Q&A

Question 7: What are your typical precious metal recoveries from reforming catalysts? What factors impact this?

BILL KOSTKA (AXENS NORTH AMERICA)
Reported platinum recoveries from reforming catalyst following commercial utilization have typically ranged between 90 and 100 wt% and have rarely been less than 80 wt%. The magnitude of this range is both frustrating and at least somewhat explainable.

How one

Question 6: Do LTOs contain higher concentrations of nitrogen? If so, how has this higher concentration effected gasoline processing units?

The LTOs generally do not contain a higher concentration of nitrogen. LTOs are typically characterized as light, sweet, low-sulfur, low-nitrogen crudes. For example, the Eagle Ford and the Bakken nitrogen typically contains less than 2 ppm. Nonetheless, the gasoline processing units are impacted when refineries process higher percentage of the LTOs because of the crudes.

Question 44: How is coke on catalyst in fixed-bed and moving-bed reforming units tracked? How is this data used to adjust the reactor inlet temperatures in order to maintain constant product octane?

In our cyclic units, just based on the air consumption, we can measure the coke each time a reactor comes out for a regen. We are not grabbing samples. Our experience with the cyclics is that if you get up around 8% coke on catalyst, the unit will be pushed a little too hard. You will then need to think about backing it down on feed rate octane, finding a better-quality feed, or possibly increasing the hydrogen/oil ratio.

Question 49: Does the panel have any experience using flexible thermocouples in the regeneration section of a moving-bed reforming unit? What considerations should be given to revamping units that do not have these installed?

Flexible thermocouples, as I understand, are now a part of the standard design for regenerators of moving-bed units. At a refinery in which I worked; we replaced the original slider thermocouples with multipoint thermocouples.

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Q&A

Question 7: What are your typical precious metal recoveries from reforming catalysts? What factors impact this?

Question 6: Do LTOs contain higher concentrations of nitrogen? If so, how has this higher concentration effected gasoline processing units?

Question 44: How is coke on catalyst in fixed-bed and moving-bed reforming units tracked? How is this data used to adjust the reactor inlet temperatures in order to maintain constant product octane?

Question 49: Does the panel have any experience using flexible thermocouples in the regeneration section of a moving-bed reforming unit? What considerations should be given to revamping units that do not have these installed?