Patent ID: 6555725
Filing Date: 2003-04-29
Classification: B01J,C10G

Abstract:
A process for hydroisomerizing the slurry hydrocarbon liquid produced in a slurry hydrocarbon synthesis reactor in said reactor while it is producing said liquid from a synthesis gas and wherein said slurry in said synthesis reactor comprises gas bubbles and catalyst particles in said liquid, said process comprising:(a) contacting a portion of said slurry with means for removing gas bubbles, to produce a gas bubble reduced slurry having a density greater than that of said slurry in said synthesis reactor; (b) passing a hydrogen treat gas and said densified, gas bubble reduced slurry into and down through a hydroisomerization zone in one or more downcomer reactors immersed in, in fluid communication with and surrounded by said slurry in said synthesis reactor, each said downcomer reactor containing a hydroisomerization catalyst therein which defines a hydroisomerization zone; (c) reacting said gas bubble reduced slurry and hydrogen in the presence of said hydroisomerization catalyst, at reaction conditions effective to hydroisomerize at least a portion of said liquid and produce a hydroisomerized liquid, and (d) passing all or a portion of said hydroisomerized hydrocarbon liquid back into said surrounding slurry and thereby forming part of said slurry liquid.