OPERATIONAL ASSESSMENTS TO IMPROVE THE MONITORING OF PETROLEUM CATALYTIC HYDRODESULFURIZATION PROCESSING

Abstract

The present research evaluates the operational status of hydrodesulphurization oil processing based on the monitoring of the feed oil filtration system. The system is identified as a prognostic module, designed to predict the remaining catalyst activity in the trickle bed reactor. The influence of the oil feeding flow rate of the process was evaluated with focus on the level of activity of the catalyst bed of the reactor affected by content of soluble and fine contaminants of fed oil. During an operation campaign (45 days) of the HDS unity (filter, reactor) variations of LHSV (0.5 – 1.5 h-1) and pressure differential in the filter (110 – 200 Mpa) reflected in the reactor, where the activity of the catalyst diminished from 60 % to 54.0 %. The predictions, extrapolated to 700 campaign days, indicated a catalyst deactivation of about 50%, allowing a conversion of sulfur compounds around 43% to be maintained.