Two-stage reforming process configured for increased feed rate to manufacture reformate and benzene

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-2016145507-A1
Application number	US-201414549271-A
Country	US
Kind code	A1
Filing date	Nov 20, 2014
Priority date	Nov 20, 2014
Publication date	May 26, 2016
Grant date	—

Abstract

Described herein is a two-stage reforming process using a unique configuration which allows the reforming unit to operate at a higher naphtha feed rate as compared to conventional reforming configurations. In the unique reforming process described herein, a naphtha feedstock undergoes a distillation step prior to the first reforming stage. The distillation step separates the naphtha feedstock into a top light C 6 /C 7 stream, which typically accounts for between 5 and 20 percent of the overall feedstock, and a C 8 + stream. The C 8 + stream undergoes reforming in a first stage consisting of at least one reactor containing conventional metallic reforming catalyst, under conditions sufficient to convert the C 8 + stream into a first intermediate reformate. The C 6 /C 7 stream, bypasses the first stage and is combined with the intermediate reformate, and reformed in the second stage, at lower pressure than in the first stage, over a reforming catalyst containing a medium pore zeolite.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1 . A process for reforming a naphtha feedstock into a final reformate having a higher Research Octane Number than the naphtha feedstock Research Octane Number, the process comprising:
separating the naphtha feedstock into a C 6 /C 7 fraction and a C 8 + fraction; contacting the C 8 + fraction with a first-stage metallic reforming catalyst at a first stage reforming pressure to produce an intermediate reformate having a Research Octane Number greater than the naphtha feedstock Research Octane Number; and contacting the C 6 /C 7 fraction and intermediate reformate with a second-stage medium pore zeolite-based reforming catalyst at a second stage reforming pressure to produce benzene and a final reformate having a Research Octane Number greater than the intermediate reformate Research Octane Number; wherein the second stage reforming pressure is lower than the first stage reforming pressure.

2 . The process of claim 1 , wherein the first stage reforming pressure is between 150 and 400 psig.

3 . The process of claim 2 , wherein the second stage reforming pressure is between 40 and 140 psig.

4 . The process of claim 3 , wherein the intermediate reformate as a Research Octane Number of between 88 and 95.

5 . The process of claim 4 , wherein the final reformate has a Research Octane Number of between 92 and 102.

6 . The process of claim 1 , wherein the second stage reforming pressure is between 40 and 140 psig.

7 . The process of claim 1 , wherein the intermediate reformate as a Research Octane Number of between 88 and 95.

8 . The process of claim 7 , wherein the final reformate has a Research Octane Number of between 92 and 102.

9 . The process of claim 1 , wherein the medium pore zeolite-based reforming catalyst comprises ZSM-5.

10 . The process of claim 9 , wherein the ZSM-5 is a high silica ZSM-5 zeolite with a molar ratio of SiO 2 :M 2 O 3 of at least 40:1, where M is selected from the group consisting of Al, B, or Ga.

11 . The process of claim 10 , wherein the SiO 2 :M 2 O 3 mole ratio is at least 200:1.

12 . The process of claim 10 , wherein the SiO 2 :M 2 O 3 mole ratio is at least 500:1.

13 . The process of claim 12 , wherein the first stage reforming pressure is between 150 and 400 psig.

14 . The process of claim 13 , wherein the second stage reforming pressure is between 40 and 140 psig.

15 . The process of claim 14 , wherein the intermediate reformate as a Research Octane Number of between 88 and 95.

16 . The process of claim 15 , wherein the final reformate has a Research Octane Number of between 92 and 102.

17 . The process of claim 10 , wherein the first stage reforming pressure is between 150 and 400 psig.

18 . The process of claim 17 , wherein the second stage reforming pressure is between 40 and 140 psig.

19 . The process of claim 18 , wherein the intermediate reformate as a Research Octane Number of between 88 and 95.

20 . The process of claim 19 , wherein the final reformate has a Research Octane Number of between 92 and 102.

Assignees

• Miller Stephen Joseph
• Chevron Usa Inc

Inventors

• Miller Stephen Joseph

Classifications

• C10G35/06 Primary

  characterised by the catalyst used · CPC title

• C10L2290/543

  Distillation, fractionation or rectification for separating fractions, components or impurities during preparation or upgrading of a fuel · CPC title

• C10L2270/023

  for gasoline engines · CPC title

• C10G61/02 Primary

  plural serial stages only · CPC title

• C10L1/06

  for spark ignition · CPC title