JP2012101189A - Catalyst filling machine and method of filling catalyst using the same - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a catalyst filling machine for filling a catalyst into each reaction tube of a fixed bed type multitubular reactor, which shortens the time required for the supply work of the catalyst to the reaction tube, and which reduces the load on workers and suppresses dispersion in the catalyst layer pressure lose, and to provide a method of filling the catalyst using the catalyst filling machine.SOLUTION: The catalyst filling machine 100 has: a hopper 1 storing the solid catalyst; a catalyst conveying passage (A) for loading and conveying the catalyst flowing down from the hopper 1; a belt conveyer 3 for loading and conveying the catalyst conveyed from the catalyst conveying passage (A); and a catalyst conveying passage (B) for mounting the catalyst conveyed from the belt conveyer and conveying and supplying the catalyst to the upper side of the reaction tube 20. The catalyst conveying passage (B) is a slope chute 10 provided with an openable/closable catalyst discharge port in the slope surface.

Description

  The present invention relates to a catalyst filling machine for filling a catalyst in each reaction tube of a fixed-bed multitubular reactor used on an industrial scale, and a catalyst filling method using the same.

A fixed-bed multitubular reactor used on an industrial scale has hundreds to tens of thousands of reaction tubes, and each cylindrical reaction tube is filled with a solid packing such as a catalyst, This is a system in which the reaction fluid flows through the voids of the filled solid packing, and is widely used in petrochemical processes and the like.
Conventionally, a catalyst filling machine has been used to fill each reaction tube with a solid catalyst.

  In Patent Document 1, when a catalyst flowing down from a hopper is placed on a conveyor and conveyed to a plurality of reaction tubes, the conveyor conveyance surface is divided by a partition wall for each reaction tube, and a layer for setting the layer thickness of the conveyed catalyst is set. It describes a catalyst filling machine that can supply a catalyst to each reaction tube at a constant supply speed by providing a thickness adjusting plate fixing portion.

  In Patent Document 2, a plurality of hoppers into which a catalyst is charged are provided corresponding to a plurality of reaction tubes, and a carrier catalyst row is formed for each hopper under the hopper, and the hopper dropped from each hopper. A catalyst filling machine in which a catalyst is placed on a conveyor and conveyed to a reaction tube is disclosed.

JP-A-11-333282 JP 2006-142297 A

  However, the conventional catalyst filling machine has a problem that it is necessary to measure the catalyst filling amount for each reaction tube or to stop the conveyor after filling the reaction tube with the catalyst, resulting in a decrease in work efficiency. It was. Furthermore, when the conveyor is stopped, the catalyst remains on the conveyor, and when a new conveyor is filled with the catalyst, if the stopped conveyor is restarted, the conveyor transport speed is not immediately stabilized. There is a problem that the catalyst filling height in each reaction tube becomes non-uniform due to the influence of the catalyst remaining above.

  Therefore, an object of the present invention is to improve the working efficiency in filling a catalyst into a reaction tube such as a fixed bed multitubular reactor, and further to make the filling height of the catalyst in each reaction tube uniform. And a method of filling a catalyst using the same.

  As a result of intensive studies to solve the above problems, the present inventors have completed the present invention.

That is, the catalyst filling machine and the catalyst filling method of the present invention have the following configurations.
(1) A hopper for storing a solid catalyst, a catalyst transport passage (A) for transporting the catalyst flowing down from the hopper, and a belt for transporting the catalyst transported from the catalyst transport passage (A) And a catalyst transport passage (B) on which the catalyst transported from the belt conveyor is placed and transported to the upper side of the reaction tube. The catalyst transport passage (B) is a catalyst exhaust that can be opened and closed on an inclined surface. A catalyst filling machine characterized by being an inclined chute having an outlet.
(2) The catalyst filling passage according to (1), wherein the catalyst conveyance passage (A) can be moved up and down between the upper side and the lower side of the horizontal position with the upstream side of the catalyst conveyance as a fulcrum.
(3) The catalyst filling machine according to (1) or (2), further including an adjustment plate that adjusts a layer thickness of the catalyst conveyed on the belt conveyor.
(4) A photoelectric sensor for detecting the filling height of the catalyst is provided in the reaction tube, and the filling height of the catalyst filled in the reaction tube has reached a set value from above the reaction tube. The catalyst filling machine according to any one of (1) to (3), further including a control mechanism that opens the catalyst discharge port based on a detection signal output from the photoelectric sensor.
(5) The control mechanism has a control mechanism that raises the downstream end of the catalyst transport passage (A) above a horizontal position with the detection signal as a fulcrum on the catalyst transport upstream side of the catalyst transport passage (A). ) Catalyst filling machine.
(6) The catalyst filling machine according to (4) or (5), wherein the photoelectric sensor is a diffuse reflection type having a detection distance in a range of 90 to 1000 mm using white paper as a standard detection object.
(7) Using the catalyst filling machine according to any one of (1) to (3), the solid catalyst stored in the hopper is removed from the reaction tube while the catalyst discharge port is closed. The reaction tube is filled from above, and when the catalyst filling height in the reaction tube reaches a set height, the catalyst discharge port is opened to stop the catalyst filling into the reaction tube. The catalyst filling method.
(8) Using the catalyst filling machine according to any one of (4) to (6), the solid catalyst stored in the hopper is removed from the reaction tube while the catalyst discharge port is closed. The reaction tube is filled from above, and when the catalyst filling height in the reaction tube reaches a set value, the catalyst discharge port is opened by a control mechanism that opens the catalyst discharge port, and the catalyst to the reaction tube is opened. The catalyst filling method is characterized in that the filling of the catalyst is stopped.

  According to the present invention, when filling each reaction tube such as a fixed-bed multitubular reactor used on an industrial scale with a catalyst, the catalyst filling height in each reaction tube is set to a predetermined height. The catalyst can be filled more easily.

It is a schematic perspective view which shows the catalyst filling machine which concerns on one Embodiment of this invention. (A) is a schematic side view which shows operation | movement of the catalyst filling machine at the time of catalyst supply, (b) is a schematic side view which shows operation | movement of the catalyst filling machine at the time of catalyst supply stop. It is a schematic sectional drawing which shows the installation state of the photoelectric sensor in this invention. It is a schematic sectional drawing which shows an example of the protective tube which protects the photoelectric sensor in this invention.

  Hereinafter, the present invention will be described in detail with reference to the drawings.

  FIG. 1 is a perspective view showing a catalyst filling machine 100 according to an embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 2A is a schematic side view showing the operation of the catalyst filling machine 100 when the catalyst is supplied, and FIG. 2B is a schematic side view showing the operation of the catalyst filling machine 100 when the catalyst supply is stopped. .

  A catalyst filling machine 100 shown in FIGS. 1 and 2 includes a plurality of independent hoppers 1, a catalyst transport passage 4 (catalyst transport passage (A)), a belt conveyor 3, an adjustment plate 5, and a partition wall 9. And an inclined chute 10 (catalyst transfer passage (B)) and a reaction tube introduction hopper 8.

(Hopper 1)
The hopper 1 stores a solid catalyst filled in the reaction tube 20. The hopper 1 in this embodiment is formed independently for each reaction tube 20. The number of hoppers 1 included in one catalyst filling machine is not particularly limited, but is usually preferably 1 to 50, more preferably 3 to 30.

The hopper 1 includes a rear wall 11, a side wall 12, and a front wall 13. The side wall 12 and the front wall 13 are substantially vertical, and the rear wall 11 and the front wall 13 are defined by the rear wall 11 and the front wall 13. The interval is inclined so as to decrease gradually downward. The inclination angle of the rear wall 11 is preferably larger (steep) than the repose angle of the catalyst. The rear wall 11 and the side wall 12 are formed, for example, by bending a single metal plate, and the side wall 12 and the front wall 13 are joined together by welding, so that welding is performed at the boundary between the rear wall 11 and the side wall 12. In addition, the boundary inner surface is curved. Therefore, the catalyst smoothly flows down from the hopper 1 due to the weight of the catalyst itself. When the catalyst is supplied to the hopper 1, the catalysts may be rubbed with each other to generate dust due to pulverization or destruction of the catalyst. When this dust is supplied to the reaction tube, the pressure loss in each reaction tube may vary. Since this is a factor, the rear wall 11 may have an open mesh structure in which the catalyst does not pass and the catalyst dust passes. When the rear wall 11 has a mesh structure, a collection box (not shown) for collecting the dust that has fallen through the mesh may be attached, or a suction device for absorbing the dust that has passed through the mesh ( (Not shown) may be attached.
Note that the shape of the hopper is not limited to the shape described above, and for example, a hopper of a cone shape, a pyramid shape, or the like may be used.

An opening / closing shutter 2 is provided at the lower part of the front wall 13 of the hopper 1. The opening / closing mechanism of the opening / closing shutter 2 is not particularly limited, and examples thereof include an opening / closing mechanism using an opening / closing plate that is driven to open / close by compressed air, and an opening / closing mechanism using a slide plate that slides up and down.
Further, the hopper 1 may include a vibration mechanism that vibrates the catalyst in the hopper.

(Catalyst transport passage 4)
The catalyst transport passage 4 has a groove shape with an open upper surface, the upstream end of the catalyst transport is located at the lower part of the hopper 1, and the downstream downstream end is located on the belt conveyor 3 in front of the hopper 1. doing. The catalyst transport passage 4 is rotatably supported by the support member 15 on the hopper 1 side, with the lower portion of the support member 15 as a fulcrum, so that the downstream end of the catalyst transport passage 4 is above the horizontal position by the rotation operation. It is comprised so that raising / lowering is possible between and below.
The raising / lowering of the downstream end of the catalyst transport passage 4 is performed by the lifting device 40. As shown in FIGS. 1 and 2, the lifting device 40 has a rear end of the hydraulic cylinder 42 attached to the front wall 13 of the hopper 1 by a connecting member 41, and the tip of the piston rod 43 is located near the downstream end of the catalyst transport passage 4. Is attached by a connecting member 44.
For this reason, as shown in FIG. 2A, when the downstream end of the catalyst transport passage 4 is lowered from the horizontal position by the lifting device 40, the catalyst flowing down from the hopper 1 is transported to the belt conveyor 3 through the catalyst transport passage 4. can do.
Further, as shown in FIG. 2B, when the downstream end of the catalyst transport passage 4 is raised from the horizontal position, the transport of the catalyst flowing down from the hopper 1 to the belt conveyor 3 can be stopped.

  The catalyst transport passage 4 may have a cylindrical shape, for example, in addition to the groove shape. Further, the lifting device 40 is not limited to the hydraulic lifting device as described above, and other known lifting devices that can lift and lower the downstream end side of the catalyst transport passage 4 such as an electrical lifting device using a wire hoist. May be used.

(Belt conveyor 3)
Since the belt conveyor 3 can convey the catalyst conveyed from the catalyst conveyance path 4 at a constant speed, it can reduce the rubbing of the catalysts, and can prevent generation of dust due to catalyst pulverization or destruction. In addition, the unevenness of the supply amount to each reaction tube 20 is eliminated, so that a so-called bridge in which the catalysts are connected to each other is less likely to be generated, and the packed state of the catalyst in each reaction tube 20 can be made uniform.

  The conveying speed of the belt conveyor 3 may be appropriately adjusted so that the catalyst filling speed is usually 5 to 60 g / second, preferably 5 to 40 g / second.

A partition wall 9 is provided in the transport space in the transport width direction corresponding to each hopper 1 in the transport space above the catalyst transport surface of the belt conveyor 3, and the distance between the pair of partition walls 9 corresponding to each reaction tube 20 is as follows. The inner diameter of the reaction tube 20 is set to be substantially the same. By providing such a partition wall 9, it is possible to suppress the occurrence of bridges even if a large number of catalysts are introduced at a time.
Alternatively, an independent belt conveyor that is driven by an independent motor for each lane partitioned by the partition wall 9 may be used.
Since the catalyst dust may adhere to the surface of the belt conveyor 3 due to the transport of the catalyst, a brush (not shown) or a suction device (not shown) for removing the dust from the surface of the belt conveyor 3 May be attached.

(Adjustment plate 5)
An adjustment plate 5 corresponding to each hopper 1 is installed in the transfer space above the catalyst transfer surface of the belt conveyor 3.
Thereby, for example, when the height of the transport catalyst row adjusted to the feed width corresponding to each reaction tube 20 by the action of the partition wall 9 described above with the driving of the belt conveyor 3 is filled in the reaction tube 20. If the height of the hopper 1 is exceeded, the adjustment plate 5 can adjust the height of the transported catalyst row to an appropriate height. The feed rate of the catalyst filled in the reaction tube 20 can be adjusted by setting the transport speed of the belt conveyor 3 to an appropriate speed.

  The height of the adjustment plate 5 can be adjusted by any means. For example, a long long hole is provided in the adjustment plate 5 and a bolt that passes through the long hole is screwed to a support material (not shown). Thus, the adjustment plate 5 can be supported so as to be adjustable in height.

(Inclined chute 10)
The inclined chute 10 is provided for each conveying catalyst row in order to guide the catalyst from the conveying terminal end of the belt conveyor 3 to each reaction tube 20. An outlet 6 is formed. The inclination angle of the inclination chute 10 is preferably larger (steep) than the repose angle of the catalyst.
Since the inclined chute 10 is partitioned for each transported catalyst row by a partition wall or the like, the catalyst can be filled into the reaction tube 20 while maintaining the transported catalyst row formed during the transport by the belt conveyor 3. . Further, as shown in FIGS. 1 and 2A, the catalyst discharge port 6 on the inclined surface of the inclined chute 10 is closed by a lid 61 when the catalyst is transported, and transports the catalyst to the reaction tube 20. On the other hand, when the lid 61 is opened, as shown in FIG. 2 (b), the catalyst falls to the catalyst receiver 7, and the catalyst supply to the reaction tube 20 can be completely stopped without stopping the belt conveyor 3. The variation in the catalyst filling height in each reaction tube 20 can be further reduced. At the same time, when the downstream end of the catalyst transport passage 4 is raised from the horizontal position by the elevating device 40, the transport of the catalyst flowing down from the hopper 1 to the belt conveyor 3 can be stopped, and also on the belt conveyor 3 and the inclined chute 10. The remaining catalyst can be discharged. As a result, a decrease in the amount of catalyst stored in the hopper 1 can be suppressed, the frequency of catalyst supply to the hopper 1 can be reduced, and the catalyst can be prevented from continuing to fall on the catalyst receiver 7. The frequency of catalyst recovery from 7 is also reduced. Furthermore, when filling the catalyst into a new reaction tube after filling the catalyst into the reaction tube, if the conditions such as the catalyst supply speed are changed, the catalyst remaining on the belt conveyor 3 or the inclined chute 10 Since the conditions can be changed without being affected by the above, it is possible to smoothly fill the catalyst into a new reaction tube.
The catalyst that has fallen to the catalyst receiver 7 can be re-supplied to the hopper 1 and reused as a catalyst that fills the reaction tube 20.

  Further, the inclined chute 10 is not limited to a shape in which the inclined surface is partitioned for each transport catalyst row by a partition wall or the like, and may have a groove shape for each transport catalyst row, or a cylindrical shape. Also good.

  As shown in FIGS. 2A and 2B, the lid 61 is attached to the inclined surface of the inclined chute 10 so as to be rotatable with the upstream end of catalyst transportation of the lid 61 serving as a fulcrum, and the catalyst transportation. On the downstream side, the tip of the piston rod 50 of the hydraulic cylinder 51 installed below the inclined chute 10 is fixed to the lid 61. Therefore, when the hydraulic cylinder 51 is operated and the piston rod 50 is pulled, the lid 61 is rotated downward and opened (that is, the state shown in FIG. 2A is changed to the state shown in FIG. 2B). . When the lid 61 is closed, the piston rod 50 is pushed out from the hydraulic cylinder 51 in the reverse manner. When the lid 61 is in a closed state, it is preferable to eliminate a step at the boundary between the catalyst transport downstream end of the lid 61 and the inclined chute 10 so that the catalyst is not caught.

The shape of the catalyst discharge port 6 is not particularly limited, but has an area that occupies most of the inclined surface of the inclined chute 10 from the viewpoint of reliably dropping the catalyst onto the catalyst receiver 7 when the catalyst discharge port 6 is opened. Is preferred.
Further, by making the lid 61 have a mesh structure, catalyst dust or the like can be dropped onto the catalyst receiver 7, and variations in the catalyst layer pressure loss in the reaction tube 20 can be suppressed. The mesh opening may be appropriately determined depending on the shape and size of the catalyst to be used. For example, the mesh may be an opening through which the catalyst dust does not pass but the catalyst dust passes. Dust or the like that has passed through the mesh may be received by the catalyst receiver 7 or may be sucked by attaching a suction device. Note that the inclined surface of the inclined chute 10 may have a mesh structure other than the lid 61. In this case, the lid 61 may have a mesh structure or may not have a mesh structure.

(Reaction tube introduction hopper 8)
A reaction tube introduction hopper 8 is connected to the lower end of the inclined chute 10 and is inserted into the reaction tube 20. Thereby, the catalyst conveyed by the inclined chute 10 can be reliably supplied to the reaction tube 20. The reaction tube introduction hopper 8 may include a vibration mechanism that vibrates the catalyst supplied to the reaction tube 20.

(Catalyst filling procedure)
Hereinafter, an example of the operation procedure of the catalyst filling machine will be shown.
(A) The downstream end of the catalyst transport passage 4 is raised above the horizontal position, the catalyst discharge port 6 is closed, and the catalyst is supplied to the hopper 1.
(B) After the belt conveyor 3 is driven and the transport speed is stabilized, the downstream end of the catalyst transport passage 4 is lowered from the horizontal position, and the catalyst is charged into the reaction tube 20.
(C) When a predetermined catalyst filling height is obtained in the reaction tube 20, the catalyst discharge port 6 is opened while the belt conveyor 3 is driven. Thereby, the catalyst supply to the reaction tube 20 is stopped. As appropriate, the downstream end of the catalyst transport passage 4 is raised above the horizontal position, and the catalyst flow from the hopper 1 is stopped.
(D) When the catalyst discharge port 6 is closed and the downstream end of the catalyst transport passage 4 is raised from the horizontal position, it is lowered from the horizontal position, the catalyst is appropriately replenished to the hopper 1, and the catalyst is charged into another reaction tube 20 To start.

  Through the operation procedure as described above, the catalyst flows down from the hopper 1 and is placed on the belt conveyor 3. As the belt conveyor 3 is driven, the transport catalyst row is fed to the reaction tubes 20 by the action of the partition walls 9. And adjusted to a predetermined height by the adjusting plate 5 and supplied to the reaction tube 20 in this state. Then, the catalyst supply to the reaction tube 20 is stopped using the catalyst filling height supplied into the reaction tube 20 as a judgment criterion without measuring the amount of catalyst to be filled and without stopping the belt conveyor 3. be able to. When the catalyst supply is completed, the position of the catalyst filling machine 100 is changed by the operation of a position changing mechanism (not shown), the catalyst is supplied to another plurality of reaction tubes 20, and this operation is repeated.

(Photoelectric sensor 60 and control mechanism)
The catalyst filling machine 100 may be provided with a photoelectric sensor 60 that detects the catalyst filling height in the reaction tube 20. The photoelectric sensor 60 is electrically connected to a control mechanism (not shown), and controls at least the opening and closing of the catalyst discharge port 6 of the inclined chute 10 by a detection signal output from the photoelectric sensor 60. It is preferable to control the raising and lowering of the downstream end of the transport passage 4 and the opening and closing of the catalyst discharge port 6 of the inclined chute 10. That is, in the above-described operation procedure (c) of the catalyst filling machine, by providing the photoelectric sensor 60, the control mechanism that opens the catalyst discharge port 6 when the catalyst filling height in the reaction tube 20 reaches the set value. Thus, the catalyst discharge port 6 is opened, and the downstream end of the catalyst transport passage 4 can be raised upward from the horizontal position by a control mechanism that appropriately raises the downstream end of the catalyst transport passage 4 upward from the horizontal position.

  By using such a control mechanism, it is possible to automatically fill the catalyst without measuring the amount of catalyst to be filled and manually adjusting the catalyst filling height, so that the labor of the operator can be reduced and the reaction tube can be reduced. In addition to shortening the time for supplying the catalyst to the catalyst 20, the catalyst filling height of the plurality of reaction tubes 20 can be uniformly controlled with high accuracy.

  As shown in FIG. 3, the photoelectric sensor 60 is preferably inserted into or installed in the reaction tube 20 from above through the reaction tube introduction hopper 8. When the catalyst introduced into the reaction tube 20 from the reaction tube introduction hopper 8 reaches the preset catalyst filling height H, the catalyst filling is stopped by the control mechanism described above.

The photoelectric sensor 60 uses light such as visible light and infrared light as a light source, emits the light as signal light from a detection unit (light projecting unit), and detects light reflected from the detection object by a light receiving unit. A photoelectric sensor is preferred.
By using such a photoelectric sensor 60, detection can be performed without contacting the catalyst, so that neither the catalyst nor the photoelectric sensor 60 itself is damaged. Moreover, since it detects by the surface reflection to a catalyst, the filling height of a catalyst can be detected correctly.

In the photoelectric sensor 60, the amount of light (the amount of received light) that the detection light projected from the photoelectric sensor 60 is reflected on the surface of the detection object (catalyst) and returns to the light receiving portion of the photoelectric sensor 60 is quantified. This numerical value increases / decreases by increasing / decreasing the amount of received light, and the distance between the photoelectric sensor 60 and the detected object can be detected. That is, when the distance between the photoelectric sensor 60 and the detected object is long, the amount of received light is small, and therefore, a small numerical value is shown. As the distance between the photoelectric sensor 60 and the detected object approaches, the amount of light returning to the light receiving unit increases. The numerical value will increase gradually. By measuring in advance the relationship of the actual distance between the photoelectric sensor 60 and the detected object with respect to the value of the amount of received light, the distance between the photoelectric sensor 60 and the detected object can be detected from the value of the amount of received light.
Then, by setting a threshold value for the value of the amount of light received by the photoelectric sensor 60, the catalyst filling height can be adjusted in the catalyst filling. That is, the insertion position (L1) of the photoelectric sensor 60 is determined before the start of catalyst filling, and a threshold value is set from the distance between the catalyst and the photoelectric sensor 60 at the target catalyst filling height H to the numerical value of the received light amount of the photoelectric sensor 60. Set. Thereafter, when the catalyst filling is started, the catalyst filling height H is detected from the numerical value of the received light amount of the photoelectric sensor 60, and the catalyst filling is stopped when the catalyst filling height H reaches the set value. Thus, the catalyst filling height can be adjusted. The threshold value can be arbitrarily set according to the filling height of the catalyst.

  In the photoelectric sensor 60, when a predetermined threshold value is exceeded according to the above-described catalyst filling height, a signal can be output from the photoelectric sensor 60. By this signal, for example, a blinking light or a warning sound may be sent to notify the operator of the completion of catalyst filling, and the catalyst filling may be stopped manually. ), The catalyst discharge port 6 of the inclined chute 10 is opened, preferably the downstream end of the catalyst transfer passage 4 for transferring the catalyst is raised above the horizontal position, and the catalyst discharge port 6 of the inclined chute 10 is Open to stop filling.

The detection distance between the photoelectric sensor 60 and the detection object indicates a distance when the detection unit of the photoelectric sensor 60 is brought close to the detection object and detected, that is, when the amount of received light starts to increase.
When a standard detection object is used as the detection object, the detection distance by the photoelectric sensor 60 is preferably 90 to 1000 mm, more preferably 100 to 500 mm, and still more preferably 100 to 300 mm. For example, white paper can be used as the standard detection object.

  As the diffuse reflection type photoelectric sensor 60, for example, an optical fiber type photoelectric sensor (E32 series) manufactured by OMRON Corporation or a photoelectric sensor (PS / PZ series) manufactured by Keyence Corporation is appropriately selected. Can be used. The photoelectric sensor may be either an amplifier built-in type or an amplifier separated type.

(Protective tube 63 of photoelectric sensor 60)
As shown in FIG. 4, the photoelectric sensor 60 may be inserted into the protective tube 63 and used as necessary. By using in this way, it is possible to protect the photoelectric sensor 60 from the dust that occurs when the catalyst is charged, protect the detection accuracy of the photoelectric sensor 60, and at the same time use the photoelectric sensor 60 without maintenance for a long period of time. . For example, the detection of the photoelectric sensor 60 is performed by sending dry air, an inert gas, or a mixed gas thereof from the pipe 62 branched from the side surface of the protective pipe 63 to the lower side of the protective pipe 63, that is, toward the photoelectric sensor 60. The accuracy can be further increased.
Examples of the inert gas include nitrogen, helium, and argon.
The shape of the protective tube 63 is not particularly limited, and may be, for example, a cylindrical shape in which the tube 62 is not provided.
The material of the protective tube 63 is not particularly limited, and examples thereof include a stainless tube, a plastic tube, an aluminum tube, and a rubber tube. The dimensions of the protective tube 63 are not particularly limited, but the inner diameter of the protective tube 63 is such that dry air, an inert gas, or a mixed gas thereof flows when the photoelectric sensor 60 is inserted into the protective tube 63. And the outer diameter is preferably smaller than the inner diameter of the reaction tube so as not to hinder the catalyst filling.

  The method for installing the protective tube 63 is not particularly limited. For example, it is preferable to insert or install the protective tube 63 in the reaction tube 20 with the photoelectric sensor 60 included in the protective tube 63.

  Although not particularly limited, the photoelectric sensor 60 may be inserted from above the reaction tube 20 without contacting the reaction tube 20 in order to maintain the accuracy of the detection light and the light receiving unit.

(catalyst)
The catalyst charged in the reaction tube 20 is not particularly limited as long as it is a catalyst for a reaction carried out using a fixed bed multitubular reactor. Examples include catalysts for producing unsaturated aldehydes and unsaturated carboxylic acids, catalysts for producing unsaturated carboxylic acids, catalysts for producing unsaturated nitriles, hydrotreating catalysts, catalysts for producing chlorine, and the like. Among these, unsaturated aldehydes and unsaturated carboxylic acid production catalysts and unsaturated carboxylic acid production catalysts are preferred.
Examples of catalysts for producing unsaturated aldehydes and unsaturated carboxylic acids include catalysts for producing acrolein and acrylic acid by vapor-phase catalytic oxidation of propylene with molecular oxygen, and isobutylene and tertiary butyl alcohol as molecular oxygen. And a catalyst for producing methacrolein and methacrylic acid by gas phase catalytic oxidation.
Examples of the unsaturated carboxylic acid production catalyst include a catalyst for producing acrylic acid by vapor-phase catalytic oxidation of propane with molecular oxygen, or acrylic acid by vapor-phase catalytic oxidation of acrolein with molecular oxygen. And a catalyst for producing methacrylic acid by vapor-phase catalytic oxidation of methacrolein with molecular oxygen.
Examples of the catalyst for producing an unsaturated nitrile include a catalyst for producing acrylonitrile by vapor phase catalytic ammoxidation of propylene or propane with molecular oxygen and ammonia, and isobutylene or tertiary butyl alcohol with molecular oxygen and ammonia. Examples include a catalyst for producing methacrylonitrile by gas phase catalytic ammoxidation.
Examples of the hydrotreating catalyst include a catalyst for reacting sulfur compounds and / or nitrogen compounds contained in petroleum fractions with hydrogen to remove or reduce the concentration of sulfur compounds and / or nitrogen compounds in the product, and / or Examples include hydrocracking catalysts for lightening heavy oils.
Examples of the catalyst for producing chlorine include a catalyst for producing chlorine from hydrogen chloride and oxygen.

There is no restriction | limiting in particular about the shape of a catalyst, For example, the powder form, granular form, cylindrical form, spherical shape, ring shape, the granular form etc. which were pulverized and classified after shaping | molding etc. are mentioned.
The size of the catalyst is not particularly limited as long as it can fit in the reaction tube, but the diameter is preferably 10 mm or less, and if the catalyst diameter exceeds 10 mm, the activity may decrease. In addition, when the catalyst diameter is excessively small, the pressure loss in the reaction tube increases, and therefore the catalyst diameter is usually preferably 0.1 mm or more. The bulk density of the catalyst is usually 0.8 to 1.5 g / ml, preferably 0.8 to 1.3 g / ml.
Moreover, you may use a catalyst with the inert filler inactive with respect to said catalytic reaction. Further, the catalyst may be divided into a plurality of catalyst layers and filled in the reaction tube. In that case, an inert filler layer may be interposed between the catalyst layers.

(Reaction tube 20)
The reaction tube 20 is a general fixed-bed multi-tube type used industrially, and usually has several thousand to several tens of thousands of reaction tubes.
The outer diameter of each reaction tube 20 is usually about 10 to 60 mm, the thickness of the reaction tube is usually about 1 to 5 mm, and the length of the reaction tube is usually about 0.3 to 10 m.
Each reaction tube 20 is usually a metal tube having substantially the same shape. Here, “substantially the same shape” means that the outer diameter, wall thickness, and length of the reaction tube are within the range of the design error. The design error is usually within ± 2.5%, preferably within ± 0.5%. Although it is preferable to determine the inner diameter of the reaction tube and the catalyst diameter so that the inner diameter of the reaction tube is four times or more the catalyst diameter, it is not particularly limited.

  The reaction tube needs to have a smooth inner surface, and specifically needs to have a small surface roughness. Thereby, the catalyst packing density in each reaction tube can be made high. An example of such a reaction tube is a seamless seamless tube.

  The reaction tube 20 to be used may be coiled, but a straight straight tube is usually used. The straight pipe is usually a vertical type that is arranged in the vertical direction and allows the raw material compound to pass in the vertical direction.

(Reference example)
<Manufacture of catalyst>
As a catalyst, based on the method described in JP-A No. 2004-188231, an acid salt of a Keggin type heteropolyacid containing phosphorus, molybdenum and vanadium (a cylindrical extruded product having a diameter of 5 mm and a height of 5 mm) was measured. Produced 20 times. When the bulk density of the catalyst was measured for each production lot, the average bulk density was 1.15 g / ml, the maximum value was 1.20 g / ml, and the minimum value was 1.09 g / ml.

  The bulk density was measured by the following method. That is, about 190 ml of the catalyst was weighed, and the weight at this time was defined as W (g). Next, after filling the weighed catalyst into a glass graduated cylinder having an inner diameter of 31 mm and a volume of 200 ml, the graduated cylinder was tapped 40 times from a height of 20 mm on a rubber mat with a thickness of 2.5 mm to fill the catalyst. The volume was read with an accuracy of 0.5 ml and this was taken as V (ml). Bulk density (g / ml) was derived by dividing W (g) by V (ml).

Example 1
About the catalyst obtained in the reference example, using a catalyst filling machine having the same configuration as the catalyst filling machine 100 except that the catalyst filling machine has three lanes having three hoppers 1 and the photoelectric sensor 60 is provided. The reaction tube 20 was filled. The supply of the catalyst obtained in the reference example to the hopper 1 was performed so that for each hopper 1, one different lot of the 20 lots of catalyst was stored.
The filling conditions are as follows.
Reaction tube length: 2.5m
Reaction tube inner diameter: 29.6 mmΦ
Photoelectric sensor 60: diffuse reflection type “E32-D32L” (manufactured by OMRON Corporation, reflection type: special beam type, detection distance in standard mode when white paper is a standard detection object: 150 mm)
Amplifier unit of photoelectric sensor 60: “E3X-DA21-S” (manufactured by OMRON Corporation)
Measurement mode of photoelectric sensor 60: standard mode threshold value: 1500
Delay timer: 200 ms
Insertion length (L1) of the photoelectric sensor 60: 350 mm

  Note that the photoelectric sensor 60 used in the embodiment has three modes, a high-speed mode, a standard mode, and a high-accuracy mode, and measurement can be performed in any mode. At this time, the delay time from when the optical input is interrupted until the control output operates or recovers is called response time. The response time is different in each mode, and is 250 μs in the high speed mode, 1 ms in the standard mode, and 4 ms in the high accuracy mode. In addition, the photoelectric sensor 60 used in the embodiment can set the delay timer so that the sensor does not operate unless the amount of received light exceeds a threshold value for a certain time or more.

The photoelectric sensor 60 is inserted into a protective tube 63 (outer diameter 8 mm, inner diameter 6 mm) made of stainless steel (SUS304), and the gap between the photoelectric sensor and the inner wall of the protective tube extends from the top of the protective tube to the tip of the photoelectric sensor. Dry air was blown toward the detector at a flow rate of 50 ml / min.
The catalyst obtained in the reference example is supplied to the hopper 1 with the downstream end of the catalyst transport passage 4 raised above the horizontal position so that the catalyst supply speed per lane is 23 to 30 g / s. After the belt conveyor 3 having the conveyance speed adjusted is driven, the height of the adjustment plate 5 is adjusted, the downstream end of the catalyst conveyance path 4 is lowered from the horizontal position, the catalyst is caused to flow down on the belt conveyor 3, and the inclined chute 10 Then, the catalyst is dropped from above the reaction tube 20 by the reaction tube introduction hopper 8 to start the catalyst filling, and the catalyst discharge port 6 is opened by the signal output from the photoelectric sensor 60 exceeding the threshold value. The distance L2 (see FIG. 3) from the opening of the reaction tube 20 to the filled catalyst when stopped, the distance (L2-L1) between the photoelectric sensor and the filled catalyst, and from the start of catalyst filling to the stop of catalyst supply time( Hama time) was measured. Table 1 shows the results of catalyst filling in a total of six reaction tubes. The filling amount was measured by extracting the entire amount of the catalyst from the reaction tube after the catalyst filling was completed.

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 100 Catalyst filling machine 1 Hopper 2 Opening / closing shutter 3 Belt conveyor 4 Catalyst conveyance path 5 Adjustment plate 6 Catalyst discharge port 7 Catalyst receiver 8 Reaction tube introduction hopper 9 Partition wall 10 Inclination chute 20 Reaction tube 40 Elevator 60 Photoelectric sensor 61 Lid 62 Protection Pipe 63 branched from the side of the pipe

Claims (8)

A hopper for storing a solid catalyst;
A catalyst transport passage (A) for transporting the catalyst flowing down from the hopper;
A belt conveyor for carrying and transporting the catalyst transported from the catalyst transport passage (A);
A catalyst transport passage (B) on which the catalyst transported from the belt conveyor is placed and transported above the reaction tube;
The catalyst filling passage (B) is an inclined chute having a catalyst discharge port that can be opened and closed on an inclined surface.   2. The catalyst filling machine according to claim 1, wherein the catalyst transport passage (A) can move up and down between the upper side and the lower side of the horizontal position with the upstream side of the catalyst transport as a fulcrum.   The catalyst filling machine of Claim 1 or 2 provided with the adjustment board which adjusts the layer thickness of the catalyst conveyed on the said belt conveyor.   In the reaction tube, a photoelectric sensor for detecting the filling height of the catalyst is provided, and when the filling height of the catalyst filled in the reaction tube from above the reaction tube reaches a set value, The catalyst filling machine according to any one of claims 1 to 3, further comprising a control mechanism that opens the catalyst discharge port based on a detection signal output from a photoelectric sensor.   5. The control mechanism according to claim 4, further comprising a control mechanism that raises the downstream end of the catalyst transport passage (A) above a horizontal position with the detection signal as a fulcrum on the catalyst transport upstream side of the catalyst transport passage (A). Catalyst filling machine.   The catalyst filling machine according to claim 4 or 5, wherein the photoelectric sensor is a diffuse reflection type having a detection distance in a range of 90 to 1000 mm with white paper as a standard detection object.   Using the catalyst filling machine according to any one of claims 1 to 3, the solid catalyst stored in the hopper is transferred from above the reaction tube to the reaction tube with the catalyst discharge port closed. The catalyst filling method is characterized in that when the filling height of the catalyst in the reaction tube reaches a set height, the catalyst discharge port is opened to stop the filling of the catalyst into the reaction tube. .   Using the catalyst filling machine according to any one of claims 4 to 6, with the catalyst discharge port closed, the solid catalyst stored in the hopper is transferred to the reaction tube from above the reaction tube. When the filling height of the catalyst in the reaction tube reaches a set value, the catalyst discharge port is opened by a control mechanism that opens the catalyst discharge port, and the filling of the catalyst into the reaction tube is stopped. A catalyst filling method characterized by the above.

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