Method of improving alkylate yield in an alkylation reaction
A method of operation for producing high yield of alkylate product using catalytic reactors. The catalytic reactors which cycle between reaction mode and catalyst regeneration mode have their contents exchanged with each other at the beginning of each cycle in order to increase the yield of the desired product. This exchange increases the yield by minimizing the contact of reactant in reaction mode with regenerant utilized in regeneration mode. Thus, reducing/preventing the undesirable alternate reaction between the two, which consumes the reactant making it unavailable for the production of the desired product.
1. A method of producing high yield of alkylate product from an alkylation process utilizing first and second reactors having a liquid content comprising the steps of:
reacting an alkylatable organic compound with an alkylation agent in the first reactor containing a first solid acid catalyst to produce an alkylate product;
feeding a portion of said alkylate product to a second reactor;
contacting a second solid acid catalyst simultaneously with hydrogen and the fed portion of the alkylate product in the second reactor to regenerate the second solid acid catalyst;
exchanging the liquid contents of the first reactor with the liquid contents of the second reactor;
reacting the alkylatable organic compound and the alkylation agent in the second reactor using the regenerated second solid acid catalyst to produce an alkylate product; and
contacting a saturated hydrocarbon and hydrogen in the first reactor to regenerate the first solid acid catalyst.
2. The method of claim 1 , further comprising the step of ceasing supply of alkylation agent to the first reactor and ceasing supply of hydrogen to the second reactor before or simultaneous with exchanging the liquid contents of the first reactor and the second reactor.
3. The method of claim 1 , wherein the alkylatable organic compound is selected from one or more of the group consisting of C4 isoparaffins and C5 isoparaffins.
4. The method of claim 1 , wherein the alkylation agent is selected from one or more of the group consisting of C3 olefins, C4 olefins, and C5 olefins.
5. The method of claim 1 , wherein the exchanging comprises simultaneously:
transferring the liquid contents of the first reactor to the second reactor; and
transferring the liquid contents of the second reactor to the first reactor.
6. The method of claim 1 , wherein the saturated hydrocarbon comprises alkylate product from the second reactor, the method further comprising feeding a portion of the alkylate product from the second reactor to the first reactor.