Process and apparatus for introducing catalyst precursor into slurry hydrocracking reactor

A slurry hydrocracking apparatus comprising:

• a catalyst reactor in downstream communication with a source of molybdenum for producing a catalyst precursor stream;
• a mixing vessel in downstream communication with said catalyst reactor and a source of heavy hydrocarbon for mixing said catalyst precursor stream with a heavy hydrocarbon stream to provide a catalyst precursor concentrate stream;
• and
• a drying section in downstream communication with the mixing vessel for drying the catalyst precursor concentrate stream to provide a dried precursor concentrate stream;
• a slurry hydrocracking section comprising a heater and a slurry hydrocracking reactor;
• and
• a dried precursor line in downstream communication with the drying section adjoining the slurry hydrocracking section at a slurry hydrocracking feed line downstream of said heater and upstream of said slurry hydrocracking reactor.

A process for slurry hydrocracking, the process comprising:

• preparing a catalyst precursor stream comprising molybdenum in a catalyst precursor reactor;
• mixing the catalyst precursor stream with a heavy hydrocarbon stream to provide a catalyst precursor concentrate stream;
• heating a heavy hydrocarbon feed stream in a heater to provide a heated hydrocarbon feed stream;
• mixing the catalyst precursor concentrate stream with the heated hydrocarbon feed stream to provide a slurry hydrocracking feed stream;
• and
• reacting the slurry hydrocracking feed stream in a slurry hydrocracking reactor.