PT97211B - DEVICE AND CHARGING PROCESS WITH ORIENTATION OF SOLIDS IN PARTICLES, MORE PARTICULARLY CATALYSTS FOR REACTORS - Google Patents

Abstract

The present invention concerns a device and a process for the guided charging of solid particles, in particular particles of catalyst, into a fixed bed, for example a reactor.

Description

The present invention relates to a loading device with particulate solids orientation, particularly catalysts, for fixed bed reactors, said loading device (23) comprising a main tubular body (25), being provided, internally and concentrically. , with a pipe (43) having at its lower end a sleeve (51) attached to a distributor disc (53) which has a plurality of holes distributed uniformly in the radial direction, said distributor disc (53) being connected to a disc loading (55) through regulating means (57). It is yet another object of the present invention to provide a guided loading process using the loading device (23).

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SUMMARY ..... DA ..... IN.VENg.AO.

The present invention relates to a device and method for charging with orientation of particulate solid materials, especially catalyst particles, in a fixed bed, such as that of a reactor.

STATE. TECHNICAL

> · Loading with catalyst orientation is a procedure already used in fixed bed reactors, such as those for the treatment of liquids, with the aim of minimizing empty spaces and, therefore, the preferred paths, promoting the best interaction between the load and the catalyst, reducing the spatial speed, since it is possible to load, on average, up to twenty percent more catalyst, when compared to traditional or socking. Traditionally, the loading of fixed bed reactors was used by the sleeve process, that is, by filling a catalyst sleeve, arranged from the top of the reactor at the loading level. This sleeve filled with catalyst was then moved manually, distributing the particles in the vessel, sometimes requiring the presence of an operator inside the reactor, to improve this distribution.

In addition, in general, particle solids-oriented loading devices, particularly catalysts, used so far, include a distributor disc that has either a plurality of radial blades, or fin components on top of the rotating element, being the distributor is a cone-shaped component and must be driven at different speeds to obtain a form of radial distribution of the catalyst particles that fall into the distributor disk. The disc throws or launches the particles towards the side walls of the reactor, at distances related to the speed of rotation of the disc. In another alternative, the disc can be a flat plate

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showing vanes formed on this plate and having few holes * formed on the plate to allow some of the catalyst particles to fall directly down from the rotating component in the center of the reactor.

These types of loading devices with aforementioned orientation present, as a disadvantage, the fact that the catalyst is thrown into an annular or circular agglomerate, which tends to dispose according to its size, the catalyst particles that fall on said agglomerate, rolling the particles larger ones for the bottom and outer side of the cluster, while the smaller particles stop at the cluster itself. Although, to some extent, these difficulties are alleviated by varying the speed of the rotating disk, the interior of such a bed is usually so full of dust that it does not allow the operator to see the top catalytic bed ', while the operator is working. Consequently, it becomes necessary to determine the probable level of distribution by the number of catalyst drums that have been loaded at a given bed level. Such a procedure is time consuming and does not provide the necessary accuracy of the permissible bed fill level point, not to mention the need to provide external sources for driving the rotating element.

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QESCRIQêO ..... DA ..... INVRNQÃO

In order to solve the aforementioned problems, according to the present invention, a charging device with orientation of reactors with particulate solids, more particularly catalysts, is provided in a fixed bed, comprising a main tubular body with a funnel at the top for the introduction of particulate solids, being concentrically provided with an inert gas or dry air intake pipe, having a distributor disk fixed at its lower end, having a plurality of holes distributed uniformly in the radial direction, being said dispensing disc connected to a loading disc, to support particulate solids during the

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-4loading through regulating means than the main tubular body.

Another objective of the present invention is to provide centering arms, for positioning and leveling the loading device inside the reactor, said centering arms being fixed at one of its ends to the main tubular body and at the other end to the side wall of the reactor.

Yet another objective of the present invention is to provide a process for the guided loading of particulate solids, particularly catalysts, into a fixed bed, using the loading device, object of the present invention, into which the particulate solids are introduced. in the loading device through the loading funnel, flowing and being retained in the loading disc, filling the main tubular body »Then, inert gas or dry air is injected into the internal intake pipe and inflated, reaching the distributor discs equipped with holes , which radially distributes the particulate solids that settle on the loading disk, reducing the voids in the bed, improving the particle distribution, minimizing the preferential paths (channelling), and improving the load / particle solids interaction across the increased density of the compacted bed.

DESCRIPTION ..... DETAILED ..... DA ..... INVENTION

These and other objectives, characteristics and advantages of the present invention will now become more evident from the following detailed description in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, in which:

Figure 1 is an elevation view, partially in cross-section, of a multi-bed reactor, with the loading device according to the present invention inside;

Figure 2 is an enlarged schematic view, in trans section

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-5versal, of the loading device;

Figure 3 is a plan view of the dispensing disc fixed by line AA ³ of Figure 2;

Figure 4 is a plan view of the loading disc on line BB ³ of Figure 1;

Figure 5 is an elevation view of one of the centering arms used for positioning and leveling the loading device inside the reactor; and Figure 6 is a cross-sectional view of the loading device supported directly on the upper flange of the reactor.

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Referring now to the drawings and, in particular, Figures 1 and 2, there is shown a catalytic reactor 11, generally cylindrical, with a relatively large diameter, including a circumferential side wall 13 and an upper hemispherical end wall.

15. The upper end wall 15 includes a vertical upright portion 17 and an upper flange 19, which has a manhole 21, through which the loading device is inserted and removed with catalyst orientation, as well as the entrance of the operator inside the reactor 11 for inspection, adjustments, etc. The loading device, generally indicated by the numerical reference 23, comprises a main tubular body 25 provided at its upper end with a flange 27, an upper tubular body 29 for supporting the assembly, provided on its opposite sides with eyelets 31, for positioning (lowering and / or raising) the loading device 23 inside the reactor 11 through fixed cables 22, laterally with an inlet connection 35 and above with a flexible sleeve 37, of variable height, for interconnecting the loading funnel 39 with the upper part of the loading device 23, said loading device 23 still having a tubular guide body 41 positioned between the main tubular body 25 and the tubular body

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Internally, concentric to the main tubular body 25, a pipe 43 is provided for introducing inert gas or dry air provided with a knee 45 that allows the direction of the pipe 43 to change laterally, which leads laterally to the inert gas supply tube 47 or dry air, a first sleeve 49 and a second sleeve 51, which has a distributor disk 53 attached to its lower end, which has a plurality of holes evenly distributed in the direction (radial (not shown in the Figures), connected to a disk of loading 55, of larger diameter than the main tubular body 25, through regulating means 57, said loading disk 55 being centered in relation to the internal diameter of the main tubular body 25 through centering means 59, 61, 63 provided in the first sleeve 49, with the loading device 23 still provided with means 65, 67 for supporting the assembly and adjusting the a cover between the main tubular body 25 and the loading disc 55.

As can be seen in Figures 3 and 4, which illustrate, respectively, in plan views, the distributor disc 53 and the loading disc 55, the distributor disc 53 is provided with a plurality of holes evenly distributed in the radial direction (not shown in Figure 3), showing a diameter that varies according to the diameter of the reactor 11, showing the sleeve 51 that connects it to the pipe 43, allowing the closing disk 69 of the upper part of the distributor disk 53 and the holes 71 to be regulated through means 57 for adjusting the opening between the distributor disk 53 and the loading disk 55- the loading disk 55, seen in Figure 4, which supports the catalyst during loading, is also provided with holes 73 that allow regulation through of the means 57, and allowing the loading disc 55 and holes 75 the adjustment of the opening between the distributing disc 53 and the loading disc 55. Another objective of the present invention is to provide centering steels, generally indicated by reference

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Numeric COC 77 in Figures 1 and 5, for positioning and leveling the loading device 23 in relation to the internal diameter of the reactor 11, said centering arms 77 comprising a main tube 79 in carbon steel provided with sleeves 81 for extension, consisting of means for fixing at one of its ends to the external wall of the main tubular body 25, on a support plate 83 and limiting the opening of the arm 77, a support plate 85 and arm guide 77, a tilting bar 87, a guide element and reinforcement 89, on a pin 91 that allows rotation and support of the arm 77 and a locking pin 93 of the centering arm 77 (open or closed), and on the other end of a threaded bar 95, which allows the adjustment of the centering arm 77 in the internal radius of the reactor 11, a regulating element 97 that allows the adjustment of the threaded bar 95, an element 99 for manual adjustment of the threaded bar 95 and a Teflon bridge .101, provided in the final end of the centering arm 77, which is in direct contact with the inner side of the side wall 13 of the reactor 11 «

It should also be noted that the regulating means 57 are carbon steel screws, which support the loading disc 55 and allow regulation between the loading disc 55 and the distributor disc 53 «The centering means 59, 61 and 63 are, respectively , nozzles that allow the adjustment of the centering of the loading disk 55, as well as nuts and bolts, which allow the adjustment of the centering of the loading disk 55, the means 65 and 67 carbon steel nuts and screws, which support the assembly and allow the adjustment of the opening between the main tubular body 25 and the loading disc 55,

It should also be noted that the entire loading device 23, after passing through the manhole 21, must be placed vertically and level, obtaining these positions by adjusting the centering arms 77, which also act to fix them on the internal walls of the reactor 11, in case the device 23 is lowered along the reactor 11, the distance between the base of the main tubular body 25 and the loading disc 55 being selected according to the dimension 103, shown

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in Figure 1. This measurement, together with the pressure * of the inert gas or dry air injected into the inlet connection 35, through the pipe 43, and which reaches the distributor disk 53, will allow the control of the flow rate of the loaded catalyst, having it is necessary to make the selection of the distance between the distributor disc 53 and the loading disc 55, since this care interferes with the distribution profile of the bed, especially in the center. That done, and after checking the manometer 105, which controls the pressure of the inert gas or dry air injected, the loading operation begins.

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In another aspect of the present invention, the loading device 23 can be attached to the manhole 21, directly supported on the upper flange 19 of the reactor 11, as can be seen in greater detail in Figure 6. □ loading device 23 is supported directly on the upper flange 19 of the reactor 11, using support brackets 107, connected to the upper flange 19 by means of level adjustment means 109, 11 of the loading device 23, the regulation of the opening being between the main tubular body 25 and the loading disc 55 carried out by means 65, 67, said manual adjustment of means 65 carried out in 113, the loading device 23 still being provided laterally with means 115, 117, 119 and 121, which allow the adjustment centering.

Another objective of the present invention is to provide a process for the guided loading of reactors with particulate solids, more particularly catalysts, in which a continuous and radial flow of extruded particles, such as the hydraulic treatment catalysts, allows a distribution uniform in the reactor bed. These extruded particles can be cylindrical in shape like CYANAMID's nickel / molybdenum catalysts, trilobed like SHELL's nickel / molybdenum catalysts, and quadrilobed as is the case with some AKZO materials.

As can be understood from Figures 1 and 2, the

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particulate solids, particularly catalysts, are introduced into the loading device 23 through the loading funnel 39, passing said catalysts through the flexible sleeve 37, being retained in the loading disk 55 and filling the main tubular body 25, preventing friction between the particulate solids so that there is a frank drop of the particulate solids over the loading disc 55. Then, inert gas is injected into the tubing or dry air, which is blown through the feed tube 47, reaching the fixed dispensing disc 53, which radially distributes particulate solids, which rest on the loading disc .55, reducing said radial distribution, effected by the insufflation of inert gas or dry air through the orifices of the distributing disc 53, on the disc of loading 55, improving the empty spaces in the bed, the particle distribution, minimizing the preferred paths (chann el1ing) and improving the load / solid interaction in particles by increasing the density of the compacted bed. As a result of this increase in bed density, it is possible to load a larger amount of particulate solid, up to 20% by weight of catalyst, in relation to the traditional process, reducing this increment of catalyst, in turn, the spatial speed, improving conversion and allowing it to operate at lower temperatures.

In the loading process with the guidance of reactors with particulate solids, using the loading device 23, the particulate solids, radially dispersed, tend to fall with increasing speed, the fall, however, being dampened by the flow of inert gas or air , which tends to leave the top of reactor 11, which, from a certain point, becomes almost constant, with no breakage of particles in the fall. What must be avoided is the incidence of particles against the side walls 13 of the reactor 11, which would cause the particles to break down, being essential, for this reason, the control of the pressure of inert gas or dry air used in the dispersion of the solids in particles through the distributor disk 53, since, as the bed rises, the adjustment of the pressure of inert gas or dry air was also required. A variable that is also important in the flow

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of particulate solids and in the distribution profile in the bed is the distance between the base of the main tubular body 25 and the loading disc 55, being the best bed profile achieved with smaller particulate solids flow rates. Another factor that still has a great influence on the distribution of particulate solids in the center of the bed is the arrangement of the distributor disc 53, in relation to the loading disc 55.

The use of inert gas is recommended, to avoid moisture, normally using nitrogen, since the presence of moisture causes the formation of powder agglomerates of particulate solids that obstruct the orifices of the distributor disk 53, thereby compromising mode, the distribution profile. Synthetic or dry air is usable, implying its use, however, at higher costs. It is essential, on the other hand, that during loading, the entire device 23 remains filled with particulate solids, that is, there is a replacement of material equivalent to that distributed in the bed. This avoids distortions in the bed profile or the incidence of particulate solids on the side walls 13 of the reactor 11, which would cause breaks, with the ideal flow rate being about one drum every 3 minutes, ie 60 liters / minute.

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During the loading operation in the device 23, both the incidence of particulate solids on the side walls 13 of the reactor 11, and the profile of the bed, must be checked, respectively. In the event of the occurrence of particulate solids on the side walls of the reactor, the pressure of the inert gas or dry air introduced through the pipe 43 should be reduced, as mentioned above, and in the case of the bed profile, there is the possibility it is concave or convex. In case of concavity, when there is less particulate solids in the center than in the periphery, the pressure of the inert gas or dry air must be reduced, and in the case of convexity, that is, accumulation of particulate solids in the center and less distribution at the periphery, the pressure of the inert gas or dry air must be increased. The existence of a profile of the inclined bed indicates the unevenness of the device 23 or the blocking of the disc holes

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fixed dispenser 53, which is easily corrected.

Although the present invention has been described in relation to its preferred embodiments, many variants or modifications will now become apparent to experts in the technological sector. It is preferred, however, that the present invention is limiting, not for its specific description, but only for the appended claims.

Claims (12)

1 - Loading device with particulate solids orientation, more particularly catalysts, for reactors, characterized by comprising a main tubular body (25) provided at its upper end with a flange (27), with an upper tubular body (29), laterally with an inlet connection (35), superiorly with a flexible sleeve (37) and with a tubular guide body (41) positioned between said main tubular body (25) and said upper tubular body (29), being) the said main tubular body (25) provided internally and concentrically with a tubing (43), which at its lower end has a sleeve (51) attached to a distributor disk (53), which has a plurality of holes uniformly distributed in the radial direction, said distributor disc (53) being connected to a loading disc (55) by means of regulating means (57), 2. Loading device with particulate solids orientation, more particularly catalysts, for reactors, according to claim 1, characterized in that said loading disc (55) has a substantially larger diameter than the diameter of said main tubular body (25). 3 - Loading device with particulate solids orientation, more particularly catalysts, for reactors, according to claim 1, characterized in that said loading disc (55) is centrally adjusted in relation to the internal diameter of said main tubular body ( 25) through the means of entry (59, 61, 63) provided in the first sleeve (49). 4 - Loading device with orientation of particulate solids, more particularly catalysts, for reactors, according to claim 1, characterized in that the support of the assembly and the regulation of the opening between the base of said main tubular body (25) and the said loading disc (55) be carried out by means (65, 67). 72 359 COC 5. Loading device with orientation of particulate solids, particularly catalysts, for reactors, according to claim 1, characterized in that the diameter of said distributor disk (53) varies with the internal diameter of the reactor (11), said distributor disc (53) topically a closure disc (69) 6 - Loading device with orientation of particulate solids, more particularly catalysts, for reactors, according to claim 1, characterized in that the positioning and leveling of said main tubular body (25) in relation to the internal diameter of the reactor ( 11) be carried out using centering arms (77) - 7 - Loading device with orientation of particulate solids, particularly catalysts, for reactors, according to claim 6, characterized in that the centering arms (77) comprise a main tube (79) provided with sleeves (81), being said main tube (79) fixed at one end with means for fixing to the external wall of said main tubular body (25), and at the other end with regulating means which are in direct contact with the inner part of the circumferential side wall (13 ) of said reactor (11). Loading device with particulate solids orientation, more particularly catalysts, for reactors, according to claim 6 or 7, characterized in that said fixing means comprise a support plate (83) and limit the opening of said arm (77), a support and guide plate (85) of said arm (77), a tilting bar (87), a guide and reinforcement element (89), a pin (91) which allows rotation and support of said arm (77) and a locking pin (93) 9 - Loading device with orientation of particulate solids, particularly catalysts, for reactors, according to claim 6 or 7, characterized in that the references 72 359 COC;> X / -14 "* rigid adjustment means comprise a threaded bar (95) regulating element (97) which allows the adjustment of the threaded bar (95), an element (99) for manual adjustment of the threaded bar (95) and a bridge (101 ) provided at the end end of said centering arm (77). 10 - · Loading device with particulate solids orientation, more particularly catalysts, for reactors, according to claim 1 or 5, characterized in that, optionally, the fixing of the device (23) is provided in the nozzle (21 ), supported directly on the upper flange (19) of the reactor (11) through support brackets (107). 11. Loading process with orientation of particulate solids, more particularly catalysts, for reactors, which uses the loading device (23), according to claim 1, characterized in that it comprises the steps of; a) introducing the particulate solids into the loading device (23) through the loading funnel (39), passing said particulate solids through the flexible sleeve (37), the flaps are retained by the loading disk (55), filling the main tubular body (25); B) injection under pressure of inert gas or dry air in the pipe (43) through the supply pipe (47), which reaches the distributor disc (53); and c) radial distribution of particulate solids that settle on the loading disc (55), said distribution being effected by passing inert gas or dry air, under pressure through the holes uniformly distributed in the radial direction, provided in the distributor disc (53) on the loading disc (55). A charging process with particulate solids orientation, more particularly catalysts, for reactors, according to claim 11, characterized in that it is used as inert gas, preferably nitrogen. Loading process with orientation of solids in 72 359 COC ~ 15 ~ particles, particularly catalysts, for reactors according to claim 11, characterized in that it is used as dry air, preferably synthetic air.