HYDROTREATING OF HEAVY HYDROCARBON OILS WITH CONTROL OF PARTICLE SIZE OF PARTICULATE ADDITIVES

摘要

A process is described for controlling the size of additive or catalyst particles mixed with heavy hydrocarbon oil feedstock containing asphaltenes and metals and being subjected to hydrotreating. A slurry feed of a mixture of the heavy hydrocarbon oil feedstock and coke-inhibiting additive particles o r catalyst particles is passed upwardly through a confined vertical hydrotreating zone in the presence of hydrogen gas, while removing from the top of the hydrotreating zone a mixed effluent containing a gaseous phase comprising hydrogen and vaporous hydrocarbon and a liquid phase comprising heavy hydrocarbon. The mixed effluent is passed through a separation vessel, while withdrawing from the top of the separator a gaseous stream comprising hydrogen and vaporous hydrocarbons and withdrawing from the bottom of the separator a liquid stream comprising heavy hydrocarbons and particles of cok e- inhibiting additive or catalyst. At least part of the liquid stream containi ng heavy hydrocarbons and particles is recycled and an aromatic oil is added to the hydrotreating zone in an amount sufficient to substantially inhibit adsorption of asphaltenes on the surfaces of the particles and subsequent agglomeration of the additive or catalyst particles.