The Project “Development and Commercial Application of 600 kt/a Counter-current Catalytic Reforming Package Technology”Passed SINOPEC’s Technical Appraisal

On November 27, 2014 the project “Development and commercial application of 600 kt/a counter-current catalytic reforming package technology” jointly implemented by RIPP, the Sinopec Engineering Incorporation (SEI) and the Sinopec Jinan Branch Company has passed the technical appraisal organized by the Sinopec Science & Technical Division.

Based on the idea on matching the catalyst activity with the reaction process, the researchers have developed the technology of continuous catalytic reforming with counter-current transfer of catalyst. This technology adopts the dipleg seal approach to realize the catalyst transfer under differential pressure in order to abolish the sealed bunker and its control system in the catalyst circulation loop. Now the catalyst transfer system can operate without valves to ensure uniterrupted circulation of catalyst, featuring a totally simple and safe operation.

The first in China 600 kt/a continuous catalytic reforming (CCR) unit constructed at the Sinopec Jinan Branch Company features a high rate of Chinese content of equipment, which has reduced the investment cost by 4%. The calibration test results have revealed that at a N+A content of the reformer feed equating to 54%, the RON of stabilized gasoline reached 102.3, and the C5+ liquid yield and hydrogen yield reached 89.7% and 3.99%, respectively, with the main techno-economic indicators all exceeding the design targets. The practice of operation in more than one year has revealed that this unit has been operating smoothly, and the catalyst has low attrition loss along with low energy consumption of process unit to achieve apparent economic benefits.

The relevant institutions has applied for 25 patents on this technology, with 14 patents granted, among which 16 invention patents have been applied with 10 patents granted. Compared with the existing overseas CCR technologies, this technology has an innovative nature to form Sinopec’s own CCR technology with independent intellectual property rights to be on a par with the internationally advanced level.