REFS (GASOLINE REFORMER SEVERITY)

AN INFERENTIAL MODEL PACKAGE, PREDICTING BOTH THE FEED PNA (PARAFFINS, NAPHTHENES, OLEFINS), AND THE PRODUCT QUALITIES: REFORMATE OCTANE, % AROMATICS, RVP, ETC.

 

 

 

Reformer severity models are available in the industry. However, these models require feed PNA (paraffin, naphthenes, aromatics) characterization. That is a weakness since no refinery performs feed characterization in real time, or even daily, the models use outdated feed characteristics and their octane or aromatics prediction is off.

To avoid the problem of unavailable input data, Dr. Friedman has developed REFS, an inferential model that infers feed PNA from unit conditions. This feature renders REFS suitable for real time octane or aromatics control without the use of an analyzer. REFS has been implemented on many semi regenerative and continuous catalyst circulation units, for gasoline or aromatics manufacture.

 

 

 

 

The reformer inferential modeling technology has proven to be:

• Reliable enough to replace octane or aromatics analyzers; Inferential precision is for example 0.2 octane numbers.
• Can work with analyzers, in the way of resetting a bias in the calculation via a dead time compensator.
• Responsive to feed composition changes. The inference model quickly recognizes feed composition disturbances, and signals the controller to change the reactor inlet temperatures to keep product quality constant. There is no need to input any data whatsoever by the operator. Detection of feed changes is completely automatic.
• Integrates smoothly with multi variable control packages available on the market.
• Follows standard reactor calculation procedures, well understood by chemical engineers.
• Requires only a simple calibration procedure, which makes use of steady state data.