Treating · Refining
Hydrotreater
A reactor where a fuel stream is mixed with hydrogen over a catalyst to remove sulfur, nitrogen and other contaminants.
What it does
Makes low sulfur fuels and protects downstream catalysts. The sulfur leaves as hydrogen sulfide, which goes to amine treating and the sulfur recovery unit.
Basics
| Removes | About 90% of sulfur, nitrogen, oxygen and metals |
| Hydrodesulfurization | About 315 to 425 °C, up to about 1,000 psi |
| Byproduct | Hydrogen sulfide to the sulfur plant |
Common failures
- Catalyst deactivation that lets sulfur slip into the product
Troubleshooting
- Symptom
- Product sulfur rising
- Likely cause
- Catalyst activity dropping or low hydrogen
- What to check
- Raise reactor temperature within limits, check hydrogen purity, plan catalyst change