Abstract: There is provided a method for loading solid particles into a multi-tube reactor having an upper tube-sheet holding together the upper ends of the multitude of reactor tubes, the method comprising positioning a loading device having a plurality of holes on top of the upper tube-sheet such that the loading device rests on and substantially covers the upper tube-sheet and the holes correspond to the reactor tubes, the loading device comprising a plurality of adjacent polygonal plates, each polygonal plate having from 1 to 30 holes, each hole corresponding to one reactor tube; pouring the particles over the combined polygonal plates covering the tube-sheet; sweeping the particles through the holes in the plates into the respective reactor tubes; removing residual particles and any dust remaining on and between the plates; and removing the loading device.

Abstract: There is provided a method for loading solid particles into a multi-tube reactor having an upper tube-sheet holding together the upper ends of the multitude of reactor tubes, the method comprising positioning a loading device having a plurality of holes on top of the upper tube-sheet such that the loading device rests on and substantially covers the upper tube-sheet and the holes correspond to the reactor tubes, the loading device comprising a plurality of adjacent polygonal plates, each polygonal plate having from 1 to 30 holes, each hole corresponding to one reactor tube; pouring the particles over the combined polygonal plates covering the tube-sheet; sweeping the particles through the holes in the plates into the respective reactor tubes; removing residual particles and any dust remaining on and between the plates; and removing the loading device.

Abstract: A loading device for distributing solid particles into a multi-tube reactor in which the reactor tubes are substantially vertical and held together by an upper and a lower tube sheet, the loading device comprising a plurality of discrete polygonal, i.e. triangular, quadrangular or hexagonal, plates, each polygonal plate having from 1 to 30 holes, each hole corresponding to one reactor tube, each hole having an diameter not greater than 95% of the inner diameter of the reactor tube and not smaller than 1.1 times the greatest dimension of a single particle to be loaded, the polygonal plates also comprising fixing means for holding the holes in correspondence with the respective reactor tubes.

Abstract: A loading device for distributing solid particles into a multi-tube reactor in which the reactor tubes are substantially vertical and held together by an upper and a lower tube sheet, the loading device comprising a plurality of discrete polygonal, i.e. triangular, quadrangular or hexagonal, plates, each polygonal plate having from 1 to 30 holes, each hole corresponding to one reactor tube, each hole having an diameter not greater than 95% of the inner diameter of the reactor tube and not smaller than 1.1 times the greatest dimension of a single particle to be loaded, the polygonal plates also comprising fixing means for holding the holes in correspondence with the respective reactor tubes.