Abstract: Systems and methods are provided for performing the initial heating phase for a thick wall reactor, such as a hydroprocessing reactor, by using heat tracing to heat the exterior walls of the reactor. Instead of attempting to initially heat the reactor by passing a low pressure heat transfer gas through the interior of the reactor, external heater(s) placed under the reactor insulation can be used to heat the exterior of the reactor. An example of a suitable external heater is a heat tracing blanket, where heat is provided by passing steam through pipes in contact with the external surface or by electrical heaters in contact with the external surface. This can allow for more rapid heating of the reactor, so that a target temperature can be achieved in a time of 5.0 hours or less.

Abstract: Systems and methods are provided for performing the initial heating phase for a thick wall reactor, such as a hydroprocessing reactor, by using heat tracing to heat the exterior walls of the reactor. Instead of attempting to initially heat the reactor by passing a low pressure heat transfer gas through the interior of the reactor, external heater(s) placed under the reactor insulation can be used to heat the exterior of the reactor. An example of a suitable external heater is a heat tracing blanket, where heat is provided by passing steam through pipes in contact with the external surface or by electrical heaters in contact with the external surface. This can allow for more rapid heating of the reactor, so that a target temperature can be achieved in a time of 5.0 hours or less.

Abstract: Provided herein are methods for effectively loading reactor material into fixed bed reactors. The subject methods and systems for loading catalyst particles and inert particles onto a reactor bed utilize a novel sock having a helical-shape that can restrict reactor material traveling through the elevation of the fixed bed reactor to the reactor bed and avoid damaging the reactor material upon impact. The sock comprises a cylindrical tube having a plurality of helixes. Each helix of the cylindrical tube has a downward slope. The downward slope of each helix exceeds an angle of repose of the reactor material. The present methods and system are particularly effective for improving the performance of reactor bed configurations of vertically-oriented fixed bed reactors and flow distribution through the bed at designated operating conditions.

Abstract: Disclosed is an improved method and apparatus for creating a more uniform filter cake on a vacuum filter belt. A weir box for depositing a slurry on the filter belt has an outlet in the form of a plurality of slots spaced transversely of the filter belt with each slot being in the form of a truncated triangle with the base of the triangle being located closer to the filter belt than the truncated portion of the triangle.

Abstract: Abatement of nitrogen oxides in an industrial exhaust gas is effected by reduction of the nitrogen oxides with ammonia in the presence of a catalyst comprising a porous crystalline siliceous solid such as a ZSM-5 type zeolite. Fast responses to changes of NO.sub.x load is achieved with a zeolite of low to moderate acid activity. The catalyst may be virgin catalyst, aged catalyst previously used for the conversion of a hydrocarbon or an organic compound, or artifically aged catalyst.