DESIGN AND SIMULATION OF HYDROTREATER CATALYTIC UNIT WITH EMPHASIS ON CATALYST PERFORMANCE

Abstract

This thesis focuses on the design and simulation of a naphtha hydrotreating unit within a refinery, emphasizing the optimization of catalyst performance. Naphtha hydrotreating is a critical process for removing contaminants such as sulphur and nitrogen from naphtha streams, a key gasoline precursor. The work explores essential design considerations for the unit, including reactor configuration, operating conditions, and the specific characteristics of the naphtha feedstock. The core aspect of the thesis involves the simulation of the naphtha hydrotreating unit using Aspen HYSYS. This allows for evaluating catalyst performance under various operating scenarios. The investigation centres on understanding how factors like temperature, pressure, hydrogen flow rate, and the composition of the naphtha feed influence the activity and selectivity of the catalyst. This thesis aims to establish a correlation between design parameters, operating conditions, and the ultimate performance of the catalyst in the naphtha hydrotreating unit. This knowledge can be utilized to optimize the efficiency of the process, resulting in the production of cleaner gasoline with improved quality and reduced environmental impact.