Process for converting naphtha to paraffins with hydrocracked charge streams

Abstract

A process for converting naphtha is disclosed. The process comprises contacting a naphtha stream with a catalyst and hydrogen to produce a light paraffinic stream. The light paraffinic stream is separated into an ethane stream and a propane stream. The ethane stream is thermally cracked to produce ethylene and a pyrolysis gasoline by-product stream. The pyrolysis gasoline stream is hydrocracked to provide a cracked naphtha stream. The cracked naphtha stream may be contacted with a catalyst and hydrogen with the naphtha stream.

1 . A process for converting naphtha comprising:
 contacting a naphtha stream with a catalyst and hydrogen to produce a light paraffinic stream;   separating the light paraffinic stream into an ethane stream and a propane stream;   thermally cracking said ethane stream to produce a pyrolysis gasoline stream; and   hydrocracking said pyrolysis gasoline stream to provide a cracked naphtha stream.   
     
     
         2 . The process of  claim 1  further comprising producing an ethylene stream from cracking said ethane stream. 
     
     
         3 . The process of  claim 1  further comprising separating said light paraffinic stream into an aromatics stream and hydrocracking said aromatics stream to provide said cracked naphtha stream. 
     
     
         4 . The process of  claim 3  wherein said pyrolysis gasoline stream and said aromatics stream are hydrocracked in a hydrocracking reactor to produce said cracked naphtha stream. 
     
     
         5 . The process of  claim 1  wherein said naphtha stream comprises light naphtha having C4 to C7 hydrocarbons. 
     
     
         6 . The process of  claim 1  wherein the step of thermally cracking said ethane stream comprises charging said ethane stream to a steam cracking unit and converting ethane in said ethane stream into ethylene. 
     
     
         7 . The process of  claim 1  wherein the hydrocracking step comprises contacting said pyrolysis gasoline stream with a hydrocracking catalyst comprising an amorphous silica-alumina or a crystalline zeolite and a metal hydrogenating component. 
     
     
         8 . The process of  claim 1  further comprising contacting said cracked naphtha stream and said naphtha stream with said catalyst and hydrogen to produce said light paraffinic stream. 
     
     
         9 . The process of  claim 8  further comprising converting propane in said propane stream into propylene and charging said propane stream to a dehydrogenation unit. 
     
     
         10 . The process of  claim 1  further comprising hydrocracking a feedstock comprising said pyrolysis gasoline stream in a hydrocracking reactor to provide said cracked naphtha stream. 
     
     
         11 . The process of  claim 1  further comprising separating said light paraffin stream into a hydrogen stream and recycling the hydrogen stream back to the contacting step. 
     
     
         12 . A process for converting naphtha comprising:
 contacting a naphtha stream with a catalyst and hydrogen to produce a light paraffinic stream;   separating the light paraffinic stream into an ethane stream and a propane stream;   converting ethane in said ethane stream into ethylene and a pyrolysis gasoline stream; and   hydrocracking a feedstock comprising said pyrolysis gasoline stream in a hydrocracking reactor to provide a cracked naphtha stream.   
     
     
         13 . The process of  claim 12  further comprising separating said light paraffinic stream into an aromatics stream and hydrocracking said aromatics stream in the hydrocracking reactor to provide said cracked naphtha stream. 
     
     
         14 . The process of  claim 12  wherein said pyrolysis gasoline stream and said aromatics stream are hydrocracked in a hydrocracking reactor to produce said cracked naphtha stream. 
     
     
         15 . The process of  claim 12  wherein the step of converting comprises charging said ethane stream to a steam cracking unit. 
     
     
         16 . The process of  claim 12  further comprising contacting said cracked naphtha stream and said naphtha stream with said catalyst and hydrogen to produce said light paraffinic stream. 
     
     
         17 . The process of  claim 12  wherein said naphtha stream comprises light naphtha having C4 to C8 hydrocarbons. 
     
     
         18 . A process for converting naphtha comprising:
 contacting a naphtha stream with a catalyst and hydrogen to produce a light paraffinic stream;   separating the light paraffinic stream into an ethane stream, a propane stream, and an aromatics stream;   converting ethane in said ethane stream into an ethylene stream; and   hydrocracking said aromatics stream to provide a cracked naphtha stream.   
     
     
         19 . The process of  claim 18  further comprising thermally cracking said ethane stream produce a pyrolysis gasoline stream and hydrocracking said pyrolysis gasoline stream to provide said cracked naphtha stream. 
     
     
         20 . The process of  claim 19  further comprising contacting said aromatics stream and said pyrolysis gasoline stream with a hydrocracking catalyst in a hydrocracking reactor to produce said cracked naphtha stream. 
     
     
         21 . The process of  claim 18  further comprising contacting said cracked naphtha stream and said naphtha stream with said catalyst and hydrogen to produce said light paraffinic stream.