DISTRIBUTOR ASSEMBLY FOR MULTI-BED DOWN-FLOW CATALYTIC REACTORS

摘要

A multi-bed, down-flow reactor (10) includes several distributor assemblies (20) each having a centrally located mixing chamber (30) and an annular collecting and mixing trough (24) surrounding the mixing chamber (30). The mixing chamber (30) has an inlet (36) at one side thereof, an outlet (37) in its bottom wall (25), and a quench gas inlet (38) in its top wall (35) above the outlet (37). A divider wall (40) traverses the annular trough (24) adjacent to the inlet (36) to cause the pool of liquid collected in the trough (24) to flow in a circular pattern around the mixing chamber (30) to the inlet (36). This ensures that the liquid circulating through the trough (24) is well mixed with the liquid raining down from the catalyst bed. Turbulent and spiraling flow patterns generated within the chamber further mix the liquid and gas and entrain quench gas in the liquid and gas stream.