Conversion of light naphtha to aromatic hydrocarbons (Part 5) - Evaluationof catalytic performance of Pt/KL for the aromatization of hexane in pilot-scale reactors

Catalytic conversion of light naphtha to aromatics over platinum supported on zeolite L (Pt/KL) was studied using pilot scale units of an externally h eated tubular reactor and an adiabatic reactor under operating conditions c lose to those used for commercial reactors, and simulated using data from l aboratory experiments. Product distributions and temperature profiles in the catalyst bed of the a diabatic reactor and the externally heated tubular reactor agreed fairly we ll with the simulated values. The simulated performances of the adiabatic r eactor and the externally heated tubular reactor were compared, suggesting that the externally heated tubular reactor is more advantageous than the ad iabatic reactor, since the operating temperature at the catalyst bed can be lowered, resulting in a slower reaction rate of hydrocracking and a conseq uent increase in the benzene yield.