Process Simulation And Optimization Of Continuous Catalytic Reforming Unit

Catalytic reforming is one of the most important processing technologies inpetroleum-processing industry. The energy consumption of the reforming unit occupies a largeproportion of the factory’s total energy consumption. The research on production bottleneck andenergy consumption distribution, as well as the optimization of technological condition hasshown greater practical significance as the successively operation of several reforming units inChina.In this paper, a continuous catalytic reforming unit with a production capacity of700thousand tons per year in LPEC was chosen as the research subject. The reaction model ofreforming unit, the process model of prefractionation and the energy integration model were builtwith chemical simulation software KBC-Profimatics. Optimization of production status andprocess parameters as well as process scheme has been conducted by using the above models.After the optimization of heat exchange network, the outlet temperature of reforming feed wasincreased from435℃to465℃, resulting in a reduction of fuel by0.575t/h in the first reactionfurnace. At the same time, the input of reforming feed and the output of aromatic with high valueincreased by3.34t/h and1.8t/h, respectivel, providing1000Nm3/h hydrogen while the annualoutput value was increased by at least18million RMB. The optimization of bottom operationtemperature of prefractionation column and the quantity of reflux resulting in a3.3t/h increaseof reforming feed input without the quantity change of pretreatment feed. Simultaneously,1000Nm3/h more hydrogen and reformate with more benzene, toluene, and C8-aromatics wereproduced after the optimization. The annual benefit was increased by more than10millionRMB.The establishment of the above models made it possible for technicians to get informationabout production distribution and properties in off-line state, changing their understanding ofthese information from qualitative change to quantitative change. Meanwhile, it gave referencefor technical transformation and operation adjusting. The method of difference comparison wasused in the modeling to avoid multi-parameter disturbance, and to make it easy in finding outvariables which had greater influences on energy consumption.