A Review of Approaches for the Modelling and Optimization of Catalytic Cracking Processes

Naphtha catalytic reforming process is one of the most critical operations in petroleum refineries to produce gasoline with high octane number and valuable aromatics. This study by examining a wide range of publications since 1959 focuses on three topics kinetic modeling, steady and unsteady modeling and optimization. Most kinetic models were based on lump method 3 to 31 lumps and molecular modeling is rarely used due to the complexity and high volume of computations. In steady and unsteady modeling, the phenomenon of penetration in the process is neglected. Among the different configurations of the reactors, it was observed that the spherical radial flow reactors which were examined on a pilot scale have a lower pressure drop in their bed. The optimization of the reactors is often based on the steady mode and the reactor input temperature, pressure and catalyst mass distribution parameters have been optimized. It was also observed that if the first reactor operates at the highest possible temperature and the other reactors at a lower temperature the economic performance of the process will be improved.