MULTIPHASE CONTACT AND DISTRIBUTION APPARATUS FOR HYDROPROCESSING

• US 20120014849A1
• Filed: 07/19/2010
• Published: 01/19/2012
• Est. Priority Date: 07/19/2010
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Chevron USA Incorporated (Chevron Corp.)
• Original Assignee: Chevron USA Incorporated (Chevron Corp.)
• Inventors: Killen, Ralph E., Song, Steven X., Kemoun, Abdenour, Parimi, Krishniah, Boyak, Craig, Souers, Steve, Akin, Zackory
• Granted Patent: US 8,372,354 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 422/607
• CPC Class Codes: B01J 2208/00884 Means for supporting the bed of particles, e.g. grids, bars, perforated plates
• CPC Class Codes: B01J 2208/00902 Nozzle-type feeding elements
• CPC Class Codes: B01J 2208/0092 Perforated plates
• CPC Class Codes: B01J 2208/00929 Provided with baffles
• CPC Class Codes: B01J 8/0453 the beds being superimposed one above the other
• CPC Class Codes: B01J 8/0492 Feeding reactive fluids for solid material, see B01J8/0015
• CPC Class Codes: B05B 1/14 with multiple outlet openings B05B1/02, B05B1/26 take precedence; with strainers in or outside the outlet opening

Abstract

Systems and apparatus for mixing, cooling, and distributing multiphase fluid mixtures within a reactor, wherein reactor internal apparatus of the present invention provides not only improved fluid mixing and distribution to each underlying catalyst bed surface, but also offers other advantages including: decreased mixing tray height; easier maintenance, assembly and disassembly; and decreased amounts of fabrication material. In an embodiment, fluid may be evenly distributed to a catalyst bed from a fluid distribution unit comprising a nozzle tray including a plurality of nozzles, wherein the nozzles include at least one liquid inlet disposed tangentially to an inner surface of the nozzle.

Claims

1. A nozzle for the even distribution of a multi-phase fluid mixture, the nozzle comprising:

(a) a nozzle body comprising a proximal body portion, an intermediate body portion, and a distal body portion, wherein;

(b) the proximal body portion defines a substantially cylindrical proximal void,

(c) the proximal body portion having at least one gas inlet configured for the passage of gas therethrough into the proximal body portion,

(d) the intermediate body portion defines a substantially cylindrical intermediate void in fluid communication with the proximal void,

(e) the distal body portion having a body wall and at least one liquid inlet configured for the passage of liquid therethrough into the distal body portion, and

(f) the distal body portion defining a substantially cylindrical distal void, wherein the at least one liquid inlet is disposed tangentially to an inner surface of the distal body portion.

2. The nozzle according to claim 1, wherein the intermediate body portion comprises a gas nozzle.

3. The nozzle according to claim 2, wherein the gas nozzle is integral with the nozzle body.

4. The nozzle according to claim 1, further comprising a nozzle cap sealingly engaged with a proximal end of the nozzle body.

5. The nozzle according to claim 1, wherein:

(a) the at least one gas inlet comprises a plurality of gas inlets disposed laterally on the proximal body portion, and

(b) the at least one liquid inlet comprises a plurality of liquid inlets disposed laterally on the distal body portion.

6. The nozzle according to claim 1, wherein the at least one liquid inlet is linear.

7. The nozzle according to claim 6, wherein the at least one liquid inlet has a liquid inlet length, I_L to liquid inlet width, I_W ratio (I_L:

I_W) in the range from about 2;

1 to 5;

1.

8. The nozzle according to claim 1, wherein the at least one gas inlet comprises a proximal axial opening in the nozzle body.

9. The nozzle according to claim 8, wherein the at least one liquid inlet comprises a curved channel disposed within the body wall.

10. The nozzle according to claim 9, wherein the curved channel has an inner terminus disposed tangentially to an inner surface of the distal body portion.

11. The nozzle according to claim 9, wherein the curved channel subtends an angle, a in the range from about 60°

to 180°

.

12. The nozzle according to claim 1, wherein:

(a) the proximal void has a first diameter,

(b) the intermediate void has a second diameter,

(c) the distal void has a third diameter, wherein;

(d) the first diameter is substantially greater than the third diameter, and

(e) the third diameter is substantially greater than the second diameter.

13. The nozzle according to claim 1, further comprising:

(a) a converging first frusto-conical portion distal to, and in fluid communication with, the distal body portion; and

(b) a diverging second frusto-conical portion distal to, and in fluid communication with, the first frusto-conical portion.

14. The nozzle according to claim 1, wherein:

(a) each of the liquid inlets is configured for forming a film of liquid on the inner surface of the distal body portion, and

(b) each of the liquid inlets is configured for spiral flow of liquid on the inner surface of the distal body portion, wherein the flow of liquid is in a direction distal to the liquid inlets.

15. The nozzle according to claim 1, further comprising a plurality of indentations at the distal end of the nozzle body.

16. A fluid distribution apparatus for a reactor, comprising:

(a) a nozzle tray;

(b) a plurality of chimneys affixed to, and extending substantially vertically from, an upper surface of the nozzle tray;

each chimney having an open proximal end, an open distal end, and a chimney wall defining a substantially cylindrical chimney void, wherein the chimney wall has at least one lateral opening therein; and

(c) a fluid distribution nozzle disposed within each chimney, wherein;

(d) the nozzle comprises a nozzle body including a proximal body portion, an intermediate body portion, and a distal body portion having a distal body wall,

(e) the proximal body portion defining a substantially cylindrical proximal void,

(f) the open proximal end configured for the passage of gas therethrough,

(g) the intermediate body portion defining a substantially cylindrical intermediate void in fluid communication with the proximal void,

(h) the distal body portion having a liquid inlet configured for the passage of liquid therethrough into the distal body portion,

(i) the distal body portion defining a substantially cylindrical distal void, and

(j) the liquid inlet comprises a curved channel within the distal body wall, the curved channel having an inner terminus disposed tangentially to an inner surface of the distal body portion.

17. The fluid distribution apparatus according to claim 16, wherein:

(a) the liquid inlet is in fluid communication with the at least one lateral opening, and

(b) the liquid inlet is configured for spiral flow of liquid on the inner surface of the distal body portion, wherein the flow of liquid is in a direction distal to the liquid inlet.

18. The fluid distribution apparatus according to claim 16, wherein:

(a) the proximal void has a first diameter,

(b) the intermediate void has a second diameter,

(c) the distal void has a third diameter, wherein;

(d) the first diameter is substantially greater than the third diameter, and

(e) the third diameter is substantially greater than the second diameter.

19. A fluid distribution nozzle, comprising:

(a) a substantially cylindrical nozzle body having a plurality of outer slots disposed circumferentially around the nozzle body;

(b) a cap affixed to a proximal portion of the nozzle body, the cap having an axial proximal opening therein;

(c) a base affixed to a distal portion of the nozzle body, the base having an axial distal opening therein; and

(d) a substantially cylindrical inner conduit disposed axially within a proximal portion of the nozzle body, the inner conduit disposed within the proximal opening of the cap, and the inner conduit extending proximally from the cap to define a proximal end of the inner conduit, the inner conduit having a plurality of inner slots disposed circumferentially around the proximal end of the inner conduit, and a distal end of the inner conduit terminating distally at a location proximal to a distal end of each of the outer slots.

20. The fluid distribution nozzle of claim 19, wherein:

(a) the axial distal opening is frusto-conical and tapers distally from narrow to broad,

(b) each of the cap and the base is threaded,

(c) the cap is sealingly engaged with the nozzle body via threads on the proximal portion of the nozzle body, and

(d) the base is sealingly engaged with the nozzle body via threads on the distal portion of the nozzle body.

21. The fluid distribution nozzle of claim 19, wherein:

(a) the inner conduit is disposed substantially concentrically with the nozzle body,

(b) the inner conduit is sealingly engaged with the cap,

(c) the nozzle body, and the inner conduit jointly define a void within the device,

(d) each of the inner slots is in fluid communication with the void via the inner conduit,

(e) the void comprises an annular proximal void and a substantially cylindrical distal void,

(f) the inner conduit is configured for the passage of gas therethrough from the inner slots to the distal void, and

(g) the device is configured for the passage of liquid through the outer slots into the nozzle body.