Device for loading pellets into reactor tubes

A portable pellet loading device for loading pellets into the tubes of a chemical reactor having a top tube sheet and a plurality of reactor tubes extending downwardly from the top tube sheet, the portable pellet loading device comprising:

• a plurality of feet defining bottom surfaces at a first elevation;
• a bottom plate supported on said plurality of feet at a second elevation above said first elevation, such that, when the bottom surfaces of said feet are resting on a tube sheet, said bottom plate is spaced above the tube sheet, said bottom plate defining a plurality of bottom plate openings arranged to lie above the reactor tubes;
• a plurality of spacers secured to and extending above said bottom plate;
• a top plate supported on said spacers at a third elevation, above said second elevation, such that said top plate is spaced above said bottom plate, wherein said top plate defines a plurality of top plate openings corresponding to said bottom plate openings;
• a plurality of tubes, each of said tubes extending from one of said top plate openings to a corresponding one of said bottom plate openings;
• and
• a plurality of extension tubes extending from said bottom plate openings to said first elevation, such that a pellet can pass through one of said top plate openings, through the respective tube extending from said one top plate opening to said respective bottom plate opening, through said respective bottom plate opening, and through a respective one of said extension tubes to said first elevation.