Abstract: An optical probe for sensing presence of small moving particles passing through a defined sensing region comprises:i) an emitter optic fiber for transmitting from its tip radiant energy outwardly of the probe;ii) a receptor optic fiber for receiving radiant energy reflected by such particles moving through said sensing region;iii) a lens for focusing radiant energy emitted from the emitter tip into a focal region, spaced outwardly of the probe and which diverges outwardly into a defined high density radiant energy region;iv) the receptor optic fiber defining a diverging viewing region projecting outwardly towards the high density radiant energy region, the receptor optic fiber being positioned relative to the lens to project the viewing region to overlap a useful portion of the high density radiant energy region to define thereby the sensing region. This sensor is particularly useful in monitoring the flow characteristics of catalytic particles in a catalytic reactor for cracking of gasoline constituents.

Abstract: The reactor has two tubes arranged concentrically, one having a larger diameter than the other, the tubes thus defining an inner channel and an outer channel. The inner channel contains an elongated light source, such as a bulb or a fiber optic bundle receiving sunlight from a solar collector, radiating light outwardly, the light including a substantial component of light having a wavelength of less than 390 nm. The outer channel has at least one and preferably a number of angled conical baskets arranged therein, each basket covering all of the channel and having a face supporting a fiber glass mesh thereon, exposed towards the light. An alternative embodiment reflects sunlight inwardly towards a single tube with baskets. Each basket has a plurality of small apertures therethrough to permit water to pass therethrough, and the mesh is impregnated with TiO.sub.2 particles. Preferably, the inner surface of the outer channel is reflective. The mesh is prepared by a process which includes treatment of the TiO.sub.

Abstract: A method is described for making a fluidized cracking catalyst having in situ highly dispersed metal traps which comprises (a) impregnating particles of a zeolite catalyst by the incipient wetness technique under sub-atmospheric conditions with a mixture of a tin compound and an antimony compound dissolved in an organic solvent, (b) stirring the impregnated catalyst in paste form while still under sub-atmospheric conditions, (c) heating the mixed catalyst in the presence of an oxygen-containing gas until dry, and repeating shops (a), (b) and (c) above until a desired level of said metals in the metal traps is achieved. In the incipient wetness technique, an appropriate amount of solvent is added to achieve proper transport of organometallic components, precursors of the metal traps, providing at the same time complete wetness of a given amount of catalyst without forming a layer of liquid on top of the catalyst.

Abstract: An apparatus for testing performance of a catalyst in a gaseous phase catalytic reaction for a given reactant comprises a reactor receiving a predetermined quantity of fluid reactant discharging the reaction mixture, including reaction products, from the reactor after a predetermined residence time. The reactor comprises a confined reactor volume with an upflow zone and a downflow zone. A device circulates fluids upwardly through the upflow zone and downwardly through the downflow zone where particulate catalysts in the upflow zone are fluidized by the upward flow of the fluid. The circulating device is adapted to circulate the fluid about the reactor volume at a rate which provides at any moment during the residence time for the reactants an essentially uniform concentration of reactants throughout the reactor volume to simulate conditions in a catalytic riser reactor.

Abstract: A multitubular catalytic reactor for exothermal catalytic reactions comprises a bundle of parallel tubes all of the same length and a catalyst within the tubes. The tube bundle has an inlet side and an outlet side. Devices are provided for introducing separately reactants to within the tubes of the reactor and coolant to the channels defined between adjacent tubes of the bundle. The coolant is introduced into the channels co-currently with the direction of flow of the reactants. The products are withdrawn from the tubes independently of the coolant. The reactor is particularly adapted to a single stage conversion of methanol into gasoline boiling point range constituents using crystalline aluminosilicate catalysts.

Abstract: Method and apparatus are disclosed for determining one or more physical characteristics of individual bubbles in a gas-liquid system and a gas-liquid-solid system at high temperatures and pressures. An in situ probe device is inserted into the system over which individual bubbles flow. The probe device has a plurality of independent probes. Each has a rounded fibre optic end portion projecting into the system. A source of incident light is directed onto each of the probes. The rounded end portion of each probe is formed with a radius of curvature sufficiently large whereby the angle of incidence of the source light at the rounded portion is greater than the angle of total reflection for the fibre optic when in contact with the gas. The angle of incidence is less than the angle of total reflection for the fibre optic when in contact with the liquid. The plurality of probes are spatially arranged to detect one or more of the bubble physical characteristics as a bubble flows over the probe device.