Abstract: An equal flow scale catcher device, or EFSC, is designed based on a unique scale catching technology for a reactor. With multiple scale catching modules, the EFSC offers equal flows to a catalyst bed or distribution tray of the reactor, independent of each module's degree of saturation with particles of an incoming fluid during operation. Thus, the innovative EFSC system achieves substantial uniformity of fluid delivery across the distribution tray of the reactor and the static pressure field above the liquid level on the distribution tray. Further, the EFSC effectively captures solid particles in the incoming fluid to the reactor and solid particles that form at the top head of the reactor. The EFSC employs a modular structure that allows optimal configuration of the scale catching modules and scale catching units inside each scale catching module, thus efficiently facilitating simple and efficient installation, maintenance, and/or replacement of the EFSC.

Abstract: A catalyst loading and unloading system for chemical reactors has an extendable catalyst transfer tube that is fed by a catalyst hopper and controlled by a tube displacement mechanism; more particularly, by a winch mechanism. As the reactor chamber fills with catalyst, a lower end of the extendable catalyst transfer tube is displaced upward by the tube displacement mechanism to correspond with the rising height of the catalyst bed within the chamber. The extendable catalyst transfer tube may further be used to vacuum old catalyst out of the reactor chamber.