Distribution of liquid-vapor feeds in packed chambers

Claim 2

IN A PROCESS FOR THE CATALYTIC CONVERSATION OF A MIXED-PLASE HYDROCARBONACEOUS CHARGE STOCK, THE METHOD OF UNIFORMLY DISTRIBUTING SAID CHARGE STOCK OVER A FIXED BED OF CATALYST PARTICLES DISPOSED IN A REACTION ZONE WHICH COMPRISES THE STEP OF: A. PASSING SAID CHARGE STOCK TO INLET MEANS AT THE TOP OF SAID REACTION ZONE, B. PASSING SAID CHARGE STOCK THROUGH A PEROFARATED PLATE DISPOSED WITHIN SAID INLET MEANS, C. DISCHARGING SAID CHARGE STOCK FROM SAID PERFORATED PLATE UNIFORMILY INTO THE UPPER ENDS OF A PLURALITY OF CONDUITS, WHICH CONDUITS EXTEND RADICALLY AND DOWNWARDLY TOWARD SAID FIXED BED AND TERMINATE WITHIN SAID BED AT POINTS UNIFORMLY SPACED OVER THE CRSSS-SECTION OF THE BED, SAID CONDUITS HAVING INTERNALY PLACED FOLW-RESTRICTING MEANS FOR EQUALIZING FLOW IN THE VARIOUS CONDUSITS, D. PASSING THE CHARGE STOCK THROUGH SAID CONDUITS, AND DISCHARGING SAID STOCK FROM THE CONDUCITS INTO SAID BED, AND, E. FLOWING SAID CHARGE STOCK THENCE DOWNWARDLY THROUGH SAID BED OF CATALYST PARTICLES.

Claim 3

A distribution device for uniformly contacting a liquid-vapor feed with a packed bed of particulated solids disposed within a reaction zone, said solids bed having a substantially horizontal upper surface, which comprises in combination: i. inlet means disposed above said upper surface of said solids bed; ii. a substantially horizontal tube sheet mounted within said inlet means, said tube sheet having a plurality of openings uniformly disposed over the cross-section of said inlet means and having a first plurality of tubes and a second plurality of tubes, each of said tubes of said pluralities of tubes connecting to one of said openings in said tube sheet, said tubes extending downwardly and radially from said tube sheet and terminating at essentially the same depth within said solids bed, the lower ends of said tubes being disposed uniformly over the cross-section of the solids bed, said first plurality of tubes comprising tubes of shorter length and having internally placed flow-restricting means, said second plurality of tubes comprising tubes of greater length and being free from flow restricting means; and iii. a substantially horizontal perforated plate disposed within said inlet means above said tube sheet, said plate having a multiplicity of openings uniformly spaced over the cross-section of said inlet means.

Claim 4

A distribution device for uniformly contacting a liquid-vapor feed with a packed bed of particulated solids disposed within a reaction zone, said solids bed having a substantially horizontal upper surface, which comprises in combination: i. inlet means disposed above said upper surface of said solids bed; ii. a substantially horizontal tube sheet mounted within said inlet means, said tube sheet having a plurality of openings uniformly disposed over the cross-section of said inlet means and having a first plurality of tubes and a second plurality of tubes, each of said tubes of said pluralities of tubes connecting to one of said openings in said tube sheet, said tubes extending downwardly and radially from said tube sheet and terminating at essentially the same depth within said solids bed, the lower ends of said tubes being disposed uniformly over the cross-section of the solids bed, said first plurality of tubes comprising tubes of shorter length and having internally placed flow-restricting means, said second plurality of tubes comprising tubes of greater length and being free from flow restricting means; and iii. a substantially horizontal perforated plate disposed within said inlet means above said tube sheet, said plate having a multiplicity of openings uniformly spaced over the cross-section of said inlet means.

Claim 5

The distribution device of claim 2 further characterized in that the lower ends of said tubes are covered with wire mesh.

Claim 6

The distribution device of claim 2 further characterized in that said solids bed comprises a particulated solid catalyst and, in combination therewith, a layer of inert solid particulates extending from the upper catalyst level to a level above the lower ends of said conduits.

Claim 7

The distribution device of claim 4 further characterized in thaT said inert solid particulates have an average diameter at least as large as the average diameter of said solid catalyst particulates.

Claim 8

The distribution device of claim 3 further characterized in that openings defined by the wire in said wire mesh coverings are smaller than the particle size of said inert solid particulates.

Claim 9

The distribution device of claim 2 further characterized in that said internally placed flow-restricting means are restriction orifices.

Claim 10

The distribution device of claim 7 further characterized in that said restriction orifices have openings sized in direct proportion to the lengths of said tubes in said first plurality of tubes such that the restriction to flow presented by the combination of said first plurality of tubes and said restriction orifices is equal to the restriction to flow presented by said second plurality of tubes.