Process analyzer systems/New analyzers improve reformer efficiency

Newly developed boiling point monitors for reformer feed can produce a complete distillation analysis that correlates with ASTM D-86, ASTM D-2887, or any other standard. The monitor can generate a complete distillation curve in about 2 min, with a reproducibility within 1% of each boiling point selected. Such monitoring is necessary to prevent coking and formation of heavy ends in the reformate. With continuous octane monitoring and control, an over-all reduction of 0.2 research octane number can be achieved; in a 20,000 bbl/stream day reformer, this gives a 40 bbl/day improvement in gasoline yield, for a savings of $100,000/yr with 330 days/yr of operation. By preventing fluctuations in product octane number, the monitor can reduce operating costs by $86,000/yr for the above reformer.