A method for facilitating the distribution of the flow of one or more streams within a bed vessel is provided. Disposed within the bed vessel are internal materials and structures including multiple operating zones. One type of operating zone can be a processing zone composed of one or more beds of solid processing material. Another type of operating zone can be a treating zone. Treating zones can facilitate the distribution of the one or more streams fed to processing zones. The distribution can facilitate contact between the feed streams and the processing materials contained in the processing zones.

An improved reactor comprising a shell and at least one reactor internal component. The reactor internal component includes a tube bundle comprising a plurality of tubes attached by at least one tube support plate comprising at least one radial strut and at least one bracket configured to secure to at least one tube of the tube bundle. The tubes are arranged in concentric bands about a longitudinal axis of the reactor. The reactor comprises a gas inlet plate, a catalyst support plate, and a top plate.

An improved reactor comprising a shell and at least one reactor internal component. The reactor internal component includes a tube bundle comprising a plurality of tubes attached by at least one tube support plate comprising at least one radial strut and at least one bracket configured to secure to at least one tube of the tube bundle. The tubes are arranged in concentric bands about a longitudinal axis of the reactor. The reactor comprises a gas inlet plate, a catalyst support plate, and a top plate.

A catalytic system is provided which comprises a tubular reactor and at least one catalyst particle located within the tubular reactor. The catalyst particles have a particular geometric form which promotes heat transfer with the tubular reactor. Certain specific catalyst particles are also provided.

It has been discovered that the efficiency of asphalt blow stills (reactor columns) can be improved by filling the blow still with various types of packing material, such as metal or glass spheres (or other rigid materials). The packing material acts to reduce air bubble size and improve the dispersion of the air bubbles throughout the asphalt. This increases the total surface area per unit volume of the air bubbles and promotes a faster processing time. The packing material also increases the contact time between the air bubbles and the asphalt which further results in improved efficiency and reduced blow times. This is beneficial because faster processing times can be achieved resulting in more efficient use of equipment, higher levels of productivity, lower energy requirements, cost savings, reduced blow loss, and reduced thermal history to which the asphalt is exposed.

The present invention discloses an efficient mass-transfer separation bulk filler structure, which includes a bulk filler body with closely-fit multilayer structures, wherein an annular wall surface of the bulk, filler body has a corrugated angle group. A lower portion of the bulk filler body is of a bell-mouth shape. Three passages with a same sectional area are formed inside the bulk filler body. The present invention has the characteristics of small pressure drop, large specific surface area, low liquid holdup and large void ratio. The annular wall surface is provided with the corrugated angle group to increase the disturbance and reduce a double-membrane thickness of vapor and liquid phase mass-transfer resistance, thereby improving the mass-transfer coefficient and separation efficiency. Meanwhile, by adopting the bell-mouth shape, the stability and natural stacking regularity of the bulk filler can be improved.

A packing member for use in a packed bed, preferably a support for use as a catalyst support in a packed bed reactor. The packing member includes ceramic material and has a geometric surface area per volume of ≥0.7 cm.sup.2/cm.sup.3 and a side crush strength of ≥250 kgf; or a geometric surface area per volume of ≥1.5 cm.sup.2/cm.sup.3 and a side crush strength of ≥150 kgf; or a geometric surface area per volume of ≥3 cm.sup.2/cm.sup.3 and a side crush strength of ≥60 kgf. The packing member optionally has a porosity of at least 6%, such as at least 15% or at least 20%.

The invention relates to a solid shaped body (1) having a cylindrical form with a first base area (3), a second base area (5) and a lateral area (7), wherein the solid shaped body (1) comprises a first number of flutes (9) with at least one flute radius (13) in the lateral area (7), each extending from the first base area (3) to the second base area (5), and a second number of openings (11), each extending from the first base area (3) to the second base area (5), wherein the solid shaped body (1) has a cross-sectional area in form of a rholoid (2). The invention further relates to a use of the solid shaped body (1).

A method for facilitating the distribution of the flow of one or more streams within a bed vessel is provided. Disposed within the bed vessel are internal materials and structures including multiple operating zones. One type of operating zone can be a processing zone composed of one or more beds of solid processing material. Another type of operating zone can be a treating zone. Treating zones can facilitate the distribution of the one or more streams fed to processing zones. The distribution can facilitate contact between the feed streams and the processing materials contained in the processing zones.

The invention relates to a solid shaped body (1) having a cylindrical form with a first base area (3), a second base area (5) and a lateral area (7), wherein the solid shaped body (1) comprises a first number of flutes (9) in the lateral area (7), each extending from the first base area (3) to the second base area (5), and a second number of openings (11), each extending from the first base area (3) to the second base area (5), and wherein the second number of openings (11) is in a range from 2 to 8, the second number of openings (11) is larger than the first number of flutes (9) and wherein a ratio between a first radius (13) of at least one flute (9) and a second radius (15) of at least one opening (11) is at least 1.15. The invention further relates to a use of the solid shaped body (1).