Method for reducing attrition of particulate matter in a chemical conversion process

A method for restoring the catalytic activity of solid particles previously used to promote hydrocarbon conversion, with deactivating carbonaceous deposit material thereon, the major portion by weight of said particles having diameters in the range from about 10 microns to about 500 microns, wherein in a regeneration zone said particles are contacted with oxygen-containing vapor at conditions to form a first fluid stream comprising a mixture of particles and vapor, said method including the steps of:

• providing an apparatus having a body which includes a chamber defined in part by a generally cylindrical wall, fluid stream inlet means opening into said chamber for introducing said first fluid stream into said chamber, fluid outlet means in communication with said chamber for withdrawing a second fluid stream substantially free of said particles, and particle outlet means for withdrawing particles separated from said first fluid stream;
• introducing said first fluid stream into said chamber in a plurality of separate fluid inlet streams along a plurality of separate paths substantially tangentially into said chamber and in such a way that the paths of said plurality of fluid inlet streams will impinge on a portion of the path of a fluid inlet stream downstream in the direction of flow of said fluid inlet streams to induce said particles in the impinging streams to be deflected away from said wall to reduce contact of said particles with said wall to maintain a high degree of separation efficiency while decreasing particle attrition;
• withdrawing said second fluid stream through said fluid outlet means;
• and
• withdrawing particles separated from said first fluid stream through said particle outlet means.