Mathematical Modeling of a Simulated Fixed Bed for Desalting Operation

Abstract

Continue survival of the petrochemical industry in the face of advancement in processing technology must change for better performance. In doing so, the pre-treatment stage of crude, which include desalting will go a long way at improving the overall quality of the product obtained. It is in view of this that a mathematical modeling of adsorption of a fixed simulated bed for desalting operation was carried out to determine the variation of the concentration of adsorbate (mol/l) and the amount of adsorbate (mol) of the simulated fixed bed, using a prototype simulated fixed bed, and Silica – Alumina as the adsorbent. A model equation was developed from the prototype .both the model and simulated results showed that the concentration of the effluent stream decreases as the height increases down the column, giving effective absorbate absorption, until the concentration reaches 2.48 mol/l, while the amount of the absorbate increases down the depth of the column to an amount 28.29 mol, The optimum height for the adsorbent bed design obtained was approximately 5.67m, while the graphical analysis of the experimental and the simulated results showed that there is a close agreement between them. The results obtain is suitable for desalting operation and for research and development of the existing plants, and can be used in building of pilot scale to the plant stage.