Uniform Solids Withdrawal Patents (Class 208/171)
  • Patent number: 7547387
    Abstract: A process for contacting a bed of particulate material, usually catalyst, with a transverse flow of fluid is disclosed. The particulate material moves or is prevented from not moving, while the fluid passes through the bed at a rate greater than the stagnant bed pinning flow rate. This invention is applicable to hydrocarbon conversion processes and allows for higher fluid throughput rates compared to prior art processes.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 6, 2007
    Date of Patent: June 16, 2009
    Assignee: UOP LLC
    Inventors: Weikai Gu, Paul A. Sechrist
  • Patent number: 7399450
    Abstract: A fluidized-bed reactor is disclosed. The fluidized-bed reactor steadies the gas flow through the fluidized bed chamber of the reactor. The swirl chamber of the reactor consists of a conical housing in which a conical insert is also situated. This creates an annular gap between the housing and the insert, which acts as the swirl chamber and which, according to the geometry of the two components, causes a velocity of the gas flow which remains the same along the height, which increases or which decreases. Such a reactor can also be called a constant annular-gap reactor.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 16, 2005
    Date of Patent: July 15, 2008
    Inventor: Sebastian Zimmer
  • Patent number: 7241376
    Abstract: A process for contacting a bed of particulate material, usually catalyst, with a transverse flow of fluid is disclosed. The particulate material moves or is prevented from not moving, while the fluid passes through the bed at a rate greater than the stagnant bed pinning flow rate. This invention is applicable to hydrocarbon conversion processes and allows for higher fluid throughput rates compared to prior art processes.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 8, 2004
    Date of Patent: July 10, 2007
    Assignee: UOP LLC
    Inventors: Weikai Gu, Paul A. Sechrist
  • Patent number: 6814857
    Abstract: A process for contacting a bed of particulate material, usually catalyst, with a transverse flow of fluid is disclosed. The particulate material moves or is prevented from not moving, while the fluid passes through the bed at a rate greater than the stagnant bed pinning flow rate. This invention is applicable to hydrocarbon conversion processes and allows for higher fluid throughput rates compared to prior art processes.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 31, 2002
    Date of Patent: November 9, 2004
    Assignee: UOP LLC
    Inventors: Weikai Gu, Paul A. Sechrist
  • Patent number: 6576120
    Abstract: The invention relates to a process for the catalytic dewaxing of a hydrocarbon feed containing waxy molecules by contacting the hydrocarbon feed under catalytic dewaxing conditions with a catalyst composition having metallosilicate crystallites, a binder and a hydrogenation component, wherein the weight ratio of the metallosilicate crystallites and the binder is between 5:95 and 35:65. The invention also relates to a catalyst composition having at least a low acidity refractory oxide binder, which binder is essentially free of aluminum, metallosilicate crystallites and a hydrogenation component, wherein the weight ratio of the metallosilicate crystallites and the binder is between 5:95 and 35:65.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 16, 2001
    Date of Patent: June 10, 2003
    Assignee: Shell Oil Company
    Inventors: Carolus Maria Van Ballegoy, Edward Julius Creyghton, Jean-Paul Darnanville, Eric Duprey, Laurent Georges Huve, Carolus Matthias Anna Maria Mesters, Thomas Joris Remans, Maria Barbara Hendrica Crijnen-Van Beers
  • Patent number: 5916529
    Abstract: A method, and a reactor, for hydroprocessing a hydrocarbon feed stream through multistage moving catalyst beds contained within a single onstream reactor vessel, with separate catalyst addition and withdrawal systems for each of the multistages of moving catalyst beds. The reactor contains two or more different and distinct moving catalyst beds for any hydroprocessing application. The method includes serially passing, without leaving the reactor vessel, at least a partially treated hydrocarbon stream from one hydroconversion reaction zone containing a moving catalyst bed with a first set of catalytic characteristics to another hydroconversion reaction zone containing a moving catalyst bed with a second set of catalytic characteristics that differ in catalytic abilities from the first set of catalytic characteristics.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 24, 1996
    Date of Patent: June 29, 1999
    Assignee: Chevron U.S.A. Inc
    Inventor: Georgieanna L. Scheuerman
  • Patent number: 5840176
    Abstract: A method for replacing particles in a process that transfers particles is disclosed. This invention employs a seal zone which is in communication with two zones of the process and in which particles that are being added to the process are purged. This invention allows particles to be replaced without reducing the normal rate of particle transfer through the process, which results in a savings in downtime costs. This invention is adaptable to a multitude of processes for the catalytic conversion of hydrocarbons in which deactivated catalyst particles are regenerated.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 12, 1996
    Date of Patent: November 24, 1998
    Assignee: UOP LLC
    Inventors: Roger R. Lawrence, Frank T. Micklich, Charles T. Ressl, Paul A. Sechrist
  • Patent number: 5804058
    Abstract: A process is disclosed for the catalytic dewaxing of a hydrocarbon oil feed comprising waxy molecules, which process comprises:contacting a feed under catalytic dewaxing conditions with a catalyst composition comprising a molecular sieve containing crystallites covalently bound alumina moieties in its framework and having pores with a diameter in the range of from 0.35 to 0.80 nm and recovering a product having a reduced pour point, wherein the molecular sieve has been modified to reduce the mole percentage of alumina by coating the surface of the crystallites with a refractory inorganic oxide which is essentially free of alumina.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 13, 1996
    Date of Patent: September 8, 1998
    Assignee: Shell Oil Company
    Inventors: Pierre Grandvallet, Laurent Georges Huve, Theodorus Ludovicus Michael Maesen
  • Patent number: 5545312
    Abstract: A method and apparatus for replacing particles in a process that transfers particles is disclosed. This invention employs a seal zone which is in communication with two zones of the process and in which particles that are being added to the process are purged. This invention allows particles to be replaced without reducing the normal rate of particle transfer through the process, which results in a savings in downtime costs. This invention is adaptable to a multitude of processes for the catalytic conversion of hydrocarbons in which deactivated catalyst particles are regenerated.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 6, 1994
    Date of Patent: August 13, 1996
    Assignee: UOP
    Inventors: Roger R. Lawrence, Frank T. Micklich, Charles T. Ressl, Paul A. Sechrist
  • Patent number: 5076908
    Abstract: This invention makes possible substantially continuous flow of uniformly distributed hydrogen and hydrocarbon liquid across a densely packed catalyst bed to fill substantially the entire volume of a reactor vessel by introducing the fluids as alternate annular rings of gas and liquid at a rate insufficient to levitate the bed and with catalyst selected by a density, shape and size at a design feed rate of liquids and gas to prevent ebulation of the packed bed at the design feed rates. Catalysts are selected by measuring bed expansion in a large pilot plant run with hydrocarbon, hydrogen, and catalyst at the design pressures and flow velocities. The liquid and gas components of the feed flow into the bed in alternate annular rings across the full area of the bed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 19, 1989
    Date of Patent: December 31, 1991
    Assignee: Chevron Research & Technology Company
    Inventors: Bruce E. Stangeland, David C. Kramer, David S. Smith, James T. McCall, Georgieanna L. Scheuerman, Robert W. Bachtel
  • Patent number: 4902407
    Abstract: An improved method of controlling catalyst inventory in the reactor of an ebullated bed process has been discovered. Pressure differentials are measured to calculate a catalyst inventory characterization factor. Aged catalyst is withdrawn and fresh catalyst added in an amount to reestablish the value of the factor.The catalyst to oil ratio is maintained despite changes in bed ebullation, gas and liquid holdups and oil residence time changes.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 9, 1988
    Date of Patent: February 20, 1990
    Assignee: Texaco Inc.
    Inventors: Ting Y. Chan, John C. Strickland
  • Patent number: 4664782
    Abstract: The particulate solid is maintained in a bed in contact with a liquid within a high pressure vessel. The particulate solid is supported in the vessel in a cone-like configuration. A discharge tube is provided communicating with the particulate solid running from the bottom of the cone externally of said vessel and pressure on the supported particulate is produced to discharge said particulate out of said vessel via the discharge tube.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 9, 1986
    Date of Patent: May 12, 1987
    Assignee: Intevep, S.A.
    Inventors: Roberto E. Galiasso, Jose I. Belandria, Pasquale L. Caprioli
  • Patent number: 4502946
    Abstract: Process for the complete replacement under operating conditions of particles in a vessel provided with a feed inlet and, if desired, a separate particle inlet, a particle outlet and an effluent outlet, wherein part of the feed passing through the vessel during withdrawal of particles is by-passing the vessel when the particles still present in the vessel do not occupy more than 20% v of the volume initially occupied by particles and the feed is passed through the vessel before or during the addition of fresh particles.The process is particularly suitable for the complete replacement under operating conditions of spent hydrodemetallization catalysts.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 28, 1984
    Date of Patent: March 5, 1985
    Assignee: Shell Oil Company
    Inventor: Gerrit J. Pronk
  • Patent number: 4478793
    Abstract: A radial flow reactor design which allows the maintenance of a temperature profile along the height of a catalyst bed which descends through the reactor by gravity flow. Two feed inlet conduits are provided on the inlet side of the annular catalyst bed, with the inlets being divided by a porous flow control and distribution means. The inlet streams have different temperatures and the distribution means produces a changing admixture rate between the two streams along the bed. A preferred form of the distribution means is an open-topped cone located within the centerpipe of the reactor.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 22, 1982
    Date of Patent: October 23, 1984
    Assignee: UOP Inc.
    Inventor: Anthony G. Vickers
  • Patent number: 4444653
    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.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 2, 1983
    Date of Patent: April 24, 1984
    Assignee: Institut Francais du Petrole
    Inventors: Jean-Paul Euzen, Yves Jacquin
  • Patent number: 4392943
    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.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 29, 1982
    Date of Patent: July 12, 1983
    Assignee: Institut Francais du Petrole
    Inventors: Jean-Paul Euzen, Yves Jacquin, Hugo Van Landeghem, deceased
  • Patent number: 4277444
    Abstract: An improved radial reactor for hydrocarbon conversion is provided, having a new catalyst collector whose center is located nearer to the internal wall than to the external wall of the annular enclosure for receiving the moving catalyst bed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 29, 1979
    Date of Patent: July 7, 1981
    Assignee: Institut Francais du Petrole
    Inventor: Hugo Van Landeghem
  • Patent number: 4110081
    Abstract: An improved radial flow moving bed reactor, or other type of fluid-solid contacting vessel, in which stagnant catalyst volumes are reduced. The improvement results from the placement of a plurality of catalyst collection scoops or a single discoid cover plate just above the catalyst withdrawal conduits in a manner which directs the removal of catalyst through an annular opening adjacent the inner catalyst retention screen.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 9, 1977
    Date of Patent: August 29, 1978
    Assignee: UOP Inc.
    Inventors: Robert F. Millar, Paul J. Persico, Robert H. Jensen
  • Patent number: 3978150
    Abstract: Continuous operation and a high rate of conversion are obtained in a normal paraffin dehydrogenation process through the use of a moving bed non-fluidized reaction zone operated at a subatmospheric pressure. Quantities of catalyst are periodically removed from the reaction zone, passed through regeneration and reducing zones operated at superatmospheric pressures and returned to the top of a reaction zone.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 3, 1975
    Date of Patent: August 31, 1976
    Assignee: Universal Oil Products Company
    Inventor: Frederick G. McWilliams, Jr.