Abstract: Embodiments of the invention are directed to a device and a method for unloading particulate material from a reactor tube of a catalytic reactor comprising an array of substantially vertically aligned reactor tubes. The device comprises an air lance (11, 111-113) for loosening the particulate material inside the reactor tube using pressurized air, an air lance unit (10) for feeding the air lance in and out of the reactor tube, and a flexible guide tube (12, 121-123) on one end connectable to the air lance unit and on the other end connectable to a cleaned reactor tube (7, 71-73) for guiding the air lance from the reactor tube to the cleaned reactor tube for storing a part of the air lance that has not been fed into the reactor tube within the first cleaned reactor tube.

Abstract: There is provided a loading tray for loading particulate material into a catalytic reactor comprising an upper tubesheet and an array of reaction tubes extending downward from the tubesheet; wherein the loading tray comprises: a loading template comprising one or more loading openings; one or more supports for spacing the loading template above the tube-sheet to form a volume between the loading template and the upper tube-sheet; and a vacuum outlet for application of suction to the volume between the loading template and the upper tubesheet.

Abstract: There is provided a loading tray for loading particulate material into an array of substantially vertical tubes; wherein the loading tray comprises a plurality of loading tray elements, each loading tray element comprising at least one loading opening and at least some of the loading tray elements comprising at least two loading openings, the loading tray elements being fitted together to form an array of the loading openings.

Abstract: There is provided a loading tray for loading particulate material into an array of substantially vertical tubes; wherein the loading tray comprises a plurality of loading tray elements, each loading tray element comprising at least one loading opening and at least some of the loading tray elements comprising at least two loading openings, the loading tray elements being fitted together to form an array of the loading openings.

Abstract: There is provided a loading tray for loading particulate material into a catalytic reactor comprising an upper tubesheet and an array of reaction tubes extending downward from the tubesheet; wherein the loading tray comprises: a loading template comprising one or more loading openings; one or more supports for spacing the loading template above the tube-sheet to form a volume between the loading template and the upper tube-sheet; and a vacuum outlet for application of suction to the volume between the loading template and the upper tubesheet.