Abstract: Moving catalyst bed reactor comprising a normally vertically extending cylindrical vessel having separate inlets for reactant and catalyst at the upper part of the vessel, an intermediate catalyst bed supporting means and a bottom catalyst bed supporting means inside the vessel and separate outlets for reactor effluent and catalyst. At least the intermediate catalyst bed supporting means consists of a plurality of interconnected downwardly converging frustoconical surfaces having their lower ends connected to spaced apart vertical outlet channels having circumferential walls provided with substantially circumferential screen sections for withdrawing reactor effluent from catalyst, the vertical outlet channels 12 having their axes arranged substantially uniformly distributed in a circular pattern.

Abstract: A hydroconversion process for heavy hydrocarbon oil and reactor system having a series of closed reactor vessels containing substantially fixed catalyst beds in flow communication with each of one catalyst-supply conduit system and one catalyst-removal conduit system, both of said conduit systems communicating with each reactor in said series of reactor vessels, via separate valve means, whereby each reactor can be separately connected or disconnected to flow communication with each of said conduit systems and whereby process-deactivated catalyst present in each reactor is continuously or periodically replaced by fresh catalyst as a slurry in oil via said conduit systems.

Abstract: Apparatus for catalytic processes such as desulphurization of hydrocarbons comprises an upright reactor vessel containing at least one tray, and catalytic support means for one or more catalyst beds said support means are attached to the inner wall of the reactor and having filter units attached to render them permeable to fluids and impermeable to catalyst particles; located beneath each supporting means is a fluid permeable tray which is impermeable to catalyst particles and located beneath each tray at least one filter unit of equal or coarser filtering effect than the filter units attached to said supporting means, to prevent access of the catalyst particles to the underside of said tray.

Abstract: Apparatus for catalytic processes such as desulfurization of hydrocarbons comprises an upright reactor vessel containing at least one tray and catalytic support means for one or more catalyst beds; said support means, being permeable to fluids and impermeable to catalyst particles, are attached to the inner wall of the reactor vessel and are at least partly in the shape of a conical surface of a truncated cone converging downwardly to an aperture permeable to catalyst particles; located beneath each supporting means is a fluid permeable tray which is impermeable to catalyst particles and having an aperture permeable to catalyst particles. A method for loading said apparatus with catalyst by means of a carrier oil is also disclosed.