In this study, genetic algorithm was used to predict the reaction kinetics of Iraqi heavy naphtha catalytic reforming process located in Al-Doura refinery in Baghdad. One-dimensional steady state model was derived to describe commercial catalytic reforming unit consisting of four catalytic reforming reactors in series process.
The experimental information (Reformate composition and output temperature) for each four reactors collected at different operating conditions was used to predict the parameters of the proposed kinetic model. The kinetic model involving 24 components, 1 to 11 carbon atoms for paraffins and 6 to 11 carbon atom for naphthenes and aromatics with 71 reactions. The pre-exponential Arrhenius constants and activation energies were determined after fine tuning of the model results with experimental data. The input to the optimization is the compositions for 21 components and the temperature for the effluent stream for each one of the four reactors within the reforming process while the output of optimization is 142 predicted kinetic parameters for 71 reactions within reforming process. The differential optimization technique using genetic algorithm to predict the parameters of the kinetic model.
To validate the kinetic model, the simulation results of the model based on proposed kinetic model was compared with the experimental results. The comparison between the predicted and commercially results shows a good agreement, while the percentage of absolute error for aromatics compositions are (7.5, 2, 8.3, and 6.1%) and the temperature absolute percentage error are (0.49, 0.5, 0.01, and 0.3%) for four reactors respectively.
