GBH Enterprises specializes in refinery process catalysts, including performance evaluation, analysis, and development of new technologies. The document provides procedures for air/steam regeneration of primary reforming catalysts either during shutdown or startup. During shutdown, steaming should continue for two hours before introducing a small amount of air to burn off carbon deposits, monitored by CO2 levels. During startup, normal heating with steam is followed by the same air regeneration process once temperatures reach 1300-1325°F, before removing air and resuming steam for two hours prior to introducing feed gas.

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GBH Enterprises, Ltd.
AIR/STEAM REGENERATION PROCEDURE
FOR
PRIMARY REFORMING CATALYSTS
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2. Refinery Process Stream Purification Refinery Process Catalysts Troubleshooting Refinery Process Catalyst Start-Up / Shutdown
Activation Reduction In-situ Ex-situ Sulfiding Specializing in Refinery Process Catalyst Performance Evaluation Heat & Mass
Balance Analysis Catalyst Remaining Life Determination Catalyst Deactivation Assessment Catalyst Performance
Characterization Refining & Gas Processing & Petrochemical Industries Catalysts / Process Technology - Hydrogen Catalysts /
Process Technology – Ammonia Catalyst Process Technology - Methanol Catalysts / process Technology – Petrochemicals
Specializing in the Development & Commercialization of New Technology in the Refining & Petrochemical Industries
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VULCAN Series VSG-Z101 Primary Reforming
Air steam regeneration procedures can be used either on start-up of a reformer
after it has cooled, or can be done in the shut down process.
AIR STEAM REGENERATION ON SHUT DOWN:
After feed gas is removed, steaming should continue for a period of two hours
during which rate of steam can be reduced to about 70% - 50% of design and
temperatures adjusted downward to between 1300o
F and 1325o
F. Feed gas line
should be blinded, and if air is to be introduced into the feed preheat section,
some steam should be used as purge and carrier for air.
When safety precautions are taken and steam is venting before the HT shift
vessel, air may be introduced at a rate not to exceed 0.5% of the total steam flow
at the specified temperature.
Outlet temperature should be observed for exotherm; usually an increase of 50o
F
can be observed after air is introduced. This temperature will stabilize, since
there will be combined carbon burn and oxidation of catalyst taking place at the
same time.
Exit gas should be analyzed for CO2 and H2S. CO2 initially will be approximately
19 - 21% at the peak of the carbon removal. Over a period of several hours,
depending on the amount of carbon on the catalyst, the CO2 will drop off rather
quickly to as little as 0.5 - 1%. When this occurs, air may be increased to 1%. If
no further increase in CO2 is found, the regeneration is essentially complete. Air
may then be removed and steaming procedure for normal cool down followed.
AIR STEAM REGENERATION ON START-UP:
Follow same safety precautions on feed gas line etc. and proceed with normal
heat up with steam. When steam rate is at 50 - 70% of design and the
temperature on the outlet is 1300o
F - 1325o
F, follow the same procedure outlined
in the preceding method. On completion of air regeneration, remove air and
steam for 2 hours before introducing feed gas to insure oxygen is removed from
the system being used to introduce air as well as the reformer system.

3. Refinery Process Stream Purification Refinery Process Catalysts Troubleshooting Refinery Process Catalyst Start-Up / Shutdown
Activation Reduction In-situ Ex-situ Sulfiding Specializing in Refinery Process Catalyst Performance Evaluation Heat & Mass
Balance Analysis Catalyst Remaining Life Determination Catalyst Deactivation Assessment Catalyst Performance
Characterization Refining & Gas Processing & Petrochemical Industries Catalysts / Process Technology - Hydrogen Catalysts /
Process Technology – Ammonia Catalyst Process Technology - Methanol Catalysts / process Technology – Petrochemicals
Specializing in the Development & Commercialization of New Technology in the Refining & Petrochemical Industries
Web Site: www.GBHEnterprises.com