Affiliations: Departamento de Ing. Química, Centro de Investigación de Procesos (CENIPRO), Universidad Nacional Experimental Politécnica Antonio José de Sucre, Barquisimeto, Venezuela
Correspondence:
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Corresponding author: M. Lucena, Departamento de Ing. Química. Av. Corpahuaico con Av. La Salle, Centro de Investigación de Procesos (CENIPRO), Universidad Nacional Experimental Politécnica Antonio José de Sucre, Barquisimeto, Venezuela. E-mail:mlucena@hotmail.com
Abstract: Light naphtha thermal cracking to produce ethylene and propylene in an
inverted cyclone reactor has been proposed not only as an alternative for
the cracked light naphtha recovery but also as a way to improve conventional
cracking. A mathematical model was developed in order to assess the
performance of this new process under changing operating conditions and
design reactor parameters. A kinetic scheme for the naphtha cracking based
on molecular reactions was selected and the mass and energy balances were
performed. Rosenbrock's numerical method was used to find the numerical
solutions to the model's equations. The simulation results allowed for a
clear description of the light naphtha cracking behavior in an inverted
cyclone reactor, showing that the heat exchange between solid and gas phases
determines the conversion and product yields. Also, solid initial
temperature and solid mass flow rate were found to be the operational
parameters with the greatest impact on products formation while the steam
temperature and steam/oil ratio are of lesser importance. In addition,
injection angle determines the residence time, hence significantly affecting
the overall performance.
Keywords: Inverted cyclone reactor, naphtha cracking, mathematical model
