Patent ID: 7001503

Claim:
A method for hydrorefining hydrocarbon feed oil including a sulfur-containing compound using at least two catalyst layers, comprising the steps of: introducing hydrocarbon feed oil to the first catalyst layer together with hydrogen; temporarily holding, by using a holding member, a liquid component that has flown out from the first catalyst layer, and stripping the liquid component with a first hydrogen gas stream that is fed from a hydrogen introduction part provided between the first catalyst layer and the second catalyst layer so that the first hydrogen gas stream passes through the liquid component as a countercurrent to the liquid component; removing a vapor component that has been produced from the first catalyst layer and a vapor component that has been produced by stripping, while adjusting flow of the vapor component produced from the first catalyst layer and the vapor component produced by stripping in order to perform the stripping; and introducing the stripped liquid component to the second catalyst layer together with and cocurrent with a second hydrogen gas stream that is fed from the hydrogen introduction part.