Chevron U.s.a. Inc.

Douglas Gayle McDaniel

Jeff Johns

Anthony Terrell Tanner

Edward Earl Eden, Jr

Steven Alden Souers

David Lawrence Cooke

David Michael Bosi

Disclosed herein is a catalyst dumping spool assembly for unloading used catalyst from an inside of a reactor, comprising: a reactor, and a catalyst dumping spool comprising a first end operatively connected to the reactor, the first end having a catalyst inlet through which the used catalyst is introduced into, a second end having a catalyst discharge outlet whereby the used catalyst exits the catalyst dumping spool, wherein a first device for controlling used catalyst transfer into the catalyst inlet is positioned proximate the first end, and a second device for controlling the used catalyst transfer from inside the catalyst inlet through the catalyst discharge outlet is positioned proximate the second end, and further wherein the catalyst dumping spool further comprise a gas fluidization inlet and a water fluidization inlet located between the first and second devices.

Catalyst dumping spool assembly

Processes for shutting down a hydroprocessing reactor and for removing catalyst from the reactor may comprise shutting off hydrocarbon feed to the reactor, stripping hydrocarbons from the catalyst, cooling the reactor to a first threshold reactor temperature, purging the reactor with Ngas, introducing water into the reactor, and dumping the catalyst from the reactor, wherein the first threshold reactor temperature may be substantially greater than 200&#xb0; F. In an embodiment, the water may be introduced into the reactor via a quench gas distribution system when the reactor is at a second threshold reactor temperature not greater than 200&#xb0; F. to cool the reactor to a third threshold reactor temperature not greater than 120&#xb0; F.

Method for safely and quickly shutting down and cleaning a hydroprocessing reactor of spent catalyst via a water flooding technique

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Moss Point, MS, United States of America

Douglas Gayle McDaniel