Kinetic studies and operating strategies for an industrial selective hydrogenation process

An industrial selective hydrogenation process for methylacetylene (MA) and propadiene (PD), consisting of two hydrogenation reactors, a separator drum, and a recycle design, is investigated. Based on the Langmuir-Hinshelwood/Hougen- Watson kinetic model and the on-site plant data, the system identification is accomplished by using nonlinear regression technique. Through dynamic simulation of each reactor, the effect of catalyst deactivation by green oil and the degree of vaporization are verified. To reduce the impurity of C₃-cut stream and improve the catalyst deactivation, the feasible operating manner depends on the determination of H₂/MAPD molar ratios at each reactor and recycle ratio.