Apparatus for loading particulate catalytic material and loading method

Abstract

Apparatus for loading particulate catalytic material into reactor tubes comprising an axial shaft capable of rotational movement around its axis in a clockwise and counter-clockwise direction and having attached at its lower end perpendicular to the axis a horizontal distribution shaft, the length of which can be varied, one end of a flexible hollow catalyst supply hose being attached to the end of the horizontal distribution shaft extending into the reactor space, the other end of the flexible catalyst supply hose being available for entrance of catalyst particles external to the reactor tube. The invention also concerns a method of loading particulate catalytic material into a reactor tube.

1 . Apparatus for loading particulate catalytic material into reactor tubes comprising an axial shaft capable of rotational movement around its axis in a clockwise and counter-clockwise direction and having attached at its lower end perpendicular to the axis a horizontal distribution shaft, the length of which can be varied, one end of a flexible hollow catalyst supply hose being attached to the end of the horizontal distribution shaft extending into the reactor space, the other end of the flexible catalyst supply hose being available for entrance of catalyst particles external to the reactor tube. 
   
   
       2 . A loading apparatus according to  claim 1 , wherein the horizontal distribution shaft comprises a plurality of horizontal shaft sections of gradually decreasing radius extending from the axial shaft each horizontal shaft section of smaller radius capable of retracting into a preceding horizontal shaft sections of larger radius. 
   
   
       3 . A loading apparatus according to  claim 1 , wherein the horizontal distribution shaft and/or comprises a plurality of horizontal shaft sections joined end to end to form the shaft. 
   
   
       4 . A loading apparatus according to  claim 1 , wherein the flexible catalyst supply hose has circumferentially positioned ribs or grooves. 
   
   
       5 . A loading apparatus according to  claim 1 , wherein the flexible catalyst supply hose is longitudinally cut apart from end to end to provide a narrow slit along its entire length. 
   
   
       6 . A loading apparatus according to  claim 5 , wherein the end of the flexible-catalyst supply hose available for entrance of catalyst particles is supported by a repositioning tube capable of a sliding movement in the axial direction and encircling the catalyst supply hose, the catalyst supply hose encircling a short pipe and a cover pipe encircling and being attached to both the repositioning tube and the short pipe, thereby holding these two pipes in place relative, to each other, the cover pipe being capable of a sliding movement that is coordinated with the sliding movement of repositioning tube. 
   
   
       7 . Loading apparatus according to  claim 6 , wherein the repositioning tube partially overlaps the short pipe, the catalyst supply hose being present in between the repositioning tube and the short pipe. 
   
   
       8 . Loading apparatus according to  claim 4 , wherein the catalyst supply hose is enclosed by a sleeve, 
   
   
       9 . Method of loading particulate catalytic material into a reactor tube comprising
 (a) providing the lower end of an axial shaft capable of clockwise and counter-clockwise rotation with a horizontal distribution shaft;   (b) attaching a flexible hollow catalyst supply hose to the end of the horizontal distribution shaft extending into the reactor space, the other end of the flexible catalyst supply hose being available for entrance of catalyst particles externally the reactor tube;   (c) introducing through the upper end of the catalyst supply hose particulate catalytic material into the reactor tube;   (d) distributing the particulate catalytic material in the reactor tube by rotating the axial shaft in a clockwise or counter-clockwise direction while alternatively shortening the horizontal distribution shaft;   (e) thereafter shortening the axial shaft and repeating step (d) until the reactor tube has been loaded with the required amount of catalyst.   
   
   
       10 . Use of the loading apparatus according to  claim 1  for loading of catalyst particles in reactor tubes for refinery processes.