Patent GB-600776-A (GB)
Title: Hydrogenation of organic compounds
Filed: 1945-05-30
Abstract: In the production of hydrocarbons of lower boiling range, e.g gasolines, from hydrocarbons oil of higher boiling range than naphthas by passing the oils and catalysts, e.g. tungsten and nickel sulphides or nickel supported on hydrofluoric acid-treated clays together with hydrogenating gases through a reaction zone where the velocity of the gases is controlled to form a "dense phase" suspension, contaminated catalyst is continuously withdrawn from the hydrogenation zone, reactivated by reduction with hydrogenating gases and returned to the hydrogenation zone. The hydrogenation reduction of the catalyst may be in conjunction with regeneration by oxidizing gases.  Reaction <PICT:0600776/III/1> <PICT:0600776/III/2> pressures of 50 to 3000 lbs. p.s.i., temperatures from 400 DEG  to 800 DEG  F., feed rates of 0.5-5 lbs. oil per lb. catalyst, gas velocities of .5-5 ft. per second and hydrogen recycle rates of p  4000-1000 cubic ft. per barrel are specified.  In Fig. 1 oil, introduced through line 1, is compressed to about 1000 lbs. per square inch and then passed, preheated if required, through line 6 into line 17 conveying a suspension of catalyst in hydrogenating gases.  The mixture is introduced into chamber 18 in which a dense turbulent suspension of catalyst is maintained.  Reaction products pass to chamber 21 into contact with a baffle 22 to separate catalyst from the reaction products; the latter are passed through oil scrubber 26, where the last traces of catalyst are removed, and thence to condenser 32 and high-pressure separator 33 in which condensate is separated from uncondensed gases and passed to low pressure separator 39.  Gases recovered from separator 33 are purified by contact with alkaline sodium phenolate solution in contact tower 44 and are recycled by compressor 46 through heater 48 to reactor.  Part of the hydrogen is diverted through line 17 into regenerator 21, passing upwardly through the catalyst which on regeneration is recycled through line 52 and heatexchanger 54 in which vaporization is controlled by thermocouple 57 in reactor.  Modifications are described in which (1) the regeneration is carried out in a regeneration zone located in the upper portion of the hydrogenation chamber and in which residual catalyst contained in the reaction gases is removed by scrubbing with water in a packed tower; (2) the catalyst after removal of hydrogenation gases is intermittently regenerated with oxidizing gases and is then subsequently reduced by treatment with hydrogenating gases; (3) continuous air regeneration is obtained by providing a pair of pressurized hoppers below the reaction and regeneration zones. As shown in Fig. 4, the reaction and regeneration chambers 205, 242 are each provided with pairs of draw-off tubes 224, 225 and 243, 244 through which catalyst is withdrawn to pairs of pressurized hoppers 228, 229 and 245, 246 provided with valves so that when catalyst has been discharged from reactor to fill, e.g. hopper 229, the valve to this hopper is closed and discharge is made to hopper 228, the catalyst in hopper 229 being discharged into regenerator 242 which is operated similarly.  The regenerated catalyst is subjected to the hydrogen reduction while in the hoppers 245, 246 and is then recycled.  Specification 600,777 is referred to.