The invention relates to distributing reactants more evenly across the interior space of a reactor vessel utilizing a distributor at the inlet end that initially directs the flow of reactants through a series of circumferential nozzles. The nozzles are physical spaced such that the first nozzle provides the reactants into the vessel to spread radially and broadly outwardly into the vessel and each successive circumferential nozzle to deliver reactants in a less broadly distribution or dispersion where the interior space is filled with reactants without broadly diverse velocities that may create hot spots within the catalyst bed. The invention further includes a catalyst support tray having through holes that are sized and spaced to limit higher velocity regions within the catalyst bed and cause a more even distribution of the flow and thereby reduce hot spots within the catalyst bed.

Systems and methods are provided for dewaxing a distillate fuel oil by subjecting an at least partially hydroprocessed distillate fuel oil to cavitation to reduce the pour point, reduce the cloud point, reduce the cold filter plugging point, or a combination thereof of the distillate fuel oil.

The present invention is directed to a combination reactor system for exothermic reactions comprising a trickle-bed reactor and a shell-and-tube reactor. This combination allows the system to efficiently remove heat while also providing the ability to control both the temperature and/or reaction progression. The trickle-bed reactor removes heat efficiently from the system by utilizing latent heat and does not require the use of a cooling or heating medium. The shell-and-tube reactor is used to further progress the reaction and provides a heat exchanger in order to introduce fluid at the desired temperature in the shell-and-tube reactor. Also, additional reactant or reactants and/or other fluids may be introduced to the shell-and-tube section of the reactor under controlled temperature conditions.

The invention relates to distributing reactants more evenly across the interior space of a reactor vessel utilizing a distributor at the inlet end that initially directs the flow of reactants through a series of circumferential nozzles. The nozzles are physical spaced such that the first nozzle provides the reactants into the vessel to spread radially and broadly outwardly into the vessel and each successive circumferential nozzle to deliver reactants in a less broadly distribution or dispersion where the interior space is filled with reactants without broadly diverse velocities that may create hot spots within the catalyst bed. The invention further includes a catalyst support tray having through holes that are sized and spaced to limit higher velocity regions within the catalyst bed and cause a more even distribution of the flow and thereby reduce hot spots within the catalyst bed.

The invention relates to equalizing and distributing vapor more evenly across the interior space of a reactor vessel utilizing an equalizing section and distributor section at the inlet end and a fixed valve tray at the bottom of the reactor to equalize and distribute the flow.

The invention relates to distributing reactants more evenly across the interior space of a reactor vessel utilizing a distributor at the inlet end that initially directs the flow of reactants through a series of circumferential nozzles. The nozzles are physical spaced such that the first nozzle provides the reactants into the vessel to spread radially and broadly outwardly into the vessel and each successive circumferential nozzle to deliver reactants in a less broadly distribution or dispersion where the interior space is filled with reactants without broadly diverse velocities that may create hot spots within the catalyst bed.

The invention relates to equalizing and distributing reactants more evenly across the interior space of a reactor vessel utilizing a combination equalizer and distributor at the inlet end that initially impedes with uneven flow rates of vapor and then directs the flow of vapor through a series of circumferential nozzles. The nozzles are physical spaced such that the first nozzle provides the reactants into the vessel to spread radially and broadly outwardly into the vessel and each successive circumferential nozzle to deliver reactants in a less broadly distribution or dispersion where the interior space is filled with reactants without broadly diverse velocities that may create hot spots within the catalyst bed.

One aspect of the present invention relates to a mixing system for use in a chemical-process column. The mixing system includes a heavy-reactant mixing surface arranged perpendicular to a flow of reactant through the chemical-process column. The mixing system also includes an aperture formed in the heavy-reactant mixing surface. A pre-distributor is coupled to an underside of the mixing system and fluidly coupled to the aperture.

An apparatus comprising a reactor inlet distributor and a perforated deflector. In this apparatus the relationship between the diameter of the perforated deflector (D.sub.D), the height of the opening of the inlet distributor pipe of the reactor inlet distributor (H.sub.SLOT) and the outer diameter of the inlet distributor pipe (OD.sub.DP) is:
D.sub.D=OD.sub.DP+2(xH.sub.SLOT) wherein x is at least .

The invention relates to distributing feed vapor more evenly across the interior space of a reactor vessel utilizing a distributor pipe at the inlet end that initially directs the flow of reactants through a flange plate and a series of ring plates. The ring plates are physical spaced such that vapor along the wall of the inlet is mildly obstructed by the flange plate and the ring plates cause the vapor to alter course temper down any diverse velocities that may create hot spots within the catalyst bed. At the end of the distributor pipe is a deflector which directs the feed vapor upwardly and outwardly in the head space of the reactor vessel.