Catalytic Reforming of Heavy Naphtha- Modeling and Simulate

Catalytic reforming is a chemical process used to convert low-octane naphtha's into high-octane gasoline blending components called reformates to be used either as a motor fuel blending stock or as a source for specific aromatics, such as benzene, toluene and xylene (BTX). Considering the importance of this process for the production of gasoline, the catalytic reforming process is simulated and important parameters such as octane number, reactor inlet and outlet temperatures, and PONA moles of the gas leaving the reactor are predicted. This paper uses the Smith model to simulate and estimate process parameters. A computer program is used to simulate a model of the catalytic reforming process. The accuracy of the model results was compared with data collected at the Zawia refinery. The results are validated with operating data from a catalytic reformer unit. Keywords: catalytic naphtha reforming, heavy naphtha, kinetic model, catalyst.