US4579647A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Multiphase catalytic process with improved liquid distribution
Assignee: Mobil Oil AS
•
Filing: 1985-05-08
•
Granted: 1986-04-01
•
Expires: 2005-05-08
Abstract
Abstract A fixed bed catalytic reactor having a porous bed of catalyst particles contained in a closed reactor shell, comprising inlet means for introducing a downwardly flowing mixed stream of gas and liquid reactants; phase separator means for receiving said mixed stream and directing liquid onto the porous catalyst bed, said separator means being disposed within the reactor shell between said inlet means and said porous catalytic bed; said separator means comprising an upper foraminous wall having a series of gas outlets permitting a substantially-gaseous phase to escape outwardly from the separator means into an upper reactor portion, and lower liquid distribution means for receiving a stream of substantially liquid phase and dividing said liquid phase into a plurality of spaced-apart liquid streams directed toward the porous catalyst bed; and means for recovering gaseous and liquid reaction products from the reactor shell. The phase separator-distributor is particularly useful for retrofitting a reactor to accommodate mixed flow without requiring welding internal structures onto the reactor shell. In a petrochemical complex, such separation and distribution system is advantageous in converting a reactor system for hydrotreating of a hydrocarbon distillate, such as dewaxing.
Inventors
- 👤 Fritz A. Smith
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-08 19:41
CPC Classifications
C; C10; C10G; C10G49/00; C10G49/002; B; B01; B01J; B01J8/00; B01J8/02; B01J8/0278; B01J8/04; B01J8/0446; B01J8/0449; B01J8/0453
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 16
Claim 1
Independent Claim
184 words
A process for treating a hydrocarbon distillate stream under hydrodewaxing conditions in a fixed bed catalytic reactor having a porous bed of catalyst particles contained in a closed reactor shell, comprising the steps of (a) introducing a downwardly flowing mixed stream of vapor containing hydrogen gas and hydrocarbon liquid; (b) receiving said mixed stream in a phase separator and directing liquid uniformly onto the catalyst bed, said separator being disposed within the reactor shell between said inlet means and said porous catalytic bed; (c) removing a substantially gaseous phase outwardly from the separator through an upper foraminous wall having a series of gas outlets into an upper reactor portion wherein the gas outlets are sufficiently sized to provide pressure for effecting substantially uniform liquid distribution; (d) receiving a stream of substantially liquid phase in a lower portion of said phase separator; (e) dividing said liquid phase into a plurality of spaced-apart liquid streams directed toward the catalyst bed; (f) converting said hydrocarbon liquid by catalytic reaction with hydrogen in contact with the catalyst; and (g) recovering gaseous and liquid reaction products from the reactor.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
184 words
A process for treating a hydrocarbon distillate stream under hydrodewaxing conditions in a fixed bed catalytic reactor having a porous bed of catalyst particles contained in a closed reactor shell, comprising the steps of (a) introducing a downwardly flowing mixed stream of vapor containing hydrogen gas and hydrocarbon liquid; (b) receiving said mixed stream in a phase separator and directing liquid uniformly onto the catalyst bed, said separator being disposed within the reactor shell between said inlet means and said porous catalytic bed; (c) removing a substantially gaseous phase outwardly from the separator through an upper foraminous wall having a series of gas outlets into an upper reactor portion wherein the gas outlets are sufficiently sized to provide pressure for effecting substantially uniform liquid distribution; (d) receiving a stream of substantially liquid phase in a lower portion of said phase separator; (e) dividing said liquid phase into a plurality of spaced-apart liquid streams directed toward the catalyst bed; (f) converting said hydrocarbon liquid by catalytic reaction with hydrogen in contact with the catalyst; and (g) recovering gaseous and liquid reaction products from the reactor.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
24 words
The process of claim 1 wherein hydrocarbon distillate containing waxy component is selectively hydrocracked over a ZSM-5 catalyst to provide a dewaxed liquid product.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
19 words
The process of claim 1 wherein said separator is attached to a top inlet portion of the reactor shell.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
61 words
The process of claim 3 wherein said separator comprises an upper concentric gas escape separator portion having circumferential ports in spaced array and having a total open cross-sectional area adequate to permit gas escape at relatively low pressure drop; and a lower collector separator portion operatively connected below the gas escape portion for providing sufficient hydrostatic pressure to effect liquid flow.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
38 words
The process of claim 4 comprising directing mixed gas and liquid feed downwardly past said gas escape ports toward said liquid collector portion, thereby preventing excess entrainment of liquid by gas flowing outwardly through said gas escape ports.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
30 words
The process of claim 4 wherein the gas escape ports have a total open cross-sectional area equal to about 25 percent up to about 150 percent of the top inlet.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
15 words
In the process of claim 6, said total port area being less than the inlet.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
25 words
The process of claim 4 wherein the separator is installed by retrofit in a pre-existing vertical reactor shell having a top access and mounting ring.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
28 words
The process of claim 8 wherein said upper separator portion has a cylindrical shape and an upper mounting flange adapted for engaging the reactor shell top mounting ring.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
163 words
A process for hydrodewaxing a petroleum fraction in a fixed bed catalytic reactor having a porous bed of catalyst particles contained in a closed reactor shell, comprising the steps of: introducing a downwardly flowing mixed stream of gas and liquid reactants at a top reactor inlet; receiving said mixed stream in a phase separator and directing liquid onto the porous catalyst bed separator zone disposed within the reactor shell between the top inlet and the porous catalytic bed; said phase separator comprising an upper formaminous wall having a series of gas outlets, thereby removing a substantially-gaseous phase outwardly from the phase separator into an upper reactor portion, and a lower liquid distributor for receiving liquid and dividing the liquid into a plurality of spaced-apart liquid streams directed toward the porous catalyst bed; wherein the gas outlets are sufficiently sized to provide pressure on the liquid streams for effecting substantially uniform liquid distribution; and recovering gaseous and liquid reaction products from the reactor shell.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
163 words
A process for hydrodewaxing a petroleum fraction in a fixed bed catalytic reactor having a porous bed of catalyst particles contained in a closed reactor shell, comprising the steps of: introducing a downwardly flowing mixed stream of gas and liquid reactants at a top reactor inlet; receiving said mixed stream in a phase separator and directing liquid onto the porous catalyst bed separator zone disposed within the reactor shell between the top inlet and the porous catalytic bed; said phase separator comprising an upper formaminous wall having a series of gas outlets, thereby removing a substantially-gaseous phase outwardly from the phase separator into an upper reactor portion, and a lower liquid distributor for receiving liquid and dividing the liquid into a plurality of spaced-apart liquid streams directed toward the porous catalyst bed; wherein the gas outlets are sufficiently sized to provide pressure on the liquid streams for effecting substantially uniform liquid distribution; and recovering gaseous and liquid reaction products from the reactor shell.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
57 words
The process of claim 10 wherein the reactor shell is a vertical cylindrical pressure vessel having a center top mounting ring disposed in the upper reactor shell end, said top inlet comprising a vertical inlet pipe connected to said top mounting ring, and said phase separator being attached concentrically to the mounting ring below the inlet means.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
45 words
The process of claim 11 wherein said lower liquid distributor comprises a plurality of radial pipes extending outwardly from the phase separator means toward the cylindrical reactor shell and having spaced holes to provide a substantially uniform liquid flow distribution pattern above the catalyst bed.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
215 words
A process for treating a liquid petroleum fraction with a reactant gas in a fixed bed catalytic reactor having a porous bed of catalyst particles contained in a closed vertical reactor shell, comprising the steps of: introducing a downwardly flowing mixed stream of reactant gas and the liquid petroleum fraction at a top reactor inlet; receiving said mixed stream in a phase separator and directing liquid onto the porous catalyst bed separator zone disposed within the reactor shell between the top inlet and the porous catalytic bed; said phase separator comprising an upper foraminous wall having a series of gas outlets, said gas outlets having a total open cross-sectional area equal to about 25 to 150 percent of the top inlet area, thereby removing a substantially-gaseous phase outwardly from the phase separator into an upper reactor portion; and a lower liquid distributor for receiving liquid and dividing the liquid into a plurality of spaced-apart liquid stream directed toward the porous catalyst bed; having a center top mounting ring disposed in the upper reactor shell end, said top inlet comprising a vertical inlet pipe connected to said top mounting ring, and said phase separator being attached concentrically to the mounting ring below the inlet means; and recovering gaseous and liquid reaction products from the reactor shell.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
215 words
A process for treating a liquid petroleum fraction with a reactant gas in a fixed bed catalytic reactor having a porous bed of catalyst particles contained in a closed vertical reactor shell, comprising the steps of: introducing a downwardly flowing mixed stream of reactant gas and the liquid petroleum fraction at a top reactor inlet; receiving said mixed stream in a phase separator and directing liquid onto the porous catalyst bed separator zone disposed within the reactor shell between the top inlet and the porous catalytic bed; said phase separator comprising an upper foraminous wall having a series of gas outlets, said gas outlets having a total open cross-sectional area equal to about 25 to 150 percent of the top inlet area, thereby removing a substantially-gaseous phase outwardly from the phase separator into an upper reactor portion; and a lower liquid distributor for receiving liquid and dividing the liquid into a plurality of spaced-apart liquid stream directed toward the porous catalyst bed; having a center top mounting ring disposed in the upper reactor shell end, said top inlet comprising a vertical inlet pipe connected to said top mounting ring, and said phase separator being attached concentrically to the mounting ring below the inlet means; and recovering gaseous and liquid reaction products from the reactor shell.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
CA641379A
Cited
US1780101A
Cited
US2860955A
Cited
US3003580A
Cited
US3218249A
Cited
US3479146A
Cited
US3591345A
Cited
US3685971A
Cited
US3787188A
Cited
US3824081A
Cited
US4126539A
Cited
US4229282A
Cited
USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1989-03-31 | 1989-09-30 | 1990-04-01 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1993-03-31 | 1993-09-30 | 1994-04-01 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1997-03-31 | 1997-09-30 | 1998-04-01 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |