Abstract: A chamber comprising a moving bed of solid particles, delimited by at least one screen with thickness e, circulating in a downward direction substantially parallel to the screen, the bed being traversed by at least one fluid flowing in the bed in a principal direction which is different to that of the ensemble of particles and leaving the bed by an outlet screen. In accordance with the invention, the chamber comprises at least one opening for introducing solid particles located above the bed and comprising at least one orifice for the flow of the particles, located at a distance of at least 0.6 e from the outlet screen. The chamber advantageously comprises at least two extraction openings, one extraction opening being located at a distance not more than 0.5 e from the outlet screen, and the other at a distance of at least 0.5 e from the outlet screen. The invention is applicable to catalytic reactors, in particular to catalytic reforming reactors.

Abstract: Intensive hydrofining of petroleum fractions wherein an at least partly together with hydrogen circulate in a given direction, in at least one reactor containing at least one fixed bed of a hydrofining catalyst in solid form, is characterized in that the reactor is equipped with at least one inlet pipe for the mixture of the petroleum fraction and hydrogen and at least one outlet pipe for the resultant hydrofined petroleum fraction, and that at least one static mixer is positioned upstream from said outlet of the hydrofined petroleum fraction.

Abstract: A process for the synthesis of essentially linear saturated C.sub.5.sup.+ hydrocarbons from a gas phase comprising synthesis gas is described. The process comprises circulation of an inert liquid phase and said gas phase in a reaction zone, in which the reaction zone is provided with at least one means for introducing gas and liquid phases, and at least one means for extracting the hydrocarbon phase formed by the Fischer-Tropsch reaction, and characterized in that the reaction zone comprises at least one mixing means. Preferably, at least one mixing means is a static mixer. An apparatus for carrying out the described process is also described.

Abstract: A vessel, in which a chemical reaction is carried out in the presence of a catalyst, comprises a bed (4) of solid catalytic particles, delimited by at least one wall (1, 10, 11) and a base (2). The base comprises at least one gravity extraction device (3) for the particles and a succession of ridges and hollows forming pleats. The ridges and hollows are oriented towards the extraction device. This succession is advantageously formed by an assembly of facets, which are preferably trapezoidal. The invention has particular application to mobile bed reactors, in particular those used for catalytic reforming of petroleum cuts.

Abstract: A process for the selective hydrogenation of a fraction of hydrocarbons containing 2 to 20 carbon atoms and comprising monounsaturated olefinic hydrocarbons and/or aromatic compounds and at least one polyunsaturated hydrocarbon from the group formed by acetylenic compounds and dienes, in which the hydrocarbon fraction, which is at least partially in the liquid phase, circulates with hydrogen in a given direction in a reactor containing at least one fixed bed of a hydrogenation catalyst in the form of a divided solid, characterized in that said reactor is provided with at least one inlet conduit for a fluid mixture comprising said hydrocarbon fraction and hydrogen and at least one outlet conduit for the hydrogenated hydrocarbon fraction, and in that it comprises at least one static mixer upstream of said outlet for the hydrogenated hydrocarbon fraction.

Abstract: An apparatus is provided for concentrating fine or broken particles to separate a particle stream into at least one stream which is concentrated in fine or broken particles and at least one stream with a reduced concentration of fine or broken particles. In addition to introduction and extraction structure, the apparatus includes at least two separator stages each comprising at least one funnel with an inclined or substantially vertical axis which opens upwardly, located beneath an inlet to collect the particles. The funnel is connected to at least one deflector which is directed downwardly to allow particles to flow under gravity and to form a bank of particles at the level of the funnel.

Abstract: The invention concerns a rejuvenation process for a solid catalyst for the alkylation of at least one isoparaffin by at least one olefin. The process is characterised in that the catalyst is rejuvenated in the reaction zone by circulating an isoparaffin-rich liquid fraction over the bed, said fraction originating from a zone for separating the reaction effluent extracted from the reaction zone.

Abstract: An enclosure in which there circulates a moving bed of solid particles (for example a moving-bed catalytic reactor such as a reforming reactor), is delimited in the enclosure by at least one grill. In the enclosure a fluid passes through the bed in a direction different from that of the flow of the assembly of the particles and issues from the bed by way of at least one grill. Disposed in the thickness of said bed in an intermediate wall (grill) such as to distribute the thrust forces produced by the fluid on the particles in the zones of the bed which are delimited in that way. Jamming of the particles against the grill or grills is greatly reduced and the admissible fluid flow rate is then decreased.

Abstract: Process for the treatment of a hydrocarbon fraction containing metals and comprising the following stages: (a) the said hydrocarbon fraction is treated in the presence of mean density particles (d.sub.o) under conditions for eliminating at least partly the metals contained therein and deposits of said metals on at least one fraction of said solid particles; (b) at least part of the solid particles from stage (a), whose mean density is (d.sub.i) is drawn off; (c) said solid particles from stage (b) are magnetohydrostatically separated by introducing said solid particles into a ferrofluid placed in a non-uniform magnetic field and creating a vertical magnetic field, whose intensity is adjusted in such a way that the apparent mean density (d.sub.af) of the ferrofluid permits the separation of said solid particles into at least one mean density fraction (d.sub.i) below said apparent mean density (d.sub.af) of the ferrofluid and into at least one mean density fraction (d.sub.s) above said mean apparent density (d.

Abstract: The invention provides an apparatus for carrying out chemical reactions, in the presence of at least one catalyst, in at least one reaction zone equipped with heat exchanger plates which make it possible to control the temperature of the zone. The apparatus mainly comprises a reactor, at least one central distributor manifold, a plurality of distributor manifolds, at least one central receiver manifold, a plurality of receiver manifolds and a plurality of continuous and elongate hollow plates, preferably substantially perpendicular. The hollow plates can contain adjacent channels having one of the following shapes: square, rectangular, triangular, sinusoidal.

Abstract: The invention relates to an apparatus for carrying out chemical reactions in the presence of at least one catalyst, in at least one reaction zone equipped with heat exchanger plates allowing the temperature of the zone to be controlled. The apparatus mainly comprises a reactor (1), at least one central distributing manifold (6.1a), a plurality of distributing manifolds (6.2a), at least one central receiving manifold (6.5a), a plurality of receiving manifolds (6.4a), a plurality of connecting manifolds (6.6a) and a plurality of hollow, continuous, elongate plates (6.3a), each divided into two hollow half panels (6.3, 1a and 6.3, 2a). The plates are preferably substantially parallelepipedic and may contain adjacent channels having one of the following forms: square, rectangular, triangular, or sinusoidal.

Abstract: The invention relates to a process and to an apparatus for effecting chemical syntheses in gaseous phase, under pressure, in the presence of a solid catalyst, for instance for ammonia synthesis from hydrogen and nitrogen or for the synthesis of methanol or higher homolog alcohols from hydrogen and at least one carbon oxide.The reactor of substantially cylindrical shape contains a plurality of elongate compartments of parallelipiped shape, adjacent to each other, the adjacent walls of the compartments or the common walls of the adjacent compartments being gas-tight walls, said tight walls forming hollow plates wherein are provided channels for the flow of a fluid heat carrier flowing through said walls under a pressure substantially equal to the pressure to which are subjected the reaction gases.

Abstract: For deasphalting an asphaltene-containing hydrocarbon oil, employed is a hydrocarbon solvent of 3-8 carbon atoms, resulting in an asphaltic phase and a solution of deasphalted oil in the solvent. The solvent is then separated from the deasphalted oil, by passing the solution tangentially across an inorganic membrane of pore radii from 2 to 15 nonometers: the obtained filtrate has an increased solvent content and may be recycled. The deasphalted oil is selectively retained on the upstream side of the membrane.

Abstract: A process for converting liquid or semi-liquid hydrocarbon charges to lighter fractions comprises a first step (a) heating droplets jets of the charge introduced into a pyrolysis chamber by surrounding them with parallel jets of hot solid particles, of relatively large size, of a heat carrier material, not substantially in contact with the droplet jets, so as to maintain a temperature of 700.degree.-1600.degree. C., and introducing a gas so as to obtain a pressure from 1 to 150 bars. A second step involves (b) separating the gaseous fraction from the solid particles. Thereafter (c) at least a portion of the solid particles are heated and fed back to step (a). The gaseous fraction is (d) cooled by means of a cold gas so as to recover light hydrocarbons therefrom.

Abstract: The invention concerns a process for withdrawing catalyst, particularly from a moving bed.The device is characterized in that fins (4) (see FIG. 1A), shaped as corner-plates, are arranged, on a plate (6) which supports the catalyst bed radially around each vertical duct for catalyst withdrawal, so that the flow of catalyst particles converges towards the withdrawing ducts.The apparatus is useful for example in hydroconversion reactions, particularly in hydrotreatments of heavy oil cuts.

Abstract: The invention relates to a process and to an apparatus for effecting chemical syntheses in gaseous phase, under pressure, in the presence of a solid catalyst, for instance, for ammonia synthesis from hydrogen and nitrogen or for the synthesis of methanol or higher homolog alcohols from hydrogen and at least one carbon oxide.The reactor (8) of substantially cylindrical shape, (see FIG. 4) contains a plurality of elongate compartments (9) of parallelipiped shape, adjacent to each other, the adjacent walls of the compartments or the common walls of the adjacent compartments being gas-tight walls (1), said tight walls forming hollow plates wherein are provided channels for the flow of a fluid heat carrier flowing through said walls under a pressure substantially equal to the pressure to which are subjected the reaction gases.

Abstract: Process for converting solid carbonaceous materials to methane, comprising (a) converting the carbonaceous material by means of a reducing gas at 300.degree.-500.degree. C. to a semi-oily phase adapted to be pumped and atomized, (b) heating falling droplets of said semi-oily phase to a temperature of 700.degree.-1600.degree. C. with hot solid particles in downward jets in the presence of reducing gas, under a presssure above 20 bars, (c) separating the solid particles of large size (d), heating them and feeding them back to step (b), (e) cooling the remaining fraction consisting of gas and solid particles of small size by means of a cold reducing gas and separating methane therefrom, and (f) treating the remaining solid phase of fine particles with oxygen and steam to produce a reducing gas fed back to steps (a) and (b).

Abstract: Catalysts solid particles are supplied to a vertical reactor for the catalytic treatment of fluid charges, at the upper part of said reactor and are progressively withdrawn from the lower part thereof either continuously or periodically through a funnel having the shape of an inverted cone or an inverted pyramid. At least a portion of the charge is introduced at the lower part of the reactor through orifices above the walls of the funnel at a distance thereof from 1 to 500 times the average size of a catalyst particle.

Abstract: In a process for the catalytic treatment of hydrocarbon charges in the presence of hydrogen in a vertical reactor where the catalyst is introduced at the top and withdrawn at the bottom, countercurrently with the charge which is introduced at the bottom and discharged from the top. There is provided a flared funnel for the catalyst discharge having small perforations for the upward flow of the charge with the perforations of a size sufficiently small to prevent passage of the catalyst therethrough. These perforations are in association with injection tubes having orifices opening in the vicinity of the funnel wall, wherethrough at least a portion of the fluid charge is injected.

Abstract: Process for producing ethers by reacting a catalytic cracking C.sub.4 olefinic cut which may contain such impurities as NaOH, an alkanolamine, an alkaline earth metal compound or an iron, copper or lead compound, with an alcohol, in the liquid phase, in the presence of an expanded bed of an etherification solid catalyst of the sulfonic resin type in acid form, in a circuit of two or more successive reaction zones wherethrough the order of passage of the reactants is periodically modified by disconnecting the first zone from the circuit, feeding the reactants to the second zone, replacing the catalyst of the first zone with fresh catalyst and thereafter connecting said first zone at the end of the circuit.