Olefin Reduction

Aromatics
Aromatics

Application
The UOP Olefin Reduction Process (ORP) allows aromatics complex operators to address many of the operating concerns caused by trace olefins in reformate and other aromatics streams. It is well known that modern high severity reformers produce a small amount of olefins along with the desirable aromatics compounds. When clay treating is used to manage olefins present in reformate, frequent clay changeout results in the disposal of a solid waste; aromatics yields are reduced via alkylation reactions that occur in the clay treater; potential fouling and poisoning of catalysts and adsorbents could occur within the complex due to olefin breakthrough; and if combined with oxygen, olefins could also cause gum formation in downstream units, requiring periodic shutdowns to clean out equipment. It is also known that the presence of olefins in the light non-aromatic fraction of reformate can reduce ethylene and propylene yield if this stream is fed to a naphtha cracker. The ORP is a simple, low-cost route to eliminate many of these operating problems and increase production efficiency.

UOP Olefin Reduction Process

Reactor
Make up Hydrogen CW

Stripper Fresh Feed feed/bottoms exchange train. However, when the ORP unit is in this position, there is a small amount of additional hydrogen consumption due to saturation of olefins in the LPG range.

Process description
An ORP unit uses a simple, fixed-bed reactor system where olefins in the reformate are selectively hydrogenated to their corresponding alkane or cycloalkane. The high activity catalyst allows operation at mild conditions and requires only a small catalyst bed. The reactor system uses downflow vessels with a lead/lag design, allowing one bed to be renewed when spent and returning it into operation in the lag position. Net hydrogen from the CCR Platforming unit is a suitable make-up gas for olefin saturation in an ORP unit. The location of the ORP unit in the flowscheme is flexible and is determined by the operating goals. The following are some advantages associated with various locations:

Debutanizer bottoms - This position saturates the entire aromatics complex feed and does not consume additional hydrogen for the saturation of LPG olefins; however, a small stripper may be needed to remove hydrogen from the product. Since up to 80% of the olefins are in the C6 minus cut, putting an ORP unit on this stream eliminates problems due to olefins across the broadest range of aromatic species. Reformate splitter bottoms - The reformate splitter bottoms is a smaller stream, allowing for a smaller ORP unit reactor, but an additional small stripper would generally be needed upstream of the xylene column. This position does not affect debutanizer operation or require additional heat exchange. Sulfolane unit feed - In most circumstances placing the ORP unit in this location could eliminate most corrosion and fouling issues in the Sulfolane Unit and its products. However, an additional stripper would still be required, and treating the reformate splitter bottoms would still be an issue.

Debutanizer feed - Full reformate can be treated by adding the ORP unit upstream of an existing debutanizer. This allows integration with the debutanizer to remove excess dissolved hydrogen and eliminates the need of a dedicated product stripper. This location simultaneously treats both the reformate splitter overhead and bottoms. Reactor preheating can be integrated with the existing debutanizer

Features and benefits

Simple, low cost method for olefin removal - the flowscheme uses a low temperature reactor with lead/lag design, and long catalyst lives eliminate clay disposal problems.

Olefin Reduction

Flexible Feedstock - the unit can be added to the flowscheme in several locations, depending on the project objectives.

Commercial experience
As of 2006 UOP has licensed 4 units and they are all currently in design and construction. In addition the high activity catalyst has been used in 8 locations with over 10 years of commercial experience.

Case study
Basis: Reformate feed with an olefin content of 1.32 wt-% Feedrate, KMTA Reformate Make up Hydrogen Performance Bromine Index Feed 2500 751.2 (16,300 BPD) 0.633 Product 70

For more information

UOP Olefin Reduction Process technology services are available upon request. For more information, contact your local UOP representative or our Des Plaines sales office: e-mail: info@uop.com fax: +1-847-391-2253 phone: +1-847-391-2000

Economics
A summary of investment costs and utility consumption is given in the table below. Catalyst life is expected to be three years assuming a six-month cycle. Estimated Erected Cost US$ MM 2.1 (2006 US Gulf coast basis, Inside battery limits only) Estimated Annual benefit, US$ MM Utility Consumption Cooling water, m3/hr 17 1.4

UOP LLC 25 East Algonquin Road Des Plaines, IL 60017-5017 U.S.A. www.uop.com

2006 UOP LLC. All rights reserved. The information in this document should not be construed as a representation for which UOP assumes legal responsibility, or an authorization or recommendation to practice a patented invention without a license. UOP 4680-10 1106AR0Y