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Reforming Process

The document discusses the evolution of gasoline reforming processes, starting from thermal reforming in the 1930s to the more efficient catalytic reforming. Catalytic reforming converts low-octane gasoline into high-octane gasoline using catalysts such as platinum on alumina. The process involves heating a naphtha and hydrogen mixture in fixed-bed reactors, producing high-octane motor gasoline and aromatic compounds as byproducts.

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3 views7 pages

Reforming Process

The document discusses the evolution of gasoline reforming processes, starting from thermal reforming in the 1930s to the more efficient catalytic reforming. Catalytic reforming converts low-octane gasoline into high-octane gasoline using catalysts such as platinum on alumina. The process involves heating a naphtha and hydrogen mixture in fixed-bed reactors, producing high-octane motor gasoline and aromatic compounds as byproducts.

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077bch038
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© All Rights Reserved
We take content rights seriously. If you suspect this is your content, claim it here.
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Reforming Process

Prepared by:
Bikash Kumar Mahato
Assistant Professor
IOE, Pulchowk Campus
Introduction.
• When the demand for higher-octane gasoline
developed during the early 1930s, attention was
directed to ways and means of improving the octane
number of fractions within the boiling range of
gasoline.
• Straight-run (distilled) gasoline frequently had very
low octane numbers and to increase the octane
number thermal reforming was developed and was
used widely but to a lesser extent than thermal
cracking.
Contd.
• Thermal reforming was a natural development from
older thermal cracking processes; cracking converts
heavier oils into gasoline whereas reforming converts
(reforms) gasoline into higher-octane gasoline.
• The equipment for thermal reforming is essentially
the same as for thermal cracking, but higher
temperatures are used.
• Thermal reforming is less effective and less
economical than catalytic processes and has been
replaced by catalytic reforming.
Catalytic reforming
• Like thermal reforming, catalytic reforming converts low-
octane gasoline into high-octane gasoline (reformate).
• Catalytic reforming is conducted in the presence of
platinum on alumina or silica-alumina and chromia on
alumina catalyst.
• The commercial processes available for use can be
broadly classified as the moving-bed, fluid-bed, and
fixed-bed types.
• The fluid-bed and moving-bed processes used mixed
nonprecious metal oxide catalysts in units equipped with
separate regeneration facilities. Fixed-bed processes use
predominantly platinum-containing catalysts in units
equipped for cycle, occasional, or no regeneration.
Process description
• It transforms low octane naphtha into high-octane motor gasoline
blending stock and aromatics rich in benzene, toluene, and xylene
with hydrogen and liquefied petroleum gas as a byproduct.
• This process uses fixed bed Al2O3 catalyst containing 0.25%
platinum.
• Catalytic reforming is usually carried out by feeding a naphtha (after
pretreating with hydrogen if necessary) and hydrogen mixture to a
furnace where the mixture is heated to the desired temperature,
150°C–510°C and pressure 1500-7000kPa then passed through a
fixed-bed catalytic reactors.
• Normally, pairs of reactors are used in series with an interheating for
each other in order to compensate for the endothermic reactions taking
place.
[Link]

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