The present invention describes a process for the production of fuel of the heavy fuel oil type, this fuel optionally being able to become a marine fuel, from a heavy hydrocarbon-containing feedstock having a sulphur content of at least 0.5% by weight, an initial boiling temperature of at least 350° C. and a final boiling temperature of at least 450° C., a process using a fixed-bed hydrotreatment stage, an intermediate separation and a hydrocracking stage comprising at least one reactor of the hybrid type.

A robust catalyst useful for hydrodesulfurization (HDS) of sulfur-containing hydrocarbons such as sulfur-containing diesel fuel. The catalyst contains a modified mesoporous silica, such as SBA-15, Zr atoms, Ni, Mo, Ce atoms. A method for removing sulfur from a hydrocarbon, such as diesel fuel or a refinery feedstock using the catalyst. A one-pot method for making the catalyst.

A process for shutting down a hydroprocessing reactor and for removing catalyst from the reactor, wherein the reactor includes a quench gas distribution system. The process comprises shutting off hydrocarbon feed to the reactor, stripping hydrocarbons from the catalyst, and cooling the reactor to a first threshold reactor temperature in the range of from 375-425° F. (190-218° C.). At least a portion of circulating gaseous medium flowing to the reactor is then routed through a temporary heat exchanger and cooling the gas to not less than 40° F. (4° C.). Once cooled, mixing the cooled gas with the circulating gaseous medium flowing to the reactor. Continuing steps routing and cooling until a second threshold temperature is reached wherein the reactor temperature is in a range between 120° F. and 250° F. (49° C.-121° C.). The reactor can then be purged with N.sub.2 gas, followed by introducing water into the reactor via the quench gas distribution system. The catalyst can then be safely removed from the reactor.

An upflow reactor (1), comprising a housing (20), a catalyst bed layer (30) and a pressing device (10). The housing (20) is internally provided with a reaction chamber (210), a reaction material inlet (220) and a reaction material outlet (230) which are in communication with the reaction chamber (210) are provided on the housing (20); the catalyst bed layer (30) is provided within the reaction chamber (210), the pressing device (10) is provided within the reaction chamber (210) and located above the catalyst bed layer (30), and at least a part of the pressing device (10) is provided to be movable up and down, so that the at least a part of the pressing device (10) can be pressed against the catalyst bed layer (30).

A process for shutting down a hydroprocessing reactor and for removing catalyst from the reactor, wherein the reactor includes a quench gas distribution system. The process comprises shutting off hydrocarbon feed to the reactor, stripping hydrocarbons from the catalyst, and cooling the reactor to a first threshold reactor temperature in the range of from 375-425° F. (190-218° C.). At least a portion of circulating gaseous medium flowing to the reactor is then routed through a temporary heat exchanger and cooling the gas to not less than 40° F. (4° C.). Once cooled, mixing the cooled gas with the circulating gaseous medium flowing to the reactor. Continuing steps routing and cooling until a second threshold temperature is reached wherein the reactor temperature is in a range between 120° F. and 250° F. (49° C.-121° C.). The reactor can then be purged with N.sub.2 gas, followed by introducing water into the reactor via the quench gas distribution system. The catalyst can then be safely removed from the reactor.

A multi-phase combination reaction system has at least one fixed bed hydrogenation reactor. The fixed bed hydrogenation reactor has, arranged from top to bottom, a first hydrogenation reaction area, a gas-liquid separation area, a second hydrogenation reaction area and a third hydrogenation reaction area. The gas-liquid separation area is provided with a raw oil inlet. A hydrogen inlet is provided between the second hydrogenation reaction area and the third hydrogenation reaction area. The system is capable of simultaneously obtaining two fractions in one hydrogenation reactor.

A method for enabling gas exchange and chemical reactions with one or more liquid streams contained in a reactive process vessel are provided. One or more exchange layers within the process vessel can be composed of both collector media and releaser media. The exchange layers allow elements to facilitate increased performance of vessel operations by promoting gas component mixing and diffusion. Improved rates of gas component exchange mean less coking and more gas components available for reaction.

An improved nozzle device for a down-flow hydroprocessing reactor is disclosed. The down-flow nozzle is useful in the petroleum and chemical processing industries in catalytic reactions of hydrocarbon feedstocks in the presence of hydrogen, at an elevated temperature and pressure, to provide for the mixing and distribution of gas and liquid to reactor catalyst beds. Typical hydroprocessing applications include hydrotreating, hydrofinishing, hydrocracking and hydrodewaxing.

A process for hydrotreating a sulfur-containing hydrocarbon feedstock may include producing a hydrotreated effluent by hydrotreating the feedstock in a three-phase trickle reactor to remove a first portion of the sulfur from the feedstock, separating the first hydrotreated effluent to give a hydrogen-containing gaseous fraction and a separated hydrotreated effluent, stripping the separated hydrotreated effluent to give a hydrogen sulfide-containing gaseous fraction and a stripped hydrotreated effluent, saturating the stripped hydrotreated effluent with hydrogen, and hydrotreating the hydrogen-saturated effluent in a two-phase reactor to remove a remaining second portion of the sulfur and produce a second hydrotreated effluent.

A method for enabling gas exchange and chemical reactions with one or more liquid streams contained in a reactive process vessel are provided. One or more exchange layers within the process vessel can be composed of both collector media and releaser media. The exchange layers allow elements to facilitate increased performance of vessel operations by promoting gas component mixing and diffusion. Improved rates of gas component exchange mean less coking and more gas components available for reaction.