Patent ID: 6472577
Filing Date: 2002-10-29
Classification: C07C

Abstract:
A method of increasing the throughput of a process for the dehydrogenation of hydrocarbons that contacts a combined dehydrogenation feed in a first reactor with a catalyst bed, that passes the effluent from the first reactor into contact with a catalyst bed in at least one intermediate reactor; that passes an intermediate effluent from the last of the at least one intermediate reactor into contact with a final catalyst bed in a final reactor, and that adds catalyst to the top of the final catalyst bed and withdraws catalyst from the bottom of the final catalyst bed in a final reactor while contacting the intermediate effluent in the final catalyst bed of the final reactor, wherein the final reactor is located to the side of the intermediate reactor from which it receives the intermediate effluent and the catalyst bed of the final reactor retains catalyst between an inner and outer screen in an arrangement for the radial flow of reactants, said method comprising:splitting the vessel wall of the final reactor at a disconnection point above the middle of the inner and outer screens to define a lower reactor section that retains the inner and outer screens and a disconnecting upper reactor section that retains equipment for supplying catalyst to the final catalyst bed; at least temporarily removing the disconnecting upper reactor section; extending the inner and outer screens by a distance that will increase the catalyst volume in the process by at least 5%; and installing a new section of vessel wall above the disconnection point to enclose the extended inner and outer screens with a closing upper section of the final reactor that retains equipment for supplying catalyst to the final catalyst bed.