Patent ID: 9024099
Filing Date: 2015-05-05
Classification: C07C,C10G

Abstract:
1. A process for reforming a hydrocarbon feedstream, comprising: passing the feedstream to a fractionation system to create a first overhead stream comprising n-hexane and lighter hydrocarbons, and a first bottoms stream comprising cyclohexane and heavier hydrocarbons; passing the first bottoms stream to a first reformer reactor, operated at a first set of reforming conditions, wherein the first set of reforming conditions include a temperature less than 540° C., to generate a first reactor effluent having an increased aromatic content; passing the first overhead stream and the first reactor effluent to a second reforming reactor system operated at a second set of reforming conditions, wherein the second set of reforming conditions include a temperature greater than or equal to 540° C., thereby generating a second effluent stream; passing a first regenerated catalyst stream to the first reformer reactor and generating a first reformer catalyst effluent stream; passing a second catalyst stream to the second reformer reactor system and generating a second reformer catalyst effluent stream; passing the second effluent stream to a reformate splitter to generate a second overhead stream comprising C7 and lighter aromatics, and a second bottoms stream comprising C8 and heavier aromatics; and passing the second overhead stream to an aromatics recovery unit, thereby generating an aromatics product stream comprising benzene and toluene, and a raffinate stream comprising non-aromatic hydrocarbons; wherein the catalyst for all the reforming reactors is the same.