ABSTRACT

This chapter focuses on the use of continuous kinetic lumping to model the catalytic hydrocracking of heavy oils. The solution of the model is reviewed with detail; the main aspects of this approach are discussed, and some others have been addressed for future research. Model parameters are estimated from experimental data obtained in an isothermal fixed-bed reactor at different temperatures, space velocity, and pressure at constant hydrogen-to-oil ratio. Different functionalities are proposed to correlate the values of the parameters with pressure and temperature. In addition, removal of sulfur and hydrocracking reactions are simultaneously modeled by means of the continuous kinetic lumping approach. The optimized values of model parameters are employed to predict results obtained at different reaction conditions from which they were derived. Comparisons between experimental information and predictions using the continuous lumping kinetic model showed good agreement.