Liquid phase hydroprocessing with low pressure drop

Abstract

A process for hydroprocessing a hydrocarbonaceous feedstock in a continuous liquid phase utilizes a hydroprocessing catalyst comprising pills that have a largest dimension that averages no more than 1.27 mm ( 1/20 inch) and more than 100 nm to produce a hydrocarbonaceous product stream.

1 . A process for hydroprocessing a hydrocarbonaceous feedstock which comprises: introducing a liquid phase stream comprising a hydrocarbonaceous feedstock and a sufficiently low hydrogen concentration to maintain a continuous liquid phase into a hydroprocessing reactor containing hydroprocessing catalyst comprising pills that have a largest dimension that averages no more than 1.27 mm ( 1/20 inch) and more than 100 nm to produce a first hydrocarbonaceous product stream. 
     
     
         2 . The process of  claim 1  wherein the pills have a largest dimension that averages no more than 0.85 mm ( 1/30 inch) and no less than 0.51 mm ( 1/50 inch). 
     
     
         3 . The process of  claim 1  wherein the pills have a largest dimension that averages no more than 0.51 mm ( 1/50 inch). 
     
     
         4 . The process of  claim 1  further comprising: introducing at least a portion of the first hydrocarbonaceous product stream into a subsequent hydroprocessing reactor containing hydroprocessing catalyst with a sufficiently low hydrogen concentration to maintain a continuous liquid phase to produce a subsequent hydrocarbonaceous product stream. 
     
     
         5 . The process of  claim 4  wherein said hydroprocessing catalyst in said subsequent hydroprocessing reactor comprises pills that have a largest dimension that averages no more than 1.27 mm ( 1/20 inch) and more than 100 nm. 
     
     
         6 . The process of  claim 5  further comprising mixing said first hydrocarbonaceous product stream with additional hydrocarbonaceous feedstock before entering into said subsequent hydroprocessing reactor. 
     
     
         7 . The process of  claim 1  wherein the hydroprocessing reactor is operated at a mass flux of more than 29,300 kg/h-m 2  (6,000 lb/h-ft 2 ). 
     
     
         8 . The process of  claim 1  wherein the hydroprocessing catalyst comprises a fixed bed. 
     
     
         9 . A process for hydroprocessing a hydrocarbonaceous feedstock which comprises: introducing a liquid phase stream comprising a hydrocarbonaceous feedstock and a sufficiently low hydrogen concentration to maintain a continuous liquid phase into a hydroprocessing reactor containing hydroprocessing catalyst comprising pills that have a largest dimension that averages no more than 0.85 mm ( 1/30 inch) and no less than 0.51 mm ( 1/50 inch). 
     
     
         10 . The process of  claim 9  further comprising: introducing at least a portion of the first hydrocarbonaceous product stream into a subsequent hydroprocessing reactor containing hydroprocessing catalyst with a sufficiently low hydrogen concentration to maintain a continuous liquid phase to produce a subsequent hydrocarbonaceous product stream. 
     
     
         11 . The process of  claim 10  wherein said hydroprocessing catalyst in said subsequent hydroprocessing reactor comprises pills that have a largest dimension that averages no more than 0.85 mm ( 1/30 inch) and no less than 0.51 mm ( 1/50 inch). 
     
     
         12 . The process of  claim 10  further comprising mixing said first hydrocarbonaceous product stream with additional hydrocarbonaceous feedstock before entering into said subsequent hydroprocessing reactor. 
     
     
         13 . The process of  claim 9  wherein the hydroprocessing reactor is operated at a mass flux of more than 29,300 kg/h-m 2  (6,000 lb/h-ft 2 ). 
     
     
         14 . The process of  claim 9  wherein the hydroprocessing catalyst comprises a fixed bed. 
     
     
         15 . A process for hydroprocessing a hydrocarbonaceous feedstock which comprises:
 introducing a stream comprising a hydrocarbonaceous feedstock and hydrogen into a hydroprocessing reactor containing a fixed bed of hydroprocessing catalyst comprising pills having a largest dimension that averages no more than 0.51 mm ( 1/50 inch).   
     
     
         16 . The process of  claim 15  further comprising: introducing at least a portion of the first hydrocarbonaceous product stream into a subsequent hydroprocessing reactor containing hydroprocessing catalyst with a sufficiently low hydrogen concentration to maintain a continuous liquid phase to produce a subsequent hydrocarbonaceous product stream. 
     
     
         17 . The process of  claim 16  wherein said hydroprocessing catalyst in said subsequent hydroprocessing reactor comprises pills that have a largest dimension that averages more than 100 nm. 
     
     
         18 . The process of  claim 16  further comprising mixing said first hydrocarbonaceous product stream with additional hydrocarbonaceous feedstock before entering into said subsequent hydroprocessing reactor. 
     
     
         19 . The process of  claim 15  wherein the hydroprocessing reactor is operated at a mass flux of more than 29,300 kg/h-m 2  (6,000 lb/h-ft 2 ).