COURSE OVERVIEW:

This course will provide deep technical knowledge and practical experience for hydrotreating units, including naphtha, kerosene, and diesel hydrotreaters. It covers process flow diagrams (PFD), key process variables, feed and product qualities, reactor systems, and catalyst behavior. Special focus is placed on catalyst poisons and their impact on performance, coke formation and catalyst deactivation, and the implications of process variable changes on unit yields and reliability. Participants will also gain a thorough understanding of unit startup and shutdown operations, catalyst loading, unloading and sulfiding, and the interpretation of control and protection logics. By the end of the course, participants will be able to monitor hydrotreating unit operations, conduct startups and shutdowns safely, and systematically troubleshoot operational problems.

COURSE OBJECTIVES:

After completion of this course, the participants will be able to:

1. Provide an overview of hydrotreating processes, yields, and typical configurations for naphtha, kerosene, and diesel units.
2. Explain hydrotreating reactions and process principles, and how they fit within overall refinery catalytic processes.
3. Describe the chemistry and kinetics of sulfur removal and the associated impact on product quality and emissions control.
4. Explain the chemistry of nitrogen and oxygen removal and their impact on downstream catalytic units.
5. Describe mechanisms of coke formation and catalyst deactivation in hydrotreating reactors.
6. Describe the implications of process variable changes on unit performance, yields, and catalyst deactivation rates.
7. Explain catalyst chemistry and its effect on activity, selectivity, and life.
8. Identify common catalyst poisons, their sources, and strategies to prevent or mitigate their impact.
9. Monitor hydrotreating process operations and interpret trends, alarms, and key performance indicators.
10. Troubleshoot typical operating problems in hydrotreating units using a structured approach.
11. Explain the main catalytic processes in a refinery, with particular emphasis on hydrotreaters and their interfaces with other units.
12. Describe and support startup and shutdown procedures, catalyst loading and unloading, and catalyst sulfiding activities.
13. Interpret the logic related to the hydrotreating unit operation, including trips, interlocks, and permissive.

TARGET AUDIENCE:

-Panel and field operators working on hydrotreating units (naphtha, kerosene, diesel)

-Operation engineers responsible for hydrotreating unit performance and reliability

-Process engineers and technologists supporting catalytic and hydrotreating operations

-Senior operators and shift supervisors coordinating hydrotreating startups, shutdowns, and turnarounds

-Maintenance and reliability personnel focusing on reactors, feed systems, and key rotating equipment in hydrotreaters

-Technical staff and new engineers seeking an advanced understanding of hydrotreating operation and troubleshooting

TRAINING COURSE METHODOLOGY:

A highly interactive combination of lectures and discussion sessions, as well as case studies, will be managed to maximize the amount and quality of information, knowledge, and experience transfer. The course will be intensive but practical and highly interactive. The sessions will start by raising the most relevant questions and motivating everybody to find the right answers. The attendants will also be encouraged to raise more of their questions and to share in developing the right answers using their analysis and experience. There will also be some indoor experiential activities to enhance learning. Course material will be provided in PowerPoint, with necessary animations, learning videos, and general discussions.

The course participants shall be evaluated before, during, and after the course.

COURSE CERTIFICATE:

National Consultant Centre for Training LLC (NCC) will issue an Attendance Certificate to all participants completing a minimum of 80% of the total attendance time requirement.