Method for maximizing the reaction volume in a slurry phase reactor by determining the ratio (f) between the height of the foams (H.sub.f) and the height of the reactor (H.sub.R) through an algorithm defining the gas hold-up in three zones, a first lower zone in which a bubble regime is established, a second intermediate zone where there can be the presence of foams, a third zone situated in the upper hemispherical part in which the multiphase mixture is accelerated until it reaches outlet conditions, the average gas hold-up being given by the weighted average of each of the three gas hold-ups of the three zones, characterized in that it uses nuclear densimeters positioned inside the reactor at different heights and comprises: measuring, for each nuclear densimeter used, gas density values, relating to different gas and/or slurry velocities, which correspond through said algorithm to calculated gas hold-up values, revealing, with a calculated gas hold-up of less than 40%, the absence of foams at least up to the height at which the densimeter is positioned, whose density measured corresponds to said gas hold-up, with a calculated gas hold-up higher than 70%, the presence of foams starting at least from the height of the reactor in which the densimeter is positioned, whose density measured corresponds to said gas hold-up, finally, determining through said algorithm, the ratio f and the extension in height of the possible presence of foams, calculating the consequent height H.sub.f.

The invention relates to a method for monitoring a process for refining a feedstock of hydrocarbons, in which: a) a signal representative of the transverse relaxation time of the different entities of an effluent resulting from said refining process, in particular an effluent comprising solid entities, is acquired by proton NMR, b) the signal measured is modeled using a mathematical function comprising several components, each component corresponding to a dynamic range of the entities of said effluent, c) the following are extracted from each of the components of the mathematical function: the transverse relaxation time of each of the components, the intensity of each of the components, d) a value of parameter characteristic of said effluent is determined from at least one intensity determined in stage c), e) a signal for controlling the refining process is generated as a function of said characteristic parameter.

The invention relates to a method for monitoring a process for refining a feedstock of hydrocarbons, in which: a) a signal representative of the transverse relaxation time of the different entities of an effluent resulting from said refining process, in particular an effluent comprising solid entities, is acquired by proton NMR, b) the signal measured is modeled using a mathematical function comprising several components, each component corresponding to a dynamic range of the entities of said effluent, c) the following are extracted from each of the components of the mathematical function: the transverse relaxation time of each of the components, the intensity of each of the components, d) a value of parameter characteristic of said effluent is determined from at least one intensity determined in stage c), e) a signal for controlling the refining process is generated as a function of said characteristic parameter.

A process for upgrading heavy oil is provided, which integrates thermal cracking, hydrogenolysis, and catalytic aquathermolysis. A catalytic hydrogen-aquathermolysis reactor receives a heavy oil feed, water and hydrogen. In addition catalytic materials and a viscosity reducing agent are introduced. The catalytic hydrogen-aquathermolysis reactor is operated at conditions effective to produce an upgraded heavy oil product.

A process for upgrading heavy oil is provided, which integrates thermal cracking, hydrogenolysis, and catalytic aquathermolysis. A catalytic hydrogen-aquathermolysis reactor receives a heavy oil feed, water and hydrogen. In addition catalytic materials and a viscosity reducing agent are introduced. The catalytic hydrogen-aquathermolysis reactor is operated at conditions effective to produce an upgraded heavy oil product.

The invention relates to a process for converting a feedstock comprising pyrolysis oil and a heavy hydrocarbon-based feedstock, with: a) a step of hydroconversion in a reactor; b) a step of separating the liquid effluent obtained from step a) into a naphtha fraction, a gas oil fraction, a vacuum gas oil fraction and an unconverted residue fraction; c) a step of hydrocracking of the vacuum gas oil fraction; d) a step of fractionating the hydrocracked liquid effluent obtained from step c) into a naphtha fraction, a gas oil fraction and a vacuum gas oil fraction; e) a step of steam cracking of a portion of the naphtha fraction obtained from step d); f) a step of fractionating at least a portion of the steam-cracked effluent obtained from step e); g) a step in which the pyrolysis oil fraction obtained from step f) is sent into step a).

The invention relates to a process for converting a feedstock comprising pyrolysis oil and a heavy hydrocarbon-based feedstock, with: a) a step of hydroconversion in a reactor; b) a step of separating the liquid effluent obtained from step a) into a naphtha fraction, a gas oil fraction, a vacuum gas oil fraction and an unconverted residue fraction; c) a step of hydrocracking of the vacuum gas oil fraction; d) a step of fractionating the hydrocracked liquid effluent obtained from step c) into a naphtha fraction, a gas oil fraction and a vacuum gas oil fraction; e) a step of steam cracking of a portion of the naphtha fraction obtained from step d); f) a step of fractionating at least a portion of the steam-cracked effluent obtained from step e); g) a step in which the pyrolysis oil fraction obtained from step f) is sent into step a).

An integrated hydrotreating and hydrocracking process includes contacting a hydrocarbon oil stream with a hydrogen stream and a hydrotreating catalyst in a moving-bed hydrotreating reactor, thereby producing a hydrocarbon product stream and a spent hydrotreating catalyst; contacting the hydrocarbon product stream with a second hydrogen stream and a hydrocracking catalyst in a hydrocracking reactor, thereby producing a hydrocracked hydrocarbon product stream; processing the spent hydrotreating catalyst to produce regenerated hydrotreating catalyst; and recycling the regenerated hydrotreating catalyst to the moving-bed hydrotreating reactor.

A catalyst structure includes a porous support structure, where the support structure includes an aluminosilicate material and any two or more metals loaded in the porous support structure selected from Ga, Ag, Mo, Zn, Co and Ce. The catalyst structure is used in a hydrocarbon upgrading process that is conducted in the presence of methane, nitrogen or hydrogen.

A catalyst structure includes a porous support structure, where the support structure includes an aluminosilicate material and any two or more metals loaded in the porous support structure selected from Ga, Ag, Mo, Zn, Co and Ce. The catalyst structure is used in a hydrocarbon upgrading process that is conducted in the presence of methane, nitrogen or hydrogen.