Method and arrangement of apparatus for hydrogenating hydrocarbons

A method for catalytically converting under elevated temperatures and pressures a normally liquid hydrocarbon feed material in the presence of hydrogen which comprises,

• passing a preheated hydrocarbon feed material and hydrogen rich gas through a mixing zone comprising a sequence of high liquid surface area producing mixing zones to effect substantial saturation of the hydrocarbon feed with the hydrogen rich gas,
• discharging the hydrocarbon feed thus saturated with hydrogen rich gas from said mixing zone as a liquid spray over the cross-sectional area of a reaction zone housing a fixed bed of catalyst effective for hydrogenating said hydrocarbon feed at a temperature within the range of 450.degree. F. to 850.degree. F. and a pressure within the range of 400 to 2000 psig, said fixed bed of catalyst vertically separated from said liquid spray by a plurality of vertically spaced apart confined gas/liquid distributing downcomer zones in the cross-sectional area of said reaction zone, said downcomer zones distributed in a plane of said reaction zone cross-section and arranged to maintain a shallow level of liquid in said plane, said distributed liquid and hydrogen rich gas undergoing catalytic conversion reaction during downward traverse of said catalyst bed, and
• recovering products of said catalytic reaction through a plurality of low pressure drop zones in open communication with a product withdrawal zone at the bottom of said reaction zone.