Catalytic hydrogenation process and apparatus with improved vapor liquid separation

In a continuous process for treating fluent hydrocarbon feedstocks with a hydrogen-containing gas at elevated temperatures and pressures in the presence of a bed of particulate solid contacting agent, comprising introducing the hydrogen-containing gas and feedstock into the lower end of a generally vertical reaction vessel containing solid contacting agent at sufficient velocity whereby the contacting agent is placed in random motion within the fluent hydrocarbon and is expanded to a volume greater than its static volume, wherein the mixture of feedstock, gas, and contacting agent constitutes a turbulent zone, the upper portion of which is defined by a liquid-solids interface, above which consists essentially of a zone substantially free of solids, and wherein there exists a liquid-gaseous interface above the solids-free zone above which only a gaseous phase exists, and wherein liquid is recycled from above the liquid-solid interface to the lower end of the turbulent zone and treated hydrocarbon material is removed from the upper portion of the vessel, the improvement which comprises:

• (a) flowing the treated feedstock and gas upwardly through fluid conduit means and having fluid intake means operatively disposed above the liquid-solids interface to selectively receive treated liquid and gas in constricted flow, the fluid conduits having an outlet end below the liquid-gas interface;
• (b) recycling a gaseous gas-reduced liquid from the solids-free zone through a downwardly directed fluid conduit means having an enlarged upper end forming an inner gas-disengaging section.

A reactor comprising:

• (a) a generally vertical vessel;
• (b) means for introducing liquid and gasiform material into the lower portion of the vessel;
• (c) a generally vertical recycle conduit internally disposed within the vessel, having an enlarged upper end in fluid communication with the upper portion of the reactor and a lower end in fluid communication with the lower portion of the vessel through a means for recirculation;
• (d) a plurality of vertical conduit means adapted for receiving liquid and gas, comprising less than 50% of the vessel total cross-sectional area, in fluid communication above and below the enlarged upper portion of the recycle conduit, a portion of the conduit means having a lower inlet end and upper outlet end, respectively, operatively disposed above the inlet and outlet ends of the remaining conduit means.

A reactor comprising:

• (a) a generally vertical vessel;
• (b) means for introducing liquid and gasiform material into the lower portion of the vessel;
• (c) A generally vertical conduit internally disposed within the vessel, having an enlarged upper end in fluid communication with the upper portion of the reactor and a lower end in fluid communication with the lower portion of the vessel through a means for recirculation;
• and
• (d) a plurality of vertical conduit means adapted for receiving liquid and gas, comprising less than 50% of the vessel total cross-sectional area, in fluid communication above and below the enlarged upper portion of the recycle conduit.