Patent ID: 8008534

Claim:
A method of hydroprocessing hydrocarbons comprising: providing a substantially liquid-phase reaction zone having first and second catalyst beds in liquid communication, and a heat transfer section positioned in liquid communication with the catalyst beds; each catalyst bed having a maximum operating temperature range; providing a hydrocarbonaceous feed stream to the substantially liquid phase reaction zone, the hydrocarbonaceous feed stream including an admixture of the hydrocarbons and an amount of hydrogen effective to provide a hydrogen supply for the substantially liquid-phase reaction zone, and the liquid-phase reaction zone having a substantially continuous liquid-phase throughout; hydroprocessing the hydrocarbons in the first and second catalyst beds under substantially liquid-phase conditions to produce an effluent stream; passing the hydrocarbon process flow through the heat transfer section and removing sufficient heat from the hydrocarbon process flow to maintain the hydrocarbon process flow over each catalyst beds at or below the maximum operating temperature range of the hydroprocessing catalyst bed; directing the effluent stream to a separation zone configured to separate a vaporous stream from the liquid product stream; and introducing a stripping medium including high pressure steam at 1200 to 1600 psig into the separation zone to effect separation of the vaporous stream from the liquid product stream.