Mathematical modeling and simulation of an industrial adiabatic trickle-bed reactor for upgrading heavy crude oil by hydrotreatment process

The mathematical modeling of a trickle-bed reactor at particle and catalytic bed levels for the hydrodesulfurization and hydrodemetallization of heavy crude oil was carried out. The kinetic model parameters were estimated from experimental data. Thermodynamic and transport properties were calculated based on existing correlations and equations of state. Simulations of isothermal small scale and large scale adiabatic reactor were carried out and concentration and temperature profiles were obtained. It was demonstrated that temperature affects the catalyst utilization as the effectiveness factor is diminished at higher temperatures. Effectiveness factors undergo changes as reaction mixtures passes through catalytic bed describing different profiles for HDM and HDS.