EKB 4303: PETROLEUM REFINERY ENGINEERING

EXHIBITION

CATALYTIC ISOMERIZATION UNIT

Catalytic isomerization in petroleum refinery industry is used to convert n-butane n-

pentane and n-hexane into their respective iso–paraffin (isomers). This process is used to
convert relatively low octane number paraffin’s to more desirable iso-paraffins’ which have
high octane number. Isomerization is a mildly exothermic reaction which produces a compound
with another atomic arrangement of straight chain to branched isomers but where the
composition and molecular weight do not change. The iso-paraffins do however have different
chemical and physical properties. There will be very little change in the boiling points as well.
It is usually situated after the catalytic reformer and is preceded by the alkylation unit.

PROCESS SUMMARY TABLE

Aim Converts n-Butane, n-Hexane and n-Pentane into their

respective Iso-paraffin (isomers) to increase the octane
number
Major Process Equipment Hydrogenation Reactor
Isomerization Reactor
HCL Stripper
Neutralizer
Flash Drum
Operating Conditions:

Temperature (°C) 230

Pressure (bar) 30
Catalyst Platinum & Zeolite
Streams:

Feedstock: Desulfurized n-Butane, n-Hexane, n-Pentane

Products: Iso-Butane, Iso-Hexane, Iso-Pentane (Isomerates)

By-Products: Liquefied petroleum gas (LPG)

PROCESS DESCRIPTION

Dried and desulfurized n-Butane, n-Hexane and n-Pentane (Feedstock) is mixed with a
small amount of organic chloride and recycled hydrogen gas to ensure high catalytic activity.
The mixture is then heated in a fired heater to 230°C which is the reaction temperature and
flows through the fixed bed of hydrogenation reaction.

The hydrogenation reactor is lined with platinum catalyst which saturates olefins to
paraffins and saturates benzenes at a pressure of 30 bar. The product mixture then flows through
a cooler for the mixture to cool down before passing through to the isomerization fixed bed
reactor where the paraffins are catalytically isomerized into iso-paraffins with the help of
zeolite catalyst. The isomerization reactor effluent is then cooled in a cooler and then separated
by a flash drum where; hydrogen and chloride gas is then recycled and the liquid product enters
a neutralizer to segregate liquefied petroleum gas (LPG) which is used for fuel gas and
isomerate (Iso-Butane, Iso-Hexane, Iso-Pentane) goes for gasoline blending.

Prepared by,

NAME ID
KUMUTHINI RAMANI 1103152005
MUNISAH KRISHANSAMY 1103152003
BHARATHI PRIA S.JAYA KUMAR 1103152002
LOCHANA SIVAKUMARAN 1103152021
PROCESS FLOW DIAGRAM OF CATALYTIC ISOMERIZATION UNIT

Figure 1: PFD of Catalytic Isomerization Unit