Filling device for dense loading of a chemical reactor

A filling device for dense loading of a chemical reactor with particulate catalyst material, comprising:

• a feed hopper for particulate catalyst material, having an upper end provided with an upper inlet opening and a lower end provided with a lower outlet opening;
• a distribution device that is arranged (i) below the feed hopper for distributing the particulate catalyst material in the chemical reactor by centrifugal force, and (ii) rotatably around a vertical rotation axis, wherein the distribution device comprises at least a first annular distribution element that has an upper, annular, substantially horizontal inlet opening with a clear width, a substantially vertical outlet opening directed radially outwards with respect to the rotation axis with a clear height, and a deflection element arranged between the inlet opening and the outlet opening, wherein the deflection element deflects a substantially vertical particle flow coming from the feed hopper into a substantially horizontal particle flow;
• a drive bearing arranged radially symmetrically to the rotation axis, which has a fixed bearing ring directly or indirectly connected to the feed hopper and a rotating bearing ring connected to the distribution device;
• and
• a drive device that has a drive motor arranged laterally offset from the vertical rotation axis outside the feed hopper, and a belt drive, wherein the drive motor drives the rotating bearing ring of the drive bearing via the belt drive;
• wherein:
• the drive bearing is arranged inside a peripheral bearing housing;
• the peripheral bearing housing can be supplied with a purge gas flow;
• the drive motor and the drive bearing are fastened to a radial carrier plate arranged between the feed hopper and the distribution device;
• the radial carrier plate forms an upper side of the peripheral bearing housing;
• the fixed bearing ring of the drive bearing is connected to the radial carrier plate;
• and
• passage openings for the purge gas are provided between the radial carrier plate and the fixed bearing ring.

A filling device for dense loading of a chemical reactor with particulate catalyst material, comprising:

• a feed hopper for particulate catalyst material, having an upper end provided with an upper inlet opening and a lower end provided with a lower outlet opening;
• a distribution device that is arranged (i) below the feed hopper for distributing the particulate catalyst material in the chemical reactor by centrifugal force, and (ii) rotatably around a vertical rotation axis, wherein the distribution device comprises at least a first annular distribution element that has an upper, annular, substantially horizontal inlet opening with a clear width, a substantially vertical outlet opening directed radially outwards with respect to the rotation axis with a clear height, and a deflection element arranged between the inlet opening and the outlet opening, wherein the deflection element deflects a substantially vertical particle flow coming from the feed hopper into a substantially horizontal particle flow;
• a drive bearing arranged radially symmetrically to the rotation axis, which has a fixed bearing ring directly or indirectly connected to the feed hopper and a rotating bearing ring connected to the distribution device;
• and
• a drive device that has a drive motor arranged laterally offset from the vertical rotation axis outside the feed hopper, and a belt drive, wherein the drive motor drives the rotating bearing ring of the drive bearing via the belt drive;
• wherein:
• the lower end of the feed hopper has at least one annular insert, which feeds the particle flow at least to the first annular distribution element;
• and
• the at least one annular insert consists of at least one concentric, annular tube arranged radially symmetrically around the rotation axis, which in each case supplies a partial flow of the particle flow to an allocated distribution element.