What is the purpose of a reformer in a refinery?

The primary function of a reformer in a refinery is to convert low-octane naphthas into high-octane components. This process is critical for producing high-quality gasoline and other valuable petrochemical products. The reforming process enhances the octane rating of the naphtha feedstock by rearranging the molecular structure through chemical reactions such as dehydrogenation, isomerization, and cyclization.

Increasing the octane rating is essential because higher-octane fuels help improve engine performance and efficiency while reducing knock in combustion engines. Therefore, the reforming process not only produces fuels that meet market specifications but also helps refineries optimize the economic value of their crude oil inputs by maximizing the yield of high-quality fuel components.

The other options pertain to different refinery operations but do not describe the specific action of a reformer. Blending pertained more to the mixing of different petroleum products, storage relates to ensuring safety for finished products, and removing heavy metals is typically a function of different processes like hydrotreating rather than reforming.