US2599568A

US2599568A - Gas disengaging combination for catalytic contacting apparatus

Info

Publication number: US2599568A
Application number: US795051A
Authority: US
Inventors: Dwight D Mckinney
Original assignee: Houdry Process Corp
Current assignee: Houdry Process Corp
Priority date: 1947-12-31
Filing date: 1947-12-31
Publication date: 1952-06-10
Anticipated expiration: 1969-06-10

Description

June 10, 1952 D. D. M KINNEY GAS DISENGAGING COMBINATION FOR CATALYTIC CONTACTING APPARATUS Filed Dec. 31, 1947 INEINTOR.

fimgfif D. [ll-$2127 BY M ATTORNEY Patented June 10, 1952 GAS DISENGAGING COMBINATION FOR CATALYTIC CONTACTING APPARATUS Dwight D. McKinney, Drexel Hill, Pa., assigncr to Houdry Process Corporation, Wilmington, Del., a corporation of Delaware Application December 31, 1947, Serial No. 795,051

4 Claims. (Cl. 23-288) My invention relates to methods of and apparatus for either disengaging or engaging vapors or gases from or with contact material during movement thereof through a reaction housing. Further, as regards a disengaging operation, my invention relates to a method of and apparatus for separating contact material fines from hydrocarbon vapors after disengagement thereof from a main stream of contact material.

My invention relates generally to a system wherein hydrocarbon vapors undergo conversion or reaction in the presence of heated contact material which moves or gravitates through a reaction housing. With a system of this character, it becomes necessary for vapors to be either disengaged from or engaged with the contact material in a lower zone of the reaction housing. This, in accordance with my invention, is accomplished in a novel and highly satisfactory manner.

To this end, in accordance with a broad concept of the invention, the contact material, during movement thereof through the aforesaid zone, is deflected along a downwardly inclined path which, throughout a circumferentially complete area thereof, is of porous character so that vapors readily pass therethrough. The aforesaid path may be defined by a porous sheet-like structure of any preferred type such, for example, as a screen having suitable mesh. More particularly, the zone referred to above may be characterized by facing circumferentially complete porous paths which are inclined downwardly in converging relation, and the vertical axis of each path may coincide with the vertical axis of the reaction housing.

As regards a disengaging operation, the converted vapors, after disengagement from the contact material, usually have contact material fines entrained therein. Accordingly, the fines-carrying vapors may advantageously be directed into a chamber and there passed along a circuitous path, as around a baflle. to suitably decrease the vapor velocity and effect de-entrainment of the fines. As regards this feature of the invention, it is to be understood that, broadly, there is to be no limitation thereof to hydrocarbon vapors as the medium in which the fines are entrained.

When vapors or gases, not necessarily hydrocarbon vapors, are disengaged from contact material traversing a reaction housing where any suitable reaction is conducted, it often happens, as indicated above, that such vapors or gases have contact material fines entrained therein. In accordance with a feature of the 2 present invention, these fines may be segregated from the medium in which they are entrained and suitably collected, as in a chamber of the reaction housing, for disposal as desired.

In accordance with another feature of the invention, the contact material, after passage thereof below a suitable disengaging or engaging zone, for example, of the character described above, is deflected by chamber-forming members horizontally disposed in said housing in suitably spaced relation and, simultaneously, a purging medium is passed into said chambers for subsequent engagement with the contact material.

Various other objects and advantages of my invention will become apparent from the following detailed description.

My invention resides in the disclosed methods and apparatus for either disengaging or engaging vapors or gases from or with moving contact material, the method steps, features and arrangements of the character described and claimed.

For an understanding of my invention and for an illustration of one form of apparatus with which the invention may be practiced, reference is to be had to the accompanying drawings in which:

Fig. 1 is a vertical sectional view, partly in elevation, showing apparatus as constructed in accordance with one form of the invention;

Figs. 2 and 3 are horizontal sectional views, partly in plan, taken on the respective lines 22 and 3--3 of Fig. 1;

Fig. 4 is a fragmentary sectional view illustrating a detailed feature of the invention; and

Fig. 5 is a fragmentary elevational view, partly broken away, showing an arrangement for passing contact material fines from a reaction housing.

Referring to Fig. l, I have shown a vertical housing I which, in horizontal cross section, may be circular or of any other suitable configuration. The housing I defines a reaction zone wherein hydrocarbon material is cracked or otherwise converted in the presence of contact material C which moves therethrough under the influence of gravity, the contact material C, usually after regeneration thereof in a suitable regenerating zone, not shown, being introduced into said housing I in suitable man.- ner, as by an inlet pipe 2 extending through the top housing wall at the center thereof. As herein shown, the contact material C' which gravitates through the pipe 2 may be discharged into a hopper 3 suitably supported at the top of the housing I. Depending from and communicating with the hopper 3 are a plurality of angularly related pipes 4 arranged substantially as a circular row around a center coinciding approximately with the vertical housing axis. The contact material, under the influence of gravity, gravitates through the hopper 3 and the pipes 4 below which it forms a downwardly moving solid bed B of contact material, the upper surface of which has conical configuration beneath each of the pipes 4. The lower end of the housing I', which may be conical, communicates with a discharge pipe 5 through which the spent contact material passes toward the aforesaid regenerating zone. In known manner, the pipe 5 has associated therewith a Valve 5a which restricts or impedes the flow of contact material therethrough so that, in the housing I, the contact material moves downwardly in sol-id bed fashion as noted above.

When hydrocarbon material is to be cracked in the housing I, the contact material C hereinbefore referred to should be catalytic in character and the temperature thereof, upon admission to the housing I, should range between 800 F. and 1000 F. or higher, for example, about 900 F. Any suitable kind of catalytic contact material may thus be utilized such, for example, as activated clay pellets, or synthetic silica-alumina pellets, or beads, etc. having suitable major dimensions such as between and A of an inch. Other suitable catalysts for cracking include synthetic plural oxide composites, silicious or nonsilicious incharacter and containing, for example, zirconia, alumina or beryllia. In lieu of a cracking operation, other types of conversion operations such, for example, as one wherein hydrocarbon material of the character referred to below is desulphurized under known conditions with catalytic contact material of the general character referred to above, or equivalent. Or, reforming or dehydrogenation of naphthas or other normally liquid hydrocarbons may be effected in the presence of the above or other desired types of catalyst, certain of which are well known inthe art. In lieu of the conversion operations described above, heavy hydrocarbon material may be vaporized and viscosity-broken in the presenceof inert contact material of known character.

Hereinafter, in a detailed manner, the invention is described with respect to an operation in volving disengagement of converted vapors from suitable cracking contact material which may be of the character described above. During such an operation, hydrocarbon vapors such, for example, as vaporized gas oil, naphtha or lighter hydrocarbons having suitabl elevated temperature, as in a range from 750 F. to 1000 F., are admitted continuously through a pipe 6 to the space above the bed B. As hereinafter described, these vapors pass through the housing I concurrently as regards the gravitating contact material C and, in the presence thereof, are subjected to. a cracking operation, the resulting cracked vapors, in accordance with the invention, being disengaged from the contact material in anovel manner as hereinafter described. As this operation proceeds, a suitable gaseous medium such as steam is admitted, in accordance with the invention to the lower portion of the housing I to prevent passage of cracked products through the pipe 5.

Referring particularly to Figs. 1 and 3, I have shown a chamber-defining, conical deflecting 4 member I which may comprise a cylindrical lower portion Ia, Fig. l. Concentrically disposed with respect to the conical member 'I is a chamber-defining annular member 8. As shown, the annular member 8 may be defined by'sloping inner and outer sides which converge upwardly to an apex having annular configuration, said inner and outer sides terminating, if desired, in the respective lower portions 8a and 8b, the lower portion 8a. being annular and concentrically disposed with respect to the aforesaid lower portion "Id of the conical member I whereas the lower portion 8b, throughout its circular length, is spaced equidistantly from and at the sam angle as the adjacent interior surface of the lower conical end of the housing I. As shown, all of the lower portions of the members I and 8 may terminate at a common horizontal plane.

The members I and 8 may be supported in any suitable manner and, to this end, there may be utilized a pair of angularly related cross bars 9 which are horizontally disposed and engaged in abutting relation with the interior surface of the conical lower end of the housing I, these bars. Q extending through the members I and. 8 in supporting relation. The annular member 8 may be braced by brackets I'EI extending betwen the portion 81) thereof and. said. interior surface of the housing I. Similarly, the conical member I may be braced by brackets. I I extending from. the

lower interior surface thereof to. a horizontal cross bar I2, the ends of which engage said interior surface of the housing I in abutting relation. By welded joints, or equivalent, theaforesaid cross bars 9,, I2 together with the brackets.

It, I I may be secured to the respective surfaces of the housing I and the members I and. 8' which ar engaged thereby.

A pipe I3 extends from the exterior of the housing I into and through the chambers defined by the respective members. I and 8, this pipe be provided with ports or passages I3a. which communicate with. said chambers, respectively. For the purposehereinaiter described, this. pipe I3 is traversed by a, gaseous medium. which is. en-

gaged with the contact material at the lower surfaces of the members I and 8.

Resting upon the annular apex of the. member 8 and secured thereto in. suitable manner, as by a welded joint, is an upstanding tubular member I4; A second tubular member I5 haying height substantially less than that of the tubular member I4 is. disposed exteriorly thereof. in concentric spaced relation with respect thereto. As shown, thev respective upper and lower. surfaces of the member I5 are disposed. to substantial extentbelow and above the corresponding surfaces of the member I4; As indicated in. Figs. 1 and 2, brackets I5, interposed between the members I4. and I5, are welded or otherwise suitably secured thereto and utilized. forsupporting purposes as regards said member I'5 Athird,

tubular member IT is disposed exteriorly of the tubular member It in concentric spaced relation.

with respect. thereto, the upper surface, of said tubular member I11 being disposed at a higher level than the lower surface ofthe tubular member I5. The tubular member IT may besupported by the hereinbefore, described crossbars 9. to which it may be welded or otherwise suitably secured.

Extending upwardly from the upper surfaceof the tubular member I5 is a circumferentially' complete, frusto-conical screen I8 which engages, the interior surface of the housing I. Similarly,

a circumferentially complete, frusto-conical member I9 extends upwardly from the upper surface of the tubular member I1 and said member It may be welded or otherwise suitably secured to the respective upper and lower surfaces engaged thereby. A plurality of spaced brackets 28 may be disposed, first, between facing surfaces of the screen I8 and member I9 and, second, between facing surfaces of the member I9 and the housing I, these brackets being welded or otherwise suitably secured to the respective surfaces engaged thereby and utilized for bracing purposes as will be understood.

symmetrically disposed exteriorly of the hereinbefore described conical member I is a tubular member 2I which may be secured by welded joints to the cross bars 9. Upstanding from the tubular member 2| and welded or otherwise suitably secured thereto is a circumferentially complete, conical member 22 which may have an inverted frusto-conical member 23 secured interiorly thereof as shown in Fig. 1.

Disposed interiorly of and concentrically with respect to the hereinbefore described tubular member It is a tubular member 24 which is related symmetrically to the aforesaid conical member 22. As shown, the tubular member 24 may be supported in operative position by a plurality of spaced brackets 25 which are welded or otherwise suitably secured to facing surfaces of the respective tubular members I4 and 24. Extending upwardly from the upper surface of the tubular member 24 is a circumferentially complete, conical screen 26 which may be welded or otherwise suitably secured to said upper surface of the tubular member 24. For bracing purposes, a plurality of spaced brackets 21 may be secured by welded joints, or equivalent, to facing surfaces of the conical member 22 and the screen 26, respectively.

As shown in Figs. 1 and 2, cross bars 28 may engage the exterior surface of the conical member 22 and extend through the screens 26, I8 so as to engage the interior surface of the hereinbefore described member I9. These cross bars should be welded to the parts engaged thereby so as to impart rigidity thereto.

In accordance with the invention, annular angle bars 29 are suitably secured, as by welded joints, in suitably spaced relation to the interior surface of the screen I8 and the exterior surface of the screen 26, these angle bars being utilizable as and for the purpose hereinafter described.

Further, in accordance with the invention, the upper portion of the hereinbefore described tubular member I! is provided with a plurality of spaced passages IIa positioned, preferably, in horizontal row formation. Projecting from the exterior surface of the tubular member II are lips or vanes III) which are associated with the respective passages I'Ia so as to deflect the cracked vapors passing therethrough for the purpose hereinafter described. Similarly, the upper portion of the tubular member 2I is provided with a horizontal row of spaced passages 2m and, on its inner surface, said member 21 comprises lips or vanes 2Ib which are associated with said passages 2Ia, respectively, and utilizable for the same purpose as the lips or vanes Ill).

The hereinbefore described conical member I9 and the upper portion of the tubular member I'I define with an interior surface area ofthe housing I a chamber A. Further, the conical member I9, the upper portion of the tubular member II,

the tubular member I5 and the conical screen I8 define a chamber AI. Still further, the tubular member 24, the conical screen 26, the conical member 22 and the upper portion of the conical member 2I define a chamber A2. Still further, the upper portion of the tubular member 2| and the conical member 22 define a chamber A3. As shownon the drawing, each of these chambers has a lower outlet utilizable for the purpose described below. In the manner hereinafter described, cracked vapors together with contact material fines pass into all of these chambers. The vapors and some of the fines admitted to the chamber A2 pass into the chamber A3 by way of the aforesaid passages: 2 Id, and, similarly, the vapors and some of the fines admitted to the chamber AI pass into the chamber A by way of the aforesaid passages IId. In accordance with the invention, the chambers A3 and A are placed in communicating relation by one or more pipes 3E]. During operation, the cracked vapors pass from the chamber A3 to the chamber A by way of said pipes 30 and, from the chamber last named, said cracked vapors pass to any suitable destination, not shown, by way of one or more pipes 3I.

In the form of the invention herein shown, the housing I is a cylindrical vessel which is circular in horizontal section. The respective vertical axes of the member 1, the member 8, the tubular member 2|, the conical member 22, the conical screen 26, the conical screen I8 and the conical member I9 are shown as coinciding with the vertical axis of the housing I. The same holds true as regards all of the parts previously described which are circumferentially complete and extend either vertically or in inclined relation interiorly of the lower portion of the housing I. The conical screen 26 is inclined downwardly in symmetrical diverging relation with respect to the vertical axis of the housing I and, likewise, the conical screen I8 is inclined downwardly in symmetrical converging relation with respect to said housing axis. Hence, these two screens form a path through which the contact material converges as it gravitates between them. The relation described immediately above is a preferred arrangement although, in some of its broader aspects, the invention is not to be thus restricted.

The screens I8 and 26, the conical members I9 and 22, and the chamber-forming members I and 8 deflect the downwardly moving contact material and, therefore, these parts should be positioned with respect to a horizontal plane at an angle greater than the angle of repose of the moving contact material so as to at least minimize or even avoid retarded or hindered fiow of the contact material adjacent surfaces it contacts.

As hereinbefore stated, the contact material C, during operation of the disclosed apparatus, gravitates through the housing I in solid bed fashion. Simultaneously, hydrocarbon vapors to be cracked are admitted continuously by way of the pipe 6 to said housing I and conditions are maintained such that the interior housing pressure is determined by that existing in the hereinbefore described outlet pipes 3I. In known manner, a suitable sealing medium, such as a stream of flue gases, is admitted to the top of the housing I by way of a pipe Ia, Fig. 1, this sealing medium being maintained under pressure slightly greater than the interior housing pressure in order to prevent passage of hydrocarbon vapors upwardly through the pipe 2. I Accordingly, the

7 admitted-hydrocarbon vapors pass downwardly concurrently as regards the gravitating contact material and are disengaged therefrom in the manner hereinafter described. As the foregoing operation proceeds, steam, flue gases or other suitable purging gaseous medium is :admitted to the chamber-forming members I and '8 by way of the pipe It. The purging medium which is thus admitted is under pressure greater than that existing at the level of the aforesaid pipes 31 and, at the lower surfaces of the respective members 1 and 8, the purging medium is'engaged with the contact material forpassage upwardly and downwardly therethroug'h. In known manner, the operation last described prevents passage of cracked hydrocarbon vapors through the pipe 5.

The contact material, during passage thereof through the lower portion'of the housing 1, passes in converging manner between the conical screens 18 and 2E. The contact material thus converges as a single stream until it-ar-rives at the upper surface of the tubu'larmember I4 whereupon it moves downwardly as separate streams which initially converge and then merge into concentric tubular streams which move between the tubular members 15 and 24 and subsequently engage the annular member 8.

By far the larger portion of the 'gravitating contact material moves through the lower portion of the housing I in the manner described above. I"

However, as stated, contact material fines enter all of the described chambers A, Al, A2 and A3. These fines, as the operation continues, pass from said chambers through the respective lower outlets thereof and join the maincolumn of gravitating contact material.

The conical screens i8 and 26 relate to an important feature of the invention and they define inclined surfaces or paths porous to the hydrocarbon vapors. Hence, during concurrent movement of the contact material and the hydrocarbon vapors downwardly through thehousing i, the cracked vapors pass through said screens and are disengaged from the'majorportion'of'the contact material C, these vapors thereafter, as hereinafter more "particularly described, passing through the housing chambers Al, A and A2, A3 whereupon they leave said housing'by way of the described pipes 30 and 3|. It will be understood,

then, that the mesh of the screens 1'8 and 26 compared with the meshof the contact material should be chosen with this end in view. Thus, for example, the mesh of the screens l8 and 25 may range between '80 and 100 when the mesh of the contact material C ranges between 2 and 50.

In Fig. 1, the screens I8 and 2B are shown as of the single layer type. However, from a practi cal viewpoint, it may be desirable .for the screen construction to be otherwise, for example, as shown in Fig. 4 wherein individual screens s and s! are shown as welded or otherwise suitably secured to each other in facing relation. The screen s serves as a support or reinforcement and, hence, the screen-forming wires should be heavy and the mesh thereof large, for example, much larger than the mesh of the contact material. The screen sl has the-same function .as the screens l8 and'26described above and, therefore, the mesh thereof should be substantially smaller than that of the contact material. In practicing the invention, .it will be understood that both of the screens 18 and 2B are formed preferably as shown in Fig. 4 and thatthe' smaller 8 mesh screen should be directly engaged by the gravitating contact material.

As hereinbefore described, annular angle bars 29 are secured to the interior surface of the screen I8 and to the exterior surface of the screen 26. The projecting portion of each angle bar is engaged by contact material which remains thereon as a stagnant mass and has a surface extending upwardly and inclined toward the screen. As regards each angle bar 29, it is this inclined surface of stagnant contact material which is engaged by the gravitating contact material. Accordingly, when the angle bars 29 have proper dimensions and are properly spaced,

the entire screen area is covered entirely or substantially so by a relatively thin layer of stagnant or stationary contact material which forms a protective barrier as regards the gravitating contact material to thereby substantially decrease wear of the screen.

Although screen arrangements of the character described above constitute an important feature of the invention, it shall be understood that, as regards some of its broader aspects, the invention is not to be limited thereto. Thus, for example, it may be desirable, under some circumstances, for the described screens to be replaced by perforated members formed from suitable sheet material, these perforated members, as well as said screens, being suitably porous to the converted vapors throughout circumferentially complete areas thereof.

Accordingly, in view of the foregoing, it will be understood that cracked vapors and contact material fines are admitted, as the cracking operation proceeds, to the chambers Al and A2 through the respective screens 18 and 26. As regards the chamber Al, the vapors and fines pass downwardly therethrough, and a portion of the fines are disentrained for passage downwardly interiorly of the tubular member H. The remaining portion of the fines together with all of the vapors last noted have maximum velocity at the bottom of said chamber Al as they flow through the passages Ila of said tubular member I! and enter the chamber A. Due to the abrupt reversal in direction of said vapors at the passages Ila. and also due to decreased vapor velocity in the lower portion of the chamber A, it results that substantially all of the fines passing into said last'named chamber, settle to the bottom thereof and the upwardly moving substantially fine-free vapors pass into the inlet ends of the respective pipes 3| As regards the chamber A2, the action is generally similar to that described above. some of the fines admitted to said chamber A2 pass downwardly around the tubular member 2! whereas substantially the entire remaining portion of the fines settle downwardly interiorly of the chamber defined by said tubular member 21 and, thereafter, in solid bed fashion gravitate around the conical member 1. All of the vapors admitted to the chamber A2 enter the chamber A3 by Way of the described passages 2 la and pass upwardly through said chamber A3 to the inlet sides of the respective pipes 30. During such upward movement of the vapors, the fines settle therefrom and this action is enhanced by the change in vapor velocity which is effected by the conical member 23, the use of which is optional.

A detailed feature of the invention relates to the provision of the hereinbefore described vanes or lips Nb and 2!?) which impart a whirling or spinning motion to the vapors entering the chambers A and A3. This contributes in an effective vapors flowing upwardly through the 9 manner as regards separation of fines from the respective chambers last noted.

In view of the foregoing, it will be understood that the chambers A and AI may be considered one single chamber through which disengaged vapors fiow prior to passage thereof from the housing I. The conical member I9 in this single chamber serves as a bafile controlling the direction and velocity of vapor flow in such manner that, in said single chamber, fines are separated from the vapors to substantial extent. A similar effect exists as regards the chambers A2, A3 and the conical baffle member 22. It shall be understood that the inventive feature thus described relates broadly to a baflle-containing chamber traversed by disengaged fine-carrying vapors or other gaseous medium of any suitable character, whether a hydrocarbon or not, and that, except as stated in claim language, the invention is not to be limited to the arrangement herein shown and described.

In addition to the foregoing some of the hydrocarbon vapors pass downwardly between the tubular members I5, 24 and are disengaged from the sloping surface of the contact material at the lower ends thereof whereupon, along with excess steam or other purging medium admitted to the housing I by way of the pipe I3, they pass upwardly into the respective chambers AI and A3.

The velocity and volume of all the vapor material last noted are such that the contact material is not lifted to any substantial extent at the sloping disengaging surfaces.

The tubular members I4, I! and 2i assist in de creasing surging of the gravitating contact material and this aids in obtaining maximum remembers. In the form of the invention herein illustrated, two disengaging members are thus utilized although it will be understood that the invention is not to be thus limited.

After the contact material passes below the zone of the disengager arrangement described above, it I engages and is deflected, during convergence thereof under the influence of the conical lower end of the housing I, by the chamber-defining members "I, 8. Thereafter all of the contact material passes through the pipe 5. As this opera tion proceeds, the purging medium is admitted continuously to the interior of the chamber-defining members I and 8 for engagement with the contact material at the respective lower surfaces thereof.

It is a feature of the invention that the chamher-forming members I and 8 have a dual function as generally referred to above. That is, these members define chambers through which the purging medium passes prior to engagement thereof with the contact material and, in addition, said members (together with a splitter plate assembly 32 which, when utilized, may be secured to the lower surface of the bar I2 and formed from plates related at right angles to each other) maintain the g'ravitating contact material in separate streams as it passes through a major portion of the lower conical end of the housing I. Resulting from the function last stated, undesired channelling of the contact material is minimized or substantially prevented and this is accomplished in the absence of the horizontal prior art tube sheets which, ordinarily, are utilized for this purpose. It shall be understood that, as regards said chamber-forming members 1 and 8, or equivalent, there is to be no limitation to use thereof with the described disengager arrangement.

In view of the previous description, it will be understood, by reference to Fig. 1, that the lower portion of the chamber A is occupied exclusively by contact material fines. Should it become desirable to remove these fines from the main stream of gravitating contact material, for a purpose well understood in the art as regards contact material which circulates through reaction and regenerating housings, an arrangement of the character shown in Fig. 5 may be utilized. Thus, a plurality of downwardly inclined pipes Ilb may be secured to the lower conical end of the housing I. These pipes lb, at their upper ends, open into the bottom of the chamber A and, at their lower ends, they may communicate with a collector ring Ic having a discharge pipe Id leading therefrom, the collector ring Ic being inclined with respect to a horizontal plane by an angle greater than the angle of repose of the fines. With an arrangement of this character, the contact material fines may pass through the pipe I d to any suitable destination, not shown. Obviously, purge or seal gas may be admitted to the pipe Id to prevent flow of vapor material therethrough from the interior of the housing I while freely permitting passag of fines through said pipe Id.

As regards the feature of the invention described above, it shall be understood that, except as set forth in claim language, there shall be no restriction thereof to the arrangement shown in Fig. 5. In the disclosed form of the invention, the fines are segregated from the main stream of contact material during passage thereof through the disengaging arrangement and, within the scope of the invention, the disengaging arrangement may be located as desired within the reaction housing.

In its broader aspects, the invention is not to b limited to the detailed form thereof hereinbefore described. Thus, within the broad scope of the invention, there may be wide departure from the disclosed mechanical form of the disengager arrangement, the engager for the purging medium and the supporting mechanism therefor. It will be understood that the screens, tubular members and other mechanical parts are formed from steel which is suitably resistant to the action of high temperature.

An advantage of this invention resides in the fact that, with the disclosed apparatus, the amount of contact material which may be passed through the disengaging zone per unit of time,

* while obtaining efiicient disengagement of vapors,

i substantially greater than the amount of contact material which may be passed through prior art reactors during the same unit of time assuming, in each instance, that the vapor flow is maintained substantially the same and that the height of the prior art disengaging zone remains unchanged. It should be noted that the efiiciency of the disclosed disengaging system is improved as the annular space between the members I5 and 24 approaches the minimum space relation consistent with the passage therethrough of sufficient contact material to maintain the desired rate of movement of contact material through the reaction zone proper.

When the catalyst to oil ratio is high such, for example, as 10:1 or 20:1, the disengaging zone of my invention may have larger diameter than that of the housing I. To this end, for example, an enlarged disengaging zone may be built around the housing 1 to thereby obtain increased disengaging capacity.

Although the preceding description relates specifically to apparatus which is utilized for disengaging purposes, it shall be understood, as h reinbefore stated, that such apparatus may be utilized for engaging vapors with contact mate rial. If so, it may be desirable for apparatus such as the members I? and E9 to be omitted.

With respect to my invention as hereinbefore described, vapors may pass in either direction along a path extending from the interior of the housing i to the exterior thereof, this path, extending through one or both of the porous surfaces defined by the respective screens 18 and E. In the appended claims, then, it shall be understood that expressions specifying that vapors are passed along a path as described above are intended to be descriptive either of a disengaging operation or an engaging operation.

In an application filed by me of even date herewith Serial No. 795,052, filed December 31, 1947, now Patent No. 2,577,791, there is a disclosure of apparatus utilizing imperforate conical members in lieu of the screens l8 and 29 disclosed herein. The application referred to immediately of the invention as hereinbefore set forth may be made without departing from the spirit and scope thereof and, therefore, only such limitations should be imposed as are indicated in the appended claims.

I claim:

1. In gas-solid contacting apparatus, the combination of a housing adapted to be traversed by gravitating contact material and gas, a circumferentially complete porous member inclined downwardlyfrom the lower interior surface of said housing and forming a circumferentially complete chamber therewith, an upwardly tapered conical porous bafile disposed substantially concentrically with respect to the vertical axis of said reaction housing within the chamber defined by said circumferentially complete member and defining therewith the boundaries of a passageway into which the contact material converges during gravitational movement thereof, a plurality of vertically spaced apart obstructions to fiow on the upper surfaces of both said circumferentially complete member and said conical baffle, and means for the passage of gas, which means communicates with the exterior of the housing, with the contact material, and includes said chamber.

2. In gas-solid contacting apparatus, the combination of a housing adapted to be traversed by gravitating contact material and. gas, a circumferentially complete porous member inclined downwardly from the lower interior surface of said housing and forming a circumferentially complete chamber therewith, an upwardly tapered conical porous baflle disposed substantially concentrically with respect to the vertical axis of said reaction housing within the chamber defined by said circumferentially complete member and defining therewith the boundaries of a passageway into which the contact material converges during gravitational movement thereof, an upwardly tapered conical baflie impervious to gas flow and spaced concentrically below said conical porous bafile, and means for the passage of gas, which means communicates with the exterior of the housing, with the contact material, and includes said chamber.

3. In apparatus, of the character described, a vertical housing traversed concurrently by gravitating contact material and hydrocarbon vapors, a downwardly inclined, circumferentially com plete member supported in the lower end of said housing and forming a chamber therewith, a circumferential-1y complete bailie member supported within said chamber, a conical chamberforming member supported in the lower end of said housing at the center thereof, a conical baffie member supported Within the chamber defined by said last named member, said downwardly inclined member and said conical chamber-forming member defining a converging path for deflecting the contact material and, substantially throughout the area of each, being porous to vapors which, at said members, are disengaged from the contact material for passage into said first-named chamber and the chamber defined by said conical member, and means for withdrawing the vapors from said chambers.

4. In apparatus of the character described, a vertical housing traversed concurrently by gravitating contact material and hydrocarbon vapors, means for disengaging the reacted vapors and entrained contact material fines from the gravitating contact material in a lower zone of said housing, a fines-accumulating chamber into which the reacted vapors and entrained contact material fines are passed, a collector ring, and a plurality of spaced pipes leading from said chamber to said collector ring.

DWIGHT D. MCKINNEY.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the file of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 2,341,193 Scheineman Feb. 8, 1944 2,385,189 Bowles Sept. 18, 1945 2,394,710 McAfee Feb. 12, 1946 2,422,262 Russel June 17, 1947 2,423,013 Evans June 24, 1947 2,429,545 Bergstrom Oct. 21, 1947