Computational study of the pyrolysis reactions and coke deposition in industrial naphtha cracking

Abstract

The aim of this study is to develop a mechanistic reaction model for the pyrolysis of naphtha that can be used to predict the yields of the major products from a given naphtha sample with commercial indices. For this purpose, a computer control pilot plant system designed and assembled by Olefin Research Group, for studying the pyrolysis reaction kinetics, coke formation and different advance control algorithms. Experiments on the thermal cracking of naphtha were carried out in a tubular reactor under conditions as close as possible to those in the industrial operations. The reaction mechanism of thermal cracking of hydrocarbons is generally accepted as free-radical chain reactions. A complete reaction network, using a rigorous kinetic model, for the decomposition of the naphtha feed has been developed, which is used for the simulation of industrial naphtha crackers. Simultaneous simulation of the reactor and the firebox, provides a detailed understanding of the behavior and an accurate prediction of the furnace run length. © 2002 Springer-Verlag Berlin Heidelberg.