US4896704A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Loading techniques for downflow reactors
Assignee: ExxonMobil Oil Corp
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Filing: 1988-01-27
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Granted: 1990-01-30
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Expires: 2008-01-27
Abstract
Abstract The present invention comprises a fixed bed reactor, a method of loading catalyst into the reactor to minimize plugging and to improve the uniformity of fluid flow across the reactor, and a hydrotreating process employing the novel reactor. The system utilizes removable partition forms and/or permanent interbed baskets to create gradual transition zones between catalyst layers and to significantly increase the open area available for flow at the interface of such zones.
Inventors
- 👤 Fouad A. Aly
- 👤 Paul W. Snyder
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-27 09:35
CPC Classifications
B; B01; B01J; B01J8/00; B01J8/02; B01J8/04; B01J8/0446; B01J8/0476; B01J8/048; B01J8/0015; B01J8/008; B01J8/0085; B01J2208/00; B01J2208/00743; B01J2208/00752; B01J2208/00796; B01J2208/00805; B01J2208/00814
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 10
Claim 1
Independent Claim
122 words
A method for loading catalyst in superimposed fixed beds in a reactor vessel comprising the steps of: a. loading a portion of a first catalyst into a reactor vessel thereby forming a bed of first catalyst; b. positioning a loading form comprising a plurality of open-ended compartments defined by vertically extensive walls onto the bed of said first catalyst; c. loading said first catalyst into some of said open-ended compartments; d. loading a second catalyst into the remaining open-ended compartments to form a vertically extensive transition zone comprising vertically extensive columnar sections of said first catalyst and vertically extensive columnar sections of said second catalyst; e. loading said second catalyst onto said transition zone to form a bed of said second catalyst.
Claim 2
Independent Claim
122 words
A method for loading catalyst in superimposed fixed beds in a reactor vessel comprising the steps of: a. loading a portion of a first catalyst into a reactor vessel thereby forming a bed of first catalyst; b. positioning a loading form comprising a plurality of open-ended compartments defined by vertically extensive walls onto the bed of said first catalyst; c. loading said first catalyst into some of said open-ended compartments; d. loading a second catalyst into the remaining open-ended compartments to form a vertically extensive transition zone comprising vertically extensive columnar sections of said first catalyst and vertically extensive columnar sections of said second catalyst; e. loading said second catalyst onto said transition zone to form a bed of said second catalyst.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
94 words
The process of claim 1 further comprising: a positioning a loading form comprising a plurality of open-ended compartments defined by vertially extensive walls on the bed of said second catalyst; b. loading said second catalyst into some of said open-ended compartments; c. loading a third catalyst into the remaining open-ended compartments to form a second vertically extensive transition zone comprising vertically extensive columnar sections of said second catalyst and vertically extensive columnar sections of said third catalyst; d. loading said third catalyst onto said transition zone to form a bed of said third catalyst.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
13 words
The process of claim 1 wherein said loading form comprises substantially imperforate walls.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
16 words
The process of claim 3 wherein said loading form is removed after creating said transition zone.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
11 words
The process of claim 1 wherein said form comprises perforate walls.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
12 words
The process of claim 5 wherein said perforate walls are mesh walls.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
16 words
The process of claim 1 wherein said loading form has three, four, five or six sides.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
22 words
The process of claim 1 wherein some of the compartments are covered while filling the remaining open-ended compartments with said first catalyst.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
16 words
The process of claim 8 wherein said covered compartments are uncovered to load said second catalyst.
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USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1993-01-29 | 1993-07-31 | 1994-01-30 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1997-01-29 | 1997-07-31 | 1998-01-30 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 2001-01-29 | 2001-07-31 | 2002-01-30 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |