Soran university

Faculty of engineering

Department of chemical engineering

Refinery : assignment 3

Ahmad hameed karasul

09/05/2021
Introduction
Isomerization is the process by which one isomer is transformed into another one. Isomerization
creates a compound with a different atomic (group) structure, but the composition and molecular
weight remain unchanged. In the literature, isomerization is often referred to as rearrangement;
however, according to tradition, these are often referred to as name reactions (isomerization
processes). By changing the structure of the carbon skeleton, the isomerization process aims to
produce high-octane components of commercial gasoline from low-octane oil fractions. There
are two main types of isomeryIsomerization reactions are used extensively for production of both
lower and higher paraffins (isoalkanes). Branched C5-C6 paraffins have high octane numbers
and are good motor gasoline components. Isomerization is the process in which light straight
chain paraffins of low RON (C6, C5 and C4) are transformed with proper catalyst into branched
chains with the same carbon number and high octane numbers. The hydrotreated naphtha (HTN)
is fractionated into heavy naphtha between 90–190 °C (190–380 F) which is used as a feed to the
reforming unit. Light naphtha C5 - 80 °C (C5 - 180 F) is used as a feed to the isomerization unit.
There are two reasons for this fractionation: the first is that light hydrocarbons tend to
hydrocrack in the reformer. The second is that C6 hydrocarbons tend to form benzene in the
reformer. Gasoline specifications require a very low value of benzene due to its carcinogenic
effect.

Light straight run naphtha isomerization process flow diagram

Among the multifold of isomerization process flow diagrams the most effective is «Isomalk-2»
technology with platinum oxide catalyst which has considerably higher efficiency than the
Pt/zeolite catalysts, as well as high resistance in comparison with Pt/Al2O3-Cl systems2, 20.
Depending on the flow structure «Isomalk-2» technology allows obtaining a product with RON
from 82 to 92 points. Light straight-run gasoline fraction NBP-62 °C is used as feedstock.
Complete conversion of pentane-hexane fraction is provided by two recycle process scheme for
unbranched pentane and hexane. The hydrotreated feedstock enters the column of the
deisopentanizator for isopentane fraction separation, and then after blending with the
deisohexanizator the side cut flows to E – 4, and then with makeup hydrogen passes the
preheater, the combined feed successively passes the two isomerization reactors R-1, R-2. The
hydrogen separation occurs in E-6 separator, after that hydrogen is mixed with the fresh
hydrogen stream, and passes through the adsorption drying unit (C-1 adsorber) and is fed to the
reception of the circulation compressor. The off gases C1 - C4 are separated in the stabilizer
column. The stable isomerate enters the depentenization column for pentane fraction separation.
The depentanized isomerate is then supplied to the deisohexanization column, where the mixture
of unconverted unbranched C6 hydrocarbons is separated as a side cut flow. This flow structure
allows maximizing the potential of «Izomalk-2» technology. Implementation of pentene and
hexane recycles can help to achieve the 91-92 point isocomponent RON.

Impact of the process

The isomerization process is one of the most profitable ways to produce high-octane
components of gasoline with improved ecological characteristics. Isomerization units importance
has also increased with introduction of new ultrahard limiting requirements for motor gasoline
ecological characteristics including fractional composition, aromatic compounds and benzene
content limitation. Isomerization units allow producing fuel with characteristics, complying with
the strict standards EURO-4 and EURO-5. An intensive growth of isomerization process
capacity is implemented due to of existing units revamp and building of grass-root units.
Revamp and intensification of operating isomerization units to processes with recycle of
unreacted normal paraffins are being done simultaneously. Light naphtha with EBP 62-85 oC is
isomerization feed. Octane number increases due to increase of isoparaffins amount. As a rule,
the process occurs in one or two reactors at a temperature 110-380 oC and the pressure up to 35
atm
Results
The composition of raw materials processed at the light naphtha isomerization unit «Kinef»
varies greatly, which has an effect on product quality and necessitates adjustments to the unit's
technical parameters. At constant process parameters, the effect of the feedstock on the quality of
isomerate was investigated. According to the results which are shown in Table 2 isomerate RON
can range from 2 to 2.5 points depending on the feedstock composition. The light naphtha
isomerization process is an equilibrium process, and the quality of the obtained product depends
on the position of the major and side reaction equilibrium. With increasing temperature the target
and side reaction speed rise. The results of predictive calculations are presented

According to the results of the studies the temperature increase at the inlet of the first
isomerization reactor above 150 ° C leads to a shift of the equilibrium towards the hydrocracking
side reactions. When the load of raw materials increases at the isomerization reactor unit, the
time of contact with the catalyst raw materials decreases, and the octane number of the resulting
isomerate reduces. The expected impact of the calculated load of raw materials on RON hexane
isomerate According to the results of the studies with increasing loading of raw materials per
2500 m / h RON isomerate reduces by 0.43 - 0.5 point depending on the feedstock composition.
Refencess
1. Kravtsov A.V., Ivanchina E.D., Ivashkina E.N., Kostenko A.V., Yurev E.M., Beskov V.S.
Mathematical Modeling of Hydrocarbon Raw Material Processing Processes, Catalysis in
Industry 2008;6:41 - 46.

2. https://nefthim.com/manual/Isomerization-process/

3. Chekantsev N.V., Gyngazova M.S., Ivanchina E.D., Mathematical modeling of light naphtha
(C5, C6) isomerization process. Chem. Eng. J. 2014;238:120 - 128.

4. https://link.springer.com/article/10.1007/s13203-018-0204-y#Fig3

5. Yasakova E.A., Sitdikova A.V., Achmetov A.F. Tendency of isomerization process

development in Russia and foreign countries Electronic scientific journal “Oil and Gas Business”
2010; 1: URL: http://ogbus.ru/eng/authors/Yasakova/Yasakova_1e.pdf.

6. Gheit AKA, Ghoneim SA (2008) Catalysis in the petroleum naphtha catalytic reforming
process. J Rec Pat Chem Eng 1:113–125