Modeling and Simulation of Proposed Multifunctional Reactors to Increase the Aromatics Production in the Catalytic Naphtha reforming

In this research, improvement of catalytic naphtha reforming as one of the important processes in refineries and petrochemicals industries has been considered. The main focus is on replacing the conventional packed-bed reactors with new multifunctional reactors. These proposed reactors include catalytic naphtha reforming and methaxylene hydrodealkylation processes separated by a solid wall and a sweep gas section separated from naphtha reforming by a Pd-Ag membrane layer. The endothermic naphtha reforming, on the one hand, exchanges heat with the methaxylene hydrodealkylation, while on the other hand, it performs hydrogen exchange by sweep gas section. According to the simulation results, the aromatic production in the proposed system was increased by about 11% compared to conventional reactors. Finally, the effects of operating conditions such as feed temperature of hydrodealkylation process, seep gas inlet pressure on the performance of the system have been studied. Keywords: Catalytic Naphtha Reforming Process, Multifunctional Reactor, Palladium Membrane, Methaxylene Hydrodealkylation Process, Aromatic Production