Treatment process for an isomerization unit

Abstract

One exemplary embodiment can be a process for treating an interior of equipment for an isomerization unit. Generally, the isomerization unit includes at least one of a drying zone, an isomerization reaction zone, and a stabilizer zone, for receiving a feed stream. Usually, the feed stream includes one or more C4-C8 hydrocarbons. The process can include combining an anhydrous hydrogen stream and anhydrous organic chloride stream to form a hydrogen chloride feedstock, and passing the hydrogen chloride feedstock to a reaction zone containing a catalyst including at least one of nickel, palladium, and platinum on an alumina support to form a hydrogen chloride stream, and passing the hydrogen chloride stream upstream of the isomerization reaction zone.

1 . A process for treating an interior of equipment for an isomerization unit, wherein the isomerization unit comprises at least one of a drying zone, an isomerization reaction zone, and a stabilizer zone, for receiving a feed stream comprising one or more C4-C8 hydrocarbons, comprising:
 A) combining an anhydrous hydrogen stream and anhydrous organic chloride stream to form a hydrogen chloride feedstock;   B) passing the hydrogen chloride feedstock to a reaction zone containing a catalyst comprising at least one of nickel, palladium, and platinum on an alumina support to form a hydrogen chloride stream; and   C) passing the hydrogen chloride stream upstream of the isomerization reaction zone.   
     
     
         2 . The process according to  claim 1 , wherein the anhydrous organic chloride stream comprises one or more perchloro C1-C4 hydrocarbons. 
     
     
         3 . The process according to  claim 2 , wherein the anhydrous organic chloride stream comprises at least about 99%, by weight, one or more perchloro C1-C4 hydrocarbons. 
     
     
         4 . The process according to  claim 1 , wherein the anhydrous organic chloride stream comprises one or more perchloro C2-C3 hydrocarbons. 
     
     
         5 . The process according to  claim 1 , wherein the anhydrous organic chloride stream comprises perchloroethane. 
     
     
         6 . The process according to  claim 1 , wherein the hydrogen chloride feedstock comprises about 3-about 5%, by mole, hydrogen based on the total moles of the hydrogen chloride feedstock. 
     
     
         7 . The process according to  claim 1 , wherein the hydrogen chloride stream passes through the isomerization reaction zone to convert iron oxide to iron chloride. 
     
     
         8 . The process according to  claim 1 , further comprising passing the hydrogen chloride stream to at least one stabilizer zone. 
     
     
         9 . The process according to  claim 8 , wherein the stabilizer zone comprises a stabilizer column and a receiver, wherein a gas stream from the receiver passes to a scrubber. 
     
     
         10 . The process according to  claim 9 , wherein at least a portion of the hydrogen chloride stream exits the scrubber with a waste water stream. 
     
     
         11 . The process according to  claim 1 , wherein the isomerization reaction zone comprises a chlorided platinum alumina catalyst or a sulfated zirconia catalyst. 
     
     
         12 . A process for performing maintenance for an isomerization unit, comprising:
 A) passing a feed stream comprising one or more C4-C8 hydrocarbons to the isomerization unit;   B) shutting the feed stream to the isomerization unit;   C) replacing catalyst in an isomerization reactor in an isomerization reaction zone wherein air is introduced into the isomerization reactor;   D) combining an anhydrous hydrogen stream and anhydrous organic chloride stream to form a hydrogen chloride feedstock;   E) passing the hydrogen chloride feedstock to a reaction zone to form a hydrogen chloride stream; and   F) passing the hydrogen chloride stream upstream of the isomerization reaction zone.   
     
     
         13 . The process according to  claim 12 , wherein the reaction zone comprises a pyrolysis reaction zone. 
     
     
         14 . The process according to  claim 12 , wherein the anhydrous organic chloride stream comprises one or more perchloro C1-C4 hydrocarbons. 
     
     
         15 . The process according to  claim 12 , wherein the anhydrous organic chloride stream comprises at least about 99%, by weight, one or more perchloro C1-C4 hydrocarbons. 
     
     
         16 . The process according to  claim 12 , wherein the anhydrous organic chloride stream comprises one or more perchloro C2-C3 hydrocarbons. 
     
     
         17 . The process according to  claim 12 , wherein the anhydrous organic chloride stream comprises perchloroethane. 
     
     
         18 . The process according to  claim 12 , wherein the hydrogen chloride feedstock comprises about 400-about 5,000%, by mole, hydrogen based on the total moles of the anhydrous organic chloride stream. 
     
     
         19 . A process for treating an interior of equipment for an isomerization unit, wherein the isomerization unit comprises at least one of a drying zone, an isomerization reaction zone, and a stabilizer zone, for receiving a feed stream comprising one or more C4-C8 hydrocarbons, comprising:
 A) passing an anhydrous organic chloride stream comprising perchloroethane to a pyrolysis reaction zone containing ceramic rings at a temperature of about 340-about 600° C. to form a hydrogen chloride stream; and   B) passing the hydrogen chloride stream upstream of the isomerization reaction zone.   
     
     
         20 . The process according to  claim 19 , further comprising passing the hydrogen chloride stream to at least one stabilizer zone.