Diesel Fuel Production. Catalytic deparaffinization is increasingly used in oil refining due to its efficiency and technical simplicity. Experience shows that catalytic deparaffinization can be successfully integrated with deep hydrodesulfurization.
Let us briefly look at systems used for such processes. In 2003, hydrodewaxing equipment was first used. The equipment included a sulfur production section. The raw material for the process is a high paraffin content straight run diesel. The reactor section includes three reactors. In summer, when the demand for winter fuel is low, the second reactor can be stopped, excluding the process of dewaxing. The system is then set for diesel fuel hydrofining.
In 2005, a system for deep hydrofining of diesel fuel was developed. The general objective was achieved by using a multistage reactor system. Each reactor was equipped with a separate catalyst. In the first reactor, sulfur and nitrogen compounds were removed and olefins were saturated with hydrogen. The second reactor was designed for hydrodearomatization of hydrocarbons, and the third one for reduction of fuel pour point. This last reactor is mostly used in the cold season.
The catalytic hydrofining and dewaxing system was also implemented. The equipment allows the production of stable components, which can be used in production of high performance winter and summer fuels. The raw material is a mix of crude and gas condensate. The technology implemented in this system can produce winter and arctic diesel fuel with sulfur content below 50 ppm.
However, research is ongoing into increasing the efficiency of hydrofining to produce diesel fuels with low cloud point. The focus of this research is now the development of new catalytic systems.