Multiple-bed catalytic reactor comprising a distribution device

A method of distributing a process fluid comprising a gas phase and a liquid phase and possibly a vapor phase, and a feed fluid inside a multi-bed catalytic reactor with a cylindrical shape between an upper catalyst bed and a lower catalyst bed thereof, said method is performed in a distribution device comprising a collection tray comprising at least one recycle fluid inlet;

• a distribution tray adapted to distribute recycle fluid and located below said collection tray;
• a separate feed distributor comprising at least one feed inlet and a plurality of feed outlets, wherein said feed distributor is separated from fluid connection to said recycle fluid within the distribution device, the method comprising the steps of,
• constricting the cross-sectional area of the flow of recycle fluid from the upper catalyst bed to the at least one recycle fluid inlet by means of the collection tray
• flowing the recycle fluid within or partly by-passing the distribution device,
• distributing at least a part of the recycle fluid on to the distribution tray and evenly distributing at least a part of the recycle fluid from the distribution tray over the catalytic bed located below the distribution device,
• providing a feed fluid from a feed inlet to the feed distributor separated from fluid connection to the recycle fluid within the distribution device,
• distributing the feed fluid from the feed inlet to a plurality of feed outlets while keeping the feed fluid separated from fluid connection to the recycle fluid.