Chemical apparatus and process disinfecting – deodorizing – preser – Chemical reactor – Including solid – extended surface – fluid contact reaction...
Patent
1992-10-01
1994-02-01
Warden, Robert J.
Chemical apparatus and process disinfecting, deodorizing, preser
Chemical reactor
Including solid, extended surface, fluid contact reaction...
55364, 422145, 422232, B01J 800
Patent
active
052830519
DESCRIPTION:
BRIEF SUMMARY
This invention relates to a method and apparatus for containing particulate material, such as for example spent catalysts, when evacuating an industrial reactor vessel used in hydrocarbon processing.
Catalysts are often used in the industrial processing of hydrocarbons in the oil industry. Unfortunately many catalysts are either toxic or at least environmentally undesirable. This presents difficulties when the contents of an industrial reactor vessel for hydrocarbon processing are being emptied, or `dumped`, which is traditionally achieved by the release of steam under pressure prior to for example cleaning the reactor vessel. In the past it has been difficult to contain or restrain the catalyst material, which is normally in the form of a particulate or dust-like material, and the catalyst can escape into the atmosphere adjacent the vessel. With increasing concern for environmental standards this is undesirable from the point of view of both workers in the vicinity of the reactor vessel and the general public.
According to the present invention there is provided apparatus for containing particulate material when discharging an industrial reactor vessel used in hydrocarbon processing, comprising a containment bag having one end for location in use adjacent the wall of a reactor vessel around an outlet thereof, a lower side for engagement with the ground in the vicinity of said outlet, the arrangement being such that, in use, particulate mate rial discharged from the vessel via the outlet is retained within the bag.
By means of this arrangement, at least a major proportion of the potentially harmful particulate material discharged from the reactor vessel may be trapped within the containment bag. Furthermore the dumping procedure may be speeded-up and can be carried out in a matter of hours rather than days.
The bag will usually initially be in a generally deflated condition though with some air trapped therein, and is arranged to be inflated by the gases egressing from the vessel. It is envisaged that the bag may be sufficiently large to retain all of the gases emitted during a catalyst dump, in which case the bag may make a substantial seal with the ground and vessel. Preferably, however, means are provided in the system for permitting the release of harmless gases, normally steam and air, during the discharge whilst particulate material is retained in the bag. In this way the size of the bag may be of more manageable proportions.
In one embodiment such means comprises a filter. The filter may, for example, comprise a plurality of mesh filter panels held within a frame. The filter may conveniently be located adjacent the ground at the rear of the bag remote from the vessel. The filter allows steam and air to escape, whilst retaining any particulate material which may reach the rear of the bag.
Alternatively, one or more air outlet openings may be defined at the end of the bag adjacent the vessel e.g. by the bag being arranged to be spaced away from the vessel wall. It has been found that, during discharge, such a spacing allows the venting from the bag of any air initially trapped therein and also allows for the escape of steam after the bag is fully inflated, whilst the discharged particulate material, owing to its inertia and density, is collected within the bag and not released. Thus, the use of a filter may be avoided. Such spacing may extend completely around the end of the bag i.e. along both side walls and across the top wall.
In all the above examples, there may be some additional slight venting of steam and gas from the bag as a result of imperfect seals between the bag and the ground, for example.
The bag may be substantially sealed to the ground by flap seals extending either inwardly or outwardly of the bag. The flaps preferably extend inwardly so that the sealing effect is enhanced by the pressure within the bag. If the flaps extend outwardly the sealing may be assisted by locating weights on such flaps. The bag may be secured to the ground by means of tensioned wires running through loops fo
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Green Alan
Hopper Martin K.
Mercer Ian H.
Conoco Inc.
Santiago Amalia
Warden Robert J.
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