Patent ID: 7569136

Claim:
A continuous liquid phase hydroprocessing method using a reactor at a predetermined temperature during steady state operation and having an upper zone of gases and a substantially larger lower zone of hydrogen dissolved in a mixture of liquids surrounding a catalyst, whereby said liquids minimize fluctuations in said predetermined temperature, compnsing: (a) blending a liquid feed, having a contaminant or contaminants of at least one of sulfur, nitrogen, oxygen, metals, and combinations thereof, with a liquid diluent to form a continuous liquid phase diluent and feed mixture; (b) blending said diluent and feed mixture with hydrogen, in a constant pressure environment, ahead of the reactor to form a continuous liquid phase feed, diluent and hydrogen mixture; (c) introducing said continuous liquid phase feed, diluent and hydrogen mixture into the reactor; (d) controlling the quantity of liquids in the reactor by monitoring said quantity of liquids and increasing or decreasing the quantity of hydrogen added in step b; (e) venting excess gas from the reactor to facilitate controlling the quantity of liquids in the reactor; and (f) reacting the continuous liquid phase feed, diluent and hydrogen mixture at the active site of the catalyst in the reactor to remove the contaminant or contaminants from the feed mixture.