Energy & Fuels, Vol.26, No.2, 801-809, 2012
Development of a Comprehensive Naphtha Catalytic Cracking Kinetic Model
A comprehensive naphtha cracking kinetic model was developed and regressed to predict the cracking of FCC (olefinic) and saturated naphthas with blends of Y-based and ZSM-5 based catalysts. A comprehensive model was required because hydrogen transfer reactions occurring on the Y-zeolite portion of the catalyst affect the apparent activity for naphtha conversion and the selectivity of olefins even when the olefins are formed in the ZSM-5 portion of the catalyst blend. The model accounted for 13 reaction classes comprising 360 separate reactions applied to 37 lumps consisting of paraffins, olefins, naphthenes, and aromatics broken down based on carbon number. Because the regression was overdetermined, it was simplified by regressing compensation effects for individual reaction classes plotted on W - E-a variable space where W = In A(o). The model was validated by predicting the effect of changing temperature and catalyst composition on the conversion and product selectivity. Butene-to-butane and C-3-to-C-4 ratios for 50/50 blends of Y-based and ZSM-5 based catalysts were accurately predicted based on "training" the model with the end members, i.e., 100%.Y and 100% ZSM-5 catalysts.