Reforming process with improved vertical heat exchangers

Patent · Tue Feb 25 04:00:00 EST 1992

OSTI ID:5421699

O'Neill, P S; Ragi, E G; Godry, T J

This patent describes in a process for reforming hydrocarbons. It comprises: contacting a reforming feedstream with a reforming catalyst in a reforming reaction zone to form a reforming effluent stream wherein heat from the reforming effluent stream is transferred to the reforming feedstream by indirect heat exchange in a vertical heat exchange zone, the reforming feedstream is passed to a lower end of the vertical heat exchange zone and at least partially vaporized in the heat exchange zone, the reforming effluent stream is passed to an upper end of the vertical heat exchange zone and at least partially condensed in the heat exchange zone and boiling of the feedstream and condensing of the effluent stream occurs in a lower portion of the heat exchange zone, the improvement comprising contacting the reforming feedstream with an enhanced nucleate boiling surface in a lower portion of the heat exchange zone and maintaining the contact of the feedstream with the nucleate boiling surface above the point in the vertical heat exchange zone where boiling of the feedstream occurs to increase the effectiveness of the condensing heat transfer in the heat exchanger.

• Assignee: UOP, Des Plaines, IL (United States)
• Patent Number(s): US 5091075; A
• Application Number: PPN: US 7-549324
• OSTI ID: 5421699
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

02 PETROLEUM
020400* -- Petroleum-- Processing
020500 -- Petroleum-- Products & By-Products
42 ENGINEERING
420400 -- Engineering-- Heat Transfer & Fluid Flow
CATALYSTS
CATALYTIC REFORMING
CHEMICAL REACTION KINETICS
CHEMICAL REACTIONS
HEAT EXCHANGERS
HYDROCARBONS
INDUSTRIAL PLANTS
KINETICS
OPTIMIZATION
ORGANIC COMPOUNDS
PETROLEUM PRODUCTS
PETROLEUM REFINERIES
REACTION KINETICS
REFORMER PROCESSES