Evaluation of transport processes in a catalytic reforming reactor with high performance nanocatalysts

Abstract

Abstract Catalytic reforming reactors are the most important multiphase reactors in petroleum refineries producing high octane gasoline. The reforming process usually generates an unstable operation combined with catalyst activity loss due to the high levels of interaction between the heat transfer and mass transfer processes in the reactor and the specifications of the catalyst. In this investigation, n-heptane reforming reactions were investigated by preparing three types of nanocatalysts (Pt/HY, Pt-Ge/HY, and Pt-Re/HY). The reforming reactions were investigated at 440, 460, 480, 500, and 520 °C under atmospheric pressure in a reactor of dimensions 2 cm (inner diameter) by 30 cm (height) manufactured from stainless steel. The H2/n-heptane was selected to operate at a value of 2 with WHSV=2, and the effects of heat and mass transfer processes on the catalyst and reactor performance were thus evaluated. The results indicated that the Pt-Gr/HY catalyst showed the highest activity, selectivity, and stability at a reaction temperature of 480 °C. It was also noted that the heating rate and diffusional processes were severely affected by reaction selectivity during formation of the desired products as well as by the hydrodynamic parameters of the reactor. The activity of the prepared nanocatalysts demonstrated the sequence Pt-Ge/HY> Pt-Re/HY> Pt/HY, and the prepared nanocatalysts were able to offer high performance under controlled transport processes in terms of producing high-quality gasoline.