A Hydroprocessing Multicatalyst Deactivation and Reactor Performance Model−Pilot-Plant Life Test Applications

Abstract

A simple plug-flow model was developed to study the deactivation mechanisms of hydroprocessing catalysts in atmospheric residue desulfurization (ARDS) units. The three stages of catalyst deactivationsat the start of the run, middle of the run, and end of the runsare considered. The catalyst deactivation is mainly due to metal and coke deposition. The model parameters considered are the unit temperature, fluid velocity, reaction rate constant, catalyst combination, catalyst bed length, and feed concentration of sulfur, metals, and asphaltenes. The simulated results compared very well with our laboratory data for a long catalyst life test operated under constanttemperature mode. The model is further applied to a parametric study that examines the effects of space velocity, unit temperature, and maximum metal capacity on the performance of catalyst systems. A constant-sulfur-mode simulation is also given.

Predicted Effects of Heavy Feeds on the Deactivation of a Commercial Atmospheric Residue Desulfurization Catalyst System

“…The concentration of metals decreased rapidly during the first 1000 h on-stream and, thereafter, remained practically constant until EOR. A previous study observed similar patterns for KEC-AR and EOC-AR deactivation based on the normalized rate constants of the different feeds and reactions 12.…”

“…The Petroleum Research Center (PRC) of KISR has been working on ARDS rigorous modeling for years. The ARDS model developed by PRC was based on a simple plug flow model for multiple catalysts in a multireactor system to allow the study of the deactivation mechanisms of ARDS catalysts, which deactivate principally because of metal and coke deposition. − …”

Behavior and Role of Asphaltenes in a Two-stage Fixed Bed Hydrotreating Process

“…Industrial catalysts, provided by (1998). To minimize the deactivation effects during the tests, these two catalysts have been previously prestabilized during 1,000 hr under industrial conditions (Kam et al, 2005). A first set of experiments was carried out only with the HDM catalyst, varying the temperature (380 • C and 400 • C) and the residence time (from 1 to 5 hr).…”

Gap Analysis and Optimization of Hydroprocessing Prediction Model

“…The control of the reactor's operation conditions (such as temperature, pressure, or space velocity, etc.) could have a drastic impact on the catalyst cycle length [7,8,9].…”