Modeling, simulation and optimization of commercial naphtha catalytic reforming process

A kinetics-based mathematic model for commercial catalytic reforming process is developed to monitor and optimize the process in this paper. The process model can predict reaction temperature and concentration profiles of each reactor, heater duties, catalyst deactivation, recycle gas composition and octane number resulting from different feedstocks or operating conditions. The lumping details of the naphtha feed and reaction scheme are given. The reaction model is described by Hougen-Watson-type rate equations with catalyst coking kinetics. The nonlinear optimization problem with process constraints is solved by the Lagrange-Marquardt composite optimization algorithm. The simulation and optimization results of the model validated for three different commercial catalytic reforming processes are presented.