Selective Hydrogenation Process

Refining

Refining
Background Figure 1 Selective Hydrogenation Process
The Selective Hydrogenation Process (SHP) is a low cost,
highly selective process developed for hydrogenation of Stripper Light Ends
(if required) Recovery
dienes and acetylenes in C3-C5 olefin fractions to their
respective mono-olefins. The conversion of dienes and
acetylenes is nearly 100%. There is minimal loss of olefins
via nonselective saturation reactions.

Benefits
Diene saturation is critical in pretreating feedstocks for both Steam Alkylation
HF and H2SO4 alkylation process units. Reducing the diene Unit
content results in lower acid consumption and increased Hydrogen
alkylate yield. This is especially important for H2SO4
alkylation process units. Reduced acid consumption results Olefin Feed
in lower operating cost and fewer operational problems
associated with running the acid regenerator and the Catalyst
neutralization equipment.
UOP offers both noble metal and non-noble metal catalysts
The SHP unit can also be designed to isomerize 1-butene for SHP units. Both types of catalyst have been used in
to 2-butene. The increased 2-butene content will increase commercial units, and the catalyst selection depends on
alkylate octane in HF alkylation units. There is no significant the feed type and source and process or equipment con-
octane benefit for H2SO4 alkylation process units. straints.

Process description Material balance

A flow diagram for the SHP unit is shown in Figure 1. The A material balance for an SHP unit processing a
feed does not need to be dry, but should not contain free feedstock containing 1% dienes is as follows:
water. The feed is combined with a near stoichiometric Feeds 200.0 KMTA FCC C4 olefins
amount of hydrogen based on the concentration of dienes
0.1 KMTA Hydrogen
and acetylenes contained in the feed. The combined feed is
then sent to the reactor where the selective hydrogenation Products 200.1 KMTA SHP Product
reaction takes place. The hydrogen concentration leaving
UOP experience
the reactor is at a very low concentration. A stripper column
may be required, depending on the hydrogen purity and UOP has substantial commercial experience with more
the noncondensable requirement of the downstream unit. than 50 licensed SHP units over a wide range of feedstock
compositions and process applications.
An SHP unit is extremely easy to operate and minimum
utilities are required, especially if the feed and hydrogen For more information
are both available at a suitable pressure. The presence of For more information, contact your local UOP
sulfur in the feed determines certain operating conditions. representative or our Des Plaines sales office:
e-mail: info@uop.com
fax: +1-847-391-2253
phone: +1-847-391-2000

UOP LLC
25 East Algonquin Road
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Des Plaines, IL 60017-5017 The information in this document should not be construed as a representation for
which UOP assumes legal responsibility, or an authorization or recommendation
U.S.A. to practice a patented invention without a license.
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