Pressure testing of catalyst loaded reactors
AssigneeUnion Oil Company of California
InventorDanford E. Clark
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Abstract
In the pressure testing of catalyst-loaded reactors with nitrogen gas at elevated temperatures, it is found that certain types of zeolite catalysts are substantially degraded in activity. The catalysts concerned comprises a Group VIII noble metal in an oxidized state, dispersed on a crystalline hydrogen zeolite, e.g., Y zeolite. It has now been discovered however that if such catalysts are first prereduced with a dilute, non-combustible mixture of nitrogen and hydrogen, damage on subsequent pressure testing with nitrogen is prevented or drastically reduced. Following pressure testing, the catalyst is activated by dehydration in a stream of hydrogen at elevated temperatures and pressures.
Claims9
In the startup of a hydrocarbon conversion process employing high-pressure hydrogen, wherein said process is carried out in a pressure-retaining system including a ferrous reactor initially charged with a catalyst comprising a Group VIII noble metal in an oxidized state supported on an at least partially hydrated crystalline aluminosilicate zeolite, the improved method for pressure-testing said system and activating said catalyst which comprises:
- 1. reducing said catalyst in said reactor by contacting the same with a sufficient amount of a non-combustible reducing gas comprising a mixture of nitrogen and hydrogen to provide at least one mole of hydrogen per mole of noble metal in said catalyst, at least the initial portion of said contacting being carried out at between about 50.degree. and 300.degree. F, said contacting being terminated prior to complete dehydration of said catalyst;
- 2.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.