GB2287016A

GB2287016A - Charging a container with particulate solids material

Info

Publication number: GB2287016A
Application number: GB9404152A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Patrick Gerrard Sheehan
Original assignee: Technivac Ltd
Current assignee: Technivac Ltd
Priority date: 1994-03-04
Filing date: 1994-03-04
Publication date: 1995-09-06
Also published as: GB9404152D0

Abstract

The apparatus comprises a series of deflector vanes 8, 9, 10 radiating outwardly from a common axis and inclined relative thereto. The apparatus is either suspended or secured in the interior of a container vessel such as a catalyst vessel below a material inlet. Gravity fed material passes through the inlet and is deflected by the individual vanes to produce a uniform distribution/density of material within the vessel than would otherwise be achieved. Typically, a number of sets of vanes are provided each set being inclined at a different respective inclination to the axis, or of a different length, to the vanes of another set. Some of the vanes may be adjustable. Preferably the vanes are suspended from a rung or annulus 5 with a further ring 12 comprising a second 9 and third 10 set of vanes of different lengths. <IMAGE>

Description

Chary no p Container with Particulate Solids Material The present invention relates to apparatus and a method for charging (or loading) a container vessel with particulate solids material and particularly to such a method and apparatus for charging a reactor vessel with catalyst pellets.

In the petrochemical industry, reactor vessels (such as hydrocarbon crackers etc) are typically loaded with catalyst pellets by means of vacuum (pneumatic) conveying apparatus carrying pellets from a remote store. Conveniently, the vessel is loaded by means of a manway or port at the top of the vessel either through an elongate sock extending downwardly to the catalyst bed in the interior of the vessel from a hopper or by "free fall" into the interior of the vessel from a supply conduit extending from a hopper.

The sock loading method is typically employed where the catalyst pellets would be damaged if loaded by a "free fall" method in instances where damage to the pellets would be undesirable. The sock loading method has been found to cause a central vertically extending "core" in the deposited bed of densely packed pellets surrounded by a body of less densely packed pellets. Also "coning" of the bed occurs from the centre of the reactor outwardly.

So called dense loading techniques have been developed using "free fall" loading in which more pellet material can be packed into a reactor vessel than is the case with socl; loading by avoiding the "coning" and "dense core" effects caused by sock loading.

One known dense loading technique involves a rotating device which is lowered into the top manway of the vessel and due to its spinning nature throws pellets radially outwardly to distribute the pellets randornly and evenly throughout the reactor. The rotational speed of the rotating device needs to be accurately controlled to ensure the pellets are thrown the required distance, and it is believed unnecessary damage may be caused to the pellets if they are thrown against the walls of the vessel. Furthermore the construction of the device is reltively complex. Another dense loading technique comprises a series of rings arranged in the reactor below the top manway, which rings are intended to deflect the falling pellets to distribute them within in the interior of the vessel.

It is an object of the present invention to provide an improved loading technique, utilising relatively low complexity apparatus which does not use a rotating device to throw the pellets radially outwardly and distributes the pellets in the interior of the vessel in a more controlled and less haphazard fashion than the technique utilising the deflector rings.

According to a first aspect, the invention comprises apparatus for use in charging a container vessel with particulate solids material which apparatus is arranged to be positioned in the interior of the container vessel and comprises a plurality of deflector vanes radiating outwardly from, and inclined relative to, a common axis.

The deflector vanes are arranged to deflect impinging particulate solids material fed in a stream from above the apparatus.

Desirably, the apparatus is shaped and dimensioned to pass through an inlet in the container vessel, the apparatus advantageously being lowered through an inlet proximate the top of the container vessel.

It is preferred that the apparatus is arranged to be suspended in the interior of the container vessel advantageously from the open end of a supply conduit comprising supply means which feeds the stream of particulate material.

It is preferred that the apparatus is provided with attachment means for securing to the supply means. Alternatively, the apparatus may be mounted from the container vessel. Desirably, guide means is provided arranged to direct the flow of particulate solids material onto the deflector vanes. In a preferred embodiment, the attachment means and guide means may be one and the same comprising a connection ring or annulus extending around the axis of the apparatus and preferably being arranged above the deflector vanes.

Desirably deflector vanes inclined at different angles relative to the axis are provided such that the particulate solids material is deflected outwardly from the apparatus by differing distances. It is preferred that in some embodiments of apparatus according to the invention, the angles of inclination of at least some of the deflector vanes relative to the axis of the apparatus are seiectively adjustable. Advantageously, deflector vanes of differing lengths are provided.

It is preferred that a first set of deflector vanes is provided, advantageously spaced regularly around the axis of the apparatus and inclined at a substantially uniform first angle relative to the axis of the apparatus and preferably of substantially uniform length.

Desirably at least a second set of vanes is provided, the second set either being inclined at a substantially different angle than the first set relative to the axis, or of substantially different length to the first set.

It is further preferred that a third set of vanes is provided desirably having an angle of inclination, or length of vane different to either1 or both, of the first and second sets of vanes.

In a preferred embodiment, a first set of radial vanes extend outwardly (preferably from. a position within the circumference of a guide ring to which they are connected) to a medial ring from which a further set of vanes project. Desirably the medial ring is spaced along the axis from the attachment or guide means, preferably being dimensioned such that, where the attachment means and/or guide means comprises a ring or annul us, the diameter of the medial ring is preferably less than the diameter of the attachment/guide ring or annul us.

Typically, the apparatus comprises fabricated metal construction, preferably comprising welded metal construction.

According to a second aspect of the invention, there is provided a method of charging a container vessel with particulate solids material, which method comprises positioning apparatus according to the first aspect of the invention in the interior of the container vessel, and causing a stream of particulate solids material to impinge on the deflector blades and subsequently fall to form a bed of solids material in the container vessel.

Tt is preferred that the apparatus is suspended in the interior of the container vessel, and advantageously raised toward the top of the container as the container fills with the solids material.

It is particularly preferred that the method and apparatus are used for charging a reactor vessel with catalyst material in pellet form.

The invention will now be further described in a specific embodiment by way of example only, and with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which: Figure 1 is a schematic perspective view of apparatus according to the invention; and Figure 2 is a schematic view of the apparatus shown in Figure 1 in use in loading a container vessel.

Referring to the drawings, there is shown apparatus 1 for use in loading a reactor vessel 2 with catalyst pellets 3 in such a manner that catalyst is distributed in a load bed 4 having as uniform packing density as possible.

The apparatus 1 is fabricated of welded metal construction and comprises a securing and guide annul us 5 which is in use secured to the open end of a flexible material feed pipe 6 extending downwards from a catalyst hopper (not shown). The apparatus 1 is therefore suspended from the end of feed pipe 6 in the interior of reactor vessel 2 below the top material inlet manway 7 (as shown in Figure 2).

Three sets of deflection vanes 8, 9l 10 are fixed below the securing and guide annul us 5 and serve to deflect catalyst material fed from pipe ó through securing and guide annulus S to provide the uniform bed 4, in reactor vessel 2.

The first set of deflection vanes 8 extend radially outwardly from a central axis (along arrow A) of the apparatus and are also inclined at an angle relative to the axis.

Deflection vanes 8 are connected to a cross-member (not shown) extending across the circumferential internal wall of annulus 5, and extend to a medial ring 12 from which further sets of deflection vanes 9, 10 extend. The two further sets of vanes 9, 10 are of respectively different lengths, although inclined at the same respective angle to the axis of the apparatus.

The angle of inclination of the vane sets 9, 10 is however different (less steep) than the angle of inclination of the first mentioned set of deflection vanes 8. This ensures that the catalyst material fed onto the sets of vanes 8, 9, 10 are deflected outwardly from the axis of the device by differing amounts dependent on which vanes cause deflection of particular catalyst pellets, some pellets also pass through the apparatus without being deflected The arrangement of vanes ensures that catalyst pellets are deflected over a wide range resulting in a particularly uniform density of catalyst bed 4.

Typically, the angular orientation of vane sets 9, 10 are adjustable at the medial ring 12 such that inclination relative to the axis of the apparatus can be varied, enabling the catalyst pellet deflection distribution to be selectively varied. Further, in use the apparatus is typically raised toward the top of reactor vessel 2 as the level of bed 4 rises correspondingly.

Claims

CLAIMS:

1. Apparatus for use in charging a container vessel with particulate solids material which apparatus is arranged to be positioned in the interior of the container vessel and comprises a plurality of deflector vanes radiating outwardly from, and inclined relative to, a common axis.

2. Apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the apparatus is arranged to be suspended in the interior of the container vessel from the open end of a supply conduit comprising supply means which feeds the stream of particulate material.

3. Apparatus according to claim 2, further comprising attachment means for securing to the supply means.

4. Apparatus according to any preceding claim, further comprising guide means arranged to direct the flow of particulate solids material onto the deflector vanes.

5. Apparatus according to claim 4, wherein the guide means comprises a ring or annulus extending around the axis of the apparatus.

6. Apparatus according to claim 1, which is arranged to be mounted from the container vessel in the interior thereof.

7. Apparatus according to any preceding claim, comprising deflector vanes inclined at respectively different angles relative to the axis.

8. Apparatus according to any preceding claim, wherein the angles of inclination of at least some of the deflector vanes relative to the axis of the apparatus are selectively adjustable.

9. Apparatus according to any preceding claim, wherein deflector vanes of differing lengths are provided.

10. Apparatus according to any preceding claim, wherein first and second sets of deflector vanes are provided, vanes comprising the first set being inclined at a uniform first angle relative to the axis of the apparatus, vanes comprising the second set being inclined at a substantially different angle than the first set relative to the axis, and/or of substantially different length to the first set.

11. Apparatus according to claim 10, further comprising a third set of vanes comprising vanes having an angle of inclination, and or length of vane different to either, or both, of the first and second sets of vanes.

12. Apparatus according to any preceding claim comprising a first set of radial vanes extending outwardly to a medial ring from which a further set of vanes project.

13. Apparatus according to claim 12, wherein the medial ring is coaxial with the axis of the apparatus.

14. Apparatus according to any of claims 12 or 13, which further comprises guide means comprising a ring or annulus, wherein the medial ring is spaced from the guide means along the axis of the apparatus, the diameter of medial ring being less than the diameter of the guide ring or annulus.

15. Apparatus according to any preceding claim comprising a fabricated metal construction.

16. A method of charging a container vessel with particulate solids material, which method comprises positioning apparatus according to any preceding claim in the interior of the container vessel, and causing a stream of particulate solids material to impinge on the deflector blades and subsequently fall to form a bed of solids material in the container vessel.

17. A method of charging a container vessel, according to claim 16, wherein the apparatus is suspended in the interior of the container vessel from the open end of a supply conduit comprising supply means which feeds the stream of particulate material.

18. A method according to claim 16 or claim 17, wherein the apparatus is raised toward the top of the container as the container fills with the solids material.