Catalyst – solid sorbent – or support therefor: product or process – Regenerating or rehabilitating catalyst or sorbent – Treating with a liquid or treating in a liquid phase,...
Patent
1999-03-18
2000-12-19
Griffin, Steven P.
Catalyst, solid sorbent, or support therefor: product or process
Regenerating or rehabilitating catalyst or sorbent
Treating with a liquid or treating in a liquid phase,...
502 30, 502 53, 518700, 518706, 518709, B01J 2034, B01J 3856
Patent
active
061627542
DESCRIPTION:
BRIEF SUMMARY
The present invention relates to a bubble-column reactor equipped with a draft-tube which can be used in triphase slurry processes, more specifically in the Fischer-Tropsch process.
The present invention also relates to a regeneration process of catalysts partially and reversibly deactivated, which uses the above reactor.
Slurry catalytic processes, i.e. operating in triphase systems essentially consisting of a gas phase and a liquid phase in which the solid catalyst is dispersed, particularly the Fischer-Tropsch process, have the disadvantage of a more or less distinct reversible deactivation of the initial catalytic activity of the catalyst. This drawback is generally resolved by the regeneration of the exhausted catalyst.
EP-A-590,882 describes a method for regenerating a catalyst for the synthesis of hydrocarbons, containing Cobalt or Ruthenium, subject to partial, reversible deactivation in a slurry synthesis process. This process enables a recovery of at least 80% of the initial activity of the catalyst.
The above method involves carrying out the regeneration of the catalyst in-situ of the slurry reactor, by periodically stopping the flow-rate of the process gas (synthesis gas) and sending a flow of gas containing hydrogen and other inert gases, avoiding the presence of components, such as for example carbon monoxide, capable of reacting with the hydrogen.
The process described in EP-A-590,882 has the disadvantage however of requiring a periodical interruption of the synthesis of hydrocarbons to substitute the process gas with the gas containing hydrogen.
U.S. Pat. No. 5,268,344 solves the problem by using a bubble column and carrying out the regeneration of the catalyst inside one or more draft-tubes situated inside the bubble-column reactor, the fraction of the column section occupied by the draft-tubes being preferably less than 10%. Unlike what is described in EP-A-590,882, this solution does not involve the interruption of the synthesis gas.
It is also known that in the field of reactions in triphase systems, bubble-column reactors equipped with a draft-tube are preferable to simple bubble-column reactors with respect to the distribution of the solid phase in the triphase system.
A particular bubble-column configuration equipped with a draft-tube has now been found which overcomes the above disadvantages.
In fact, the use of this particular bubble-column configuration enables the regeneration of the partially deactivated catalyst to be carried out in-situ (more specifically at the interspace between reactor and draft-tube), thus avoiding the periodical interruption of the feeding of the process gas.
In addition, the reactor of the present invention allows a better homogenization of the phases with respect to the bubble-column reactors used in the U.S. Pat. No. 5,268,344.
In accordance with this, the present invention relates to a continuous process for the production of prevalently heavy hydrocarbons, alternative fuels, octane enhancers, chemicals and chemical intermediates starting from synthesis gas in the presence of a gas phase, a liquid and a solid catalyst, the above process being carried out using a bubble column equipped with cooling devices and comprising the periodical internal regeneration of the reversibly, partially deactivated catalyst, said regeneration being carried out in the presence of a regenerating gas, characterized in that the bubble column internally has: cylinder, having smaller dimensions than the column, preferably positioned co-axially with respect to the column, with both the lower and upper ends open, completely immersed in the liquid phase containing the solid in suspension; gas distributor, preferably situated at the bottom of the bubble-column; gas distributor, preferably situated at the bottom of the interspace between the draft-tube and the internal wall of the reactor; regenerating gas; gas with the regenerating gas, preferably deflectors, preferably assembled near the lower opening of the draft-tube.
The term "regenerating gas" means the gas, usually hydrogen
REFERENCES:
patent: 3754993 (1973-08-01), Oguchi et al.
patent: 5252613 (1993-10-01), Chang et al.
patent: 5268344 (1993-12-01), Pedrick et al.
patent: 5288673 (1994-02-01), Behrmann et al.
patent: 5827902 (1998-10-01), Maretto et al.
Casanave Dominique
Galtier Pierre
Maretto Cristina
Piccolo Vincenzo
Agip Petroli S.p.A.
ENI S.p.A.
Griffin Steven P.
Ildebrando Christina
Institut Francais du Pe'trole
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