities content are important parameters that need to be controlled strictly. Feed distillation range should be determined according to the production target. IBP can be raised properly when the target is to produce high octane number gasoline blending components. If the reforming feedstock is a mixture of various oils such as straight run gasoline, hydrocracking naphtha, coker naphtha, FCC gasoline, etc., the distillation range should be analyzed separately.
Continuous Catalytic Reforming Technology