Abstract: Apparatus and methods useful for introducing feedstock to a chemical reactor are disclosed. The methods and apparatus employ a novel baffle system to mitigate the effects of unwanted momentum components transferred to the reactor liquid mass from the introduced feedstock. Resid hydrotreating processes employing these methods also are disclosed.

Abstract: A reactor for refining resid includes an elongated vertical vessel containing a bed of catalyst which is expanded or ebullated by a liquid/gas mixture. The mixture rises in an updraft through the bed and then is recirculated with an increased velocity by an ebullating pump. To reduce gas holdup of the ebullated bed and to promote a more uniform flow, the gas is entrapped by two cascaded stages of baffles which have an internal conical shape to guide, direct, and entrap the gas. One of these two stages has a shape which creates a countercurrent in the flowing liquid to deflect any catalyst particles which might otherwise be elutriated by the increased velocity.

Abstract: A resid refining reactor has an ebullated catalyst bed. Hydrogen gas is released into the catalyst bed at a point which is far enough above a distributor plate at the bottom of the catalyst bed to form a gas updraft in a committed zone through the bed. This committed updraft causes a reduction in gas holdup which increases the residence time of a liquid phase in the catalyst bed.

Abstract: A process is provided for the hydrogenation of benzene and the isomerization of a light naphtha feedstock consisting essentially of a stream having a boiling range of from about 50.degree. F. to about 240.degree. F. comprising the steps of contacting the light naphtha feedstock at isomerization conditions in an isomerization reaction zone with an isomerization catalyst in the presence of hydrogen and producing an isomerization reaction zone effluent, combining the isomerization reaction zone effluent with a supplemental benzene-containing stream comprising at least 1 weight percent benzene and forming a hydrogenation zone feedstock, and hydrotreating the hydrogenation zone feedstock at hydrogenation conditions in a hydrogenation reaction zone with a hydrogenation catalyst in the presence of hydrogen for producing an isomerate product comprising less than 0.1 weight percent benzene.

Abstract: A reactor for refining resid includes an elongated vertical vessel containing a bed of catalyst which is expanded or ebullated by a liquid/gas mixture. The mixture rises in an updraft through the bed and then is recirculated with an increased velocity by an ebullating pump. To reduce gas holdup of the ebullated bed and to promote a more uniform flow, the gas is entrapped by two cascaded stages of baffles which have an internal conical shape to guide, direct, and entrap the gas. One of these two stages has a shape which creates a countercurrent in the flowing liquid to deflect any catalyst particles which might otherwise be elutriated by the increased velocity.

Abstract: A laboratory instrument provides a small model reactor which better simulates a back mixed reactor containing a catalyst. The reactor is especially valuable for simulating commercial scale hydrotreating of petroleum resid, coal, and other non-distillable hydrocarbons to obtain some distillable products. An important feature is a magnetically driven pump completely enclosed within the reactor shell of the simulator. All embodiments provide a high temperature and pressure, low liquid to catalyst volume, model reactor where an entire process is carried out within the simulator shell under substantially the conditions prevailing in the full scale reactor.

Abstract: The inventive procedure more accurately maintains an inventory of a catalyst in an ebullated bed of a reactor in an oil refinery, especially a resid hydrotreating unit. The ebullated catalyst bed has therein three phases (catalyst, oil, gas). A first density measurement is made of the two-phase mixture in a freeboard zone i.e. in a catalyst free area above the ebullated catalyst. A second density measurement is made in the catalyst bed where all three phases are present. Density measurements are used, along with values for vapor, liquid, and soaked particle densities and corrections for gamma-ray absorption coefficients, to calculate the catalyst particle holdup in the vessel. From this, the amount of catalyst actually in the reactor can be calculated. Once this amount is known, fresh catalyst may be added to or spent catalyst may be removed from the reactor in order to maintain a fixed catalyst inventory within the catalyst bed.

Abstract: A hydrotreating process is provided with at least one deflector to minimize catalyst agglomeration and buildup. Preferably, the deflectors comprise an inner annular baffle and an outer annular baffle.

Abstract: A vapor collector and process utilizes a skirted pan to collect vapor in an ebullated bed reactor and substantially minimize gas entrainment so as to enhance the efficiency and yield of resid hydrotreating.

Abstract: An effective hydrotreating process is provided to minimize precipitation of asphaltenic solids in the product oil. In the preferred process, an aromatic diluent, preferably comprising decanted oil, is injected into one or more of the fractionators downstream of the reactor.

Abstract: A vapor collector and process utilizes a skirted pan to collect vapor in an ebullated bed reactor and substantially minimize gas entrainment so as to enhance the efficiency and yield of resid hydrotreating.