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Seminar assignments - Assignment 5 questions + answers

Oil Refining and Processing (The University of Western Ontario)

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The University of Western Ontario

Faculty of Engineering
DEPARTMENT OF CHEMICAL AND BIOCHEMICAL ENGINEERING

CBE 4432B/9132B –Oil Refining and Processing

Assignment # 5

Due Date: Friday, March 28, 2014 by 5 p.m.

Problem 5.1
Part a
A petroleum refinery is planning regeneration schedule for reformer catalyst. The catalyst
deactivates after processing 200 barrels of feed per kg of catalyst. Calculate the length of
time between regeneration given the following conditions: (15)

Feed rate = 6000 BPSD

Feed API gravity = 54.5o
Catalyst bulk density = 810 kg/m3
Liquid hourly space velocity (LHSV) = 3.0 v/hr/v

Part b
A reforming reactor operates at 20 atm, it is desired to achieve 95% conversion of
heptane (C7H16) in the reactor feed to toluene as shown by the following reaction:

C7H16 ↔ C7H8 + 4H2

The equilibrium constant (Keq) for the reaction can be estimated by the following equation

ln Keq = a/T + b

where a = -31.24x103; b = 53.36; T is temperature in oK

Calculate reactor operating temperature. (25)

Problem 5.2
Part a
Discuss role of alkylation in a petroleum refinery with a simple block flow diagram and
examples of chemical reaction. (20)

Part b
Compare sulphuric acid and hydrofluoric acid catalysts for alkylation based on
considerations of safety, energy efficiency and cost. (20)

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Part c
Feed to an alkylation unit is C4= at 3000 BPD and Isobutane to olefins (I/O) ratio of 8.
Olefins residence time in the reactor is 40 min., calculate the following.

a) Reactor volume (10)

b) Alkylate yield based on equation by Edgar and Himmelblau (1988) given below.
(10)
Valk = Volf (1.12 + 0.13167 (I/O)F – 0.0067(I/O)F )
2

Where V is volumetric flow BPD.

Solution to Problem 5.1

Part a
Reformer Feed rate = 6000 BPSD

= 6000 (barrels/d)x(159 liters/barrel)x (1 m3/1000 liter)(d/24h)

= 39.75 m3/h

Weight of catalyst calc.:

LHSV = 3. 0 (Feed rate, m3/h)/(vol. of catalyst, m3)

Vol. of catalyst = (39.75 m3/h)/(3 h-1) = 13.25 m3

Catalyst deactivation rate = 200 barrels of feed/ kg of catalyst

Total feed that can be processed by catalyst:

= 200 (barrel/kg cat)x(13.25 m3)x(810 kg/m3)

= 2.146x106 barrels

Length of time between regenerations:

= 2.146x106 (barrels) /6000 (barrels/d)

= 357.8 days

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Part b
Desired conversion of heptanes (X) = 0. 95

C7H16 ↔ C7H8 + 4H2

(1-X) X 4X

Total moles at a given time = 1- X + X + 4X = 1+4X

From definition of chemical equilibrium constant based on partial pressures:

Thus pT = 20.(X/(1+4X)) pH2 = 20.(4X/(1+4X)) pHp = 20.(1-X)/(1+4X)

Since X = 0.95 Keq = 3.958x(15.8)4/0.208 = 11.859x105

Since ln Keq = a/T + b

where a = -31.24x103; b = 53.36; T in oK

Solving for T:

= 793.4 oK or 520.4 oC

Solution to Problem 5.2

Part a and b
Please refer to lecture notes on alkylation.

Part c
Feed to an alkylation unit (C4= ) = 3000 BPD

Isobutane to olefins (I/O) ratio = 8.

Olefins residence time in the reactor = 40 min.

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Reactor volume calculation:

Reformer Feed rate = 3000 BPD

= 3000 (barrels/d)x(159 liters/barrel)x (1 m3/1000 liter)(d/24h)x(h/60 min)

= 0.331 m3/min

Reactor volume = 40x0.331 = 13.24 m3

Alkylate yield (Valk ) = Volf (1.12 + 0.13167 (I/O)F – 0.0067(I/O)F2)

= 3000 (1.12 + 0.13167(8) – 0.0067(8)2)

= 5233.68 BPD

References
Edgar, T.F., and D.M. Himmelblau, `Optimization of Chemical Processes`, McGraw Hill,
New York (1988).
Fahim, M.A., T.A. Alsahhaf, and A. Elkilani, “ Fundamentals of Petroleum Refining”,
Elsevier (2010).
Furimsky, E., ‘Selection of Catalysts and Reactors for Hydroprocessing”, Applied
CatalysisA: General 171, pp. 177-206 (1998).

Gary, J.H. and G.E. Hardwerk,”Petroleum Refining”, 4th ed., M.Dekker Inc., New York,
(2001).

Perry, R.H. and D.W. Green, “Perry’s Chemical Engineering Handbook”, 8th Ed., McGraw
Hill, N. York (2008).
Riazi, M.R., and Al-Sahhaf, T.A.. “Physical properties of heavy petroleum fractions and
crude oils”, Fluid Phase Equilib., Vol. 117, pp. 217-224 (1996).

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