Modeling catalytic naphtha reforming process using discrete lumping approach

Catalytic naphtha reforming is one of key processes in petroleum refineries for improving the octane number of gasoline. Simulation and kinetic modeling of an industrial scale catalytic fixed-bed naphtha reforming plant to predict the important output variables of reforming plant i.e., outlet temperature of three reactors, research octane number, yield of gasoline and hydrogen purity have been studied. The process modeling is based on a discrete-lumped kinetic model consisting twenty-one reaction pathways. All kinetic and deactivation parameters are estimated from pilot plant experiments, and they are fine-tuned using industrial data. To evaluate the simulation, the predicted variables are compared against actual ones. Results show that there is a close mapping between the actual and predicted variables, and the absolute average deviation (AAD%) of the mentioned variables are 0.33, 0.613, 0.689, 0.40, 3.99 and 2.6%, respectively.