Handling of a catalyst
OwnerAndre Peter Steynberg, Antonie Christoffel Vosloo +1inventors
InventorsAndre Peter Steynberg, Antonie Christoffel Vosloo, Peter Van Berge
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Abstract
This invention relates to methods of minimizing catalyst degradation during the handling of a catalyst used in a slurry phase reactor. The methods include catalyst handling steps such as catalyst loading into a slurry phase reactor, slurry phase reactor start-up, slurry phase reactor shut-down, and slurry phase reactor unloading when catalyst reloading is envisaged. In the method of loading the slurry phase reactor, a slurry of wax and catalyst is formed in a loading vessel. Clean molten wax is formed in the reactor, syngas is pumped through the clean molten wax in the reactor, and the slurry from the loading vessel is transferred to the reactor.
Claims7
A method of shutting down a slurry phase reactor, including the steps of:
- stopping synthesis gas flow, from an external source, to the reactor, while continuing to operate an internal recycle system comprising recycling gas from an outlet of the reactor to an inlet of the reactor;
- cooling the reactor to less than 200° C., but not less than 150° C., while the internal recycle system continues to operate;
- and
- transferring slurry from the reactor to an unloading vessel, while continuing to operate the internal recycle system.
A method of dealing with a failure of an external recycle system of a slurry phase reactor, the method including the steps of:
- stopping the supply of synthesis gas, from an external source, to the reactor;
- maintaining an internal recycle system comprising recycling gas from an outlet of the reactor to an inlet of the reactor;
- lowering the temperature of the reactor to below 200° C., but to not less than 150° C.;
- and
- unloading at least a portion of the catalyst from the reactor to an unloading vessel.
A method of dealing with failure of a slurry phase reactor internal recycle system comprising recycling gas from an outlet of the reactor to an inlet of the reactor, the method including the steps of:
- stopping gas flow to the reactor;
- adding a quenching agent to cool the reactor while optionally simultaneously decreasing the pressure in the reactor;
- and
- maintaining the temperature in the reactor at not less than 150° C., and not more than 200° C., by controlling the temperature of the water that is pumped through cooling pipes in the reactor.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.