Patent ID: 8372770

Claim:
A process for regenerating in-situ a deactivated reforming catalyst, comprising the steps of: (a) circulating a first oxygen-containing gas stream from a gas compressor to a catalyst bed in a reforming reaction zone at a pressure in the range of about 50 psig to about 400 psig and at a temperature in the range of about 600° to about 1050° F., to remove at least a portion of the carbonaceous deposits on the reforming catalyst; (b) further circulating a second oxygen-containing gas stream from the gas compressor to the reforming catalyst bed, for oxidizing the reforming catalyst; (c) passing an inert gas stream from the gas compressor at a pressure in the range of about 5 psig to 300 psig and at a temperature in the range of about 600° to about 1050° F. through the reforming catalyst bed to purge a substantial portion of the oxygen contained therein for a time sufficient to reduce the oxygen content of an exiting purge gas stream to less than about 2% by volume, but above about 0.5 volume percent oxygen, and wherein the inert gas stream is nitrogen; and (d) pressuring the reforming catalyst bed with hydrogen gas at a rate sufficient to maintain a pressure in the range of about 100 psig to about 325 psig and at a temperature of above about 700° F.; with the compressor running continuously during the process.