Uniform flow distributing means for a trickle bed flow reactor
AssigneeTexaco Inc.
InventorsClements A. Helbling, Jr., Robert M. Steinberg
Life of this patent
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Abstract
Uniform flow distributor for trickle bed flow through a bed of solid catalyst particles. The reactants include constituents of a liquid and vapor mixture. A corrugated distributor acts to form pools of the liquid at normal minimum rate of flow and the vapor flows past the liquid pools to form a uniform mixture in the bed of catalyst particles.
Claims11
In a catalytic reaction wherein a bed of solid catalyst particles has a liquid and gas mixture flow downward therethrough for said reaction,
- a procedure for spreading said mixture uniformly throughout said catalyst bed, wherein the improvement comprises:
- providing means for defining a plurality of pools of said liquid above said bed of catalyst under minimum rates of flow of said mixture, and
- permitting flow of said gas through said means at positions located between said pools of liquid whereby said liquid and gas mixture is spread uniformly over said catalyst bed.
In a trickle bed flow reactor having a bed of solid catalyst particles for use in lube oil processes or the like,
- wherein said flow includes both liquid and vapor flowing through said catalyst bed, the improvement comprising
- means for distributing said liquid uniformly through said catalyst bed,
- said distributing means comprising tray means having a plurality of depressions defined therein for holding a plurality of liquid pools above said catalyst bed when operated at a predetermined minimum rate of liquid flow, and
- means for permitting vapor flow directly through said tray means at a plurality of positions located between said liquid pools.
In a trickle bed flow reactor having a bed of solid catalyst particles for use in lube oil processes or the like,
- wherein said flow includes both liquid and vapor flowing downward through said catalyst bed, the improvement comprising means for distributing said liquid uniformly through said catalyst bed,
- said distributing means comprising
- a corrugated tray above said catalyst bed,
- means for defining a plurality of perforations in the valleys of said corrugated tray having a size for holding liquid pools in said valleys at a predetermined minimum rate of flow of said liquid, and
- means for defining a plurality of perforations in the peaks of said corrugated tray for permitting said vapor flow therethrough.
In a reactor having at least one bed of solid catalyst particles,
- an inlet at the top of said reactor for introducing a mixed stream of liquid and vapor for downward flow through said catalyst bed, and
- means for distributing said mixed stream uniformly across said catalyst bed,
- the improvement comprising:
- said distributing means including means for retaining a plurality of pools of said liquid component of said mixed stream when operated at a flow rate of said mixed stream which is greater than a predetermined minimum, and
- means for permitting flow of said vapor component past said plurality of pools whereby said mixed stream is distributed uniformly at varying flow rates of said liquid and vapor.
In a reactor having at least one bed of solid catalyst particles,
- an inlet at the top of said reactor for introducing mixed stream of liquid and vapor for downward flow through said catalyst bed, and
- means for distributing said mixed stream uniformly across said catalyst bed,
- the improvement comprising
- a corrugated tray extending across said reactor above said catalyst bed,
- first perforation means through the valleys of said tray corrugations,
- said first perforations having a predetermined size relative to the area of said valleys for retaining pools of said liquid at a flow rate of said mixed stream greater than a predetermined minimum, and
- second perforation means through the peaks of said tray corrugations for permitting said vapor to flow past said pools of liquid.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.