Ultra low sulfur diesel simulation. Application to commercial units

► An ULSD simulation on pilot plant and industrial hydrodesulfurization process was applied. ► Experimental data from pilot plant using different gasoils and commercial catalysts was generated. ► Commercial catalysts with similar activity were tested at close operating conditions. A kinetic model for the hydrodesulfurization process to obtain ultra low sulfur diesel (ULSD) was applied to commercial units proving its capabilities. The model was developed from the experimental data that were generated in a pilot plant with three commercial catalysts (A, B and C), using straight run gasoil (SGO), light cycle oil (LCO), light cracked gasoil (LCGO) and their blends as feedstocks. The model was compared with operational data of one refinery of Latin America. Typical conditions have been covered by the simulation analysis (340–370°C, 0.7–1.5h−1, and 60–80kg/cm2, for temperature, space velocity and pressure, respectively) in order to obtain model predictions compared to those used in practical industrial applications.