Abstract: The present invention provides a method for emptying a reactor containing at least one bed of spent catalyst particles, wherein the reactor comprises at least one dump tube that opens into the reactor. The method comprises the steps of: (a) causing a portion of the bed of spent catalyst particles to flow out of the reactor via the dump tube; and (b) expelling the remainder of the spent catalyst particles from the reactor by driving the remainder of the spent catalyst particles toward the opening of the dump tube using a removable device comprising at least one rotary brush fixed to the end of an articulated arm introduced into the reactor via the dump tube.

Abstract: The present invention provides a method for emptying a reactor containing at least one bed of spent catalyst particles, wherein the reactor comprises at least one dump tube that opens into the reactor. The method comprising the steps of: (a) causing a portion of the bed of spent catalyst particles to flow out of the reactor via the dump tube; and (b) extracting the remainder of the spent catalyst particles from the reactor by driving the remainder of the spent catalyst particles toward the opening of the dump tube using a removable device comprising at least one flexible extraction sleeve introduced into the reactor via the said dump tube and connected to an extraction system situated outside the reactor, the sleeve being provided on its external surface with protuberances and being able to move, inside the reactor, translationally and rotationally with respect to the dump tube.

Abstract: The present invention provides a method for emptying a reactor containing at least one bed of spent catalyst particles, wherein the reactor comprises at least one dump tube that opens into the reactor. The method comprises the steps of: (a) causing a portion of the bed of spent catalyst particles to flow out of the reactor via the dump tube; and (b) expelling the remainder of the spent catalyst particles from the reactor by driving the remainder of the spent catalyst particles toward the opening of the dump tube using a removable device comprising at least one rotary brush fixed to the end of an articulated arm introduced into the reactor via the dump tube.

Abstract: The present invention provides a method for emptying a reactor containing at least one bed of spent catalyst particles, wherein the reactor comprises at least one dump tube that opens into the reactor. The method comprising the steps of: (a) causing a portion of the bed of spent catalyst particles to flow out of the reactor via the dump tube; and (b) extracting the remainder of the spent catalyst particles from the reactor by driving the remainder of the spent catalyst particles toward the opening of the dump tube using a removable device comprising at least one flexible extraction sleeve introduced into the reactor via the said dump tube and connected to an extraction system situated outside the reactor, the sleeve being provided on its external surface with protuberances and being able to move, inside the reactor, translationally and rotationally with respect to the dump tube.

Abstract: A device for densely loading a divided solid into a chamber, intended to interact with a divided-solid supply device arranged to release the divided solid above an access to the chamber. The loading device contains a shaft rotated about an axis X1 at an adjustable rotational speed, a plurality of deflecting elements rigidly connected in rotation with the shaft, the deflecting elements having an angle, relative to the shaft, which is separately adjustable from the rotational speed of the latter. According to a preferred embodiment, the shaft is hollow in order to define a passage for the divided solid, at least some of the deflecting element having an end arranged at a distance from the axis X1 that is smaller than the distance separating the axis X1 from the hollow shaft.