Method for safely and quickly shutting down and cleaning a hydroprocessing reactor of spent catalyst via a water flooding technique

US9545649B2 · kind B2 · utility

Assignee

• CHEVRON U.S.A. INC. · US

Inventors

• Jeff William Johns · Draper, US
• Steven Alden Souers · Port Neches, US
• Douglas Gayle McDaniel · Moss Point, US
• David Lawrence Cooke · San Rafael, US
• David Bosi · Napa, US

Key dates

• Filing date: May 27, 2015
• Grant date: Jan 17, 2017
• Expiry date: Jul 10, 2035

Classification

• Technology area (CPC C): Chemistry; Metallurgy
• CPC primary: C10G2300/701
• WIPO field: Chemical engineering
• WIPO sector: Chemistry

Abstract

Processes for shutting down a hydroprocessing reactor and for removing catalyst from the reactor may comprise shutting off hydrocarbon feed to the reactor, stripping hydrocarbons from the catalyst, cooling the reactor to a first threshold reactor temperature, purging the reactor with N2 gas, introducing water into the reactor, and dumping the catalyst from the reactor, wherein the first threshold reactor temperature may be substantially greater than 200° F. In an embodiment, the water may be introduced into the reactor via a quench gas distribution system when the reactor is at a second threshold reactor temperature not greater than 200° F. to cool the reactor to a third threshold reactor temperature not greater than 120° F.