Conocophillips Company

Jack E Cnossen

Rafael Luis Espinoza

Sergio R Mohedas

Ajoy P Raje

Larry D Swinney

Vincent H Melquist

Todd H Harkins

The invention relates to methods for prevention of and recovery from a catalyst bed slumping in a gas-agitated multiphase hydrocarbon synthesis reactor, while the reactor is either under non-reactive conditions or under reaction promoting conditions when syngas is converted to products. The reactor contains a catalyst bed comprising catalyst particles and a gas injection zone suitable for injecting a reactor gas feed. A method for preventing bed slumping comprises supplying a supplemental gas to the gas-agitated multiphase reactor to prevent the catalyst bed from slumping due to insufficient reactor gas feed flow. The method may include recycling some or all of the supplemental gas to the reactor. The method may further comprise separating the gas injection zone from the catalyst bed with a porous plate so as to prevent migration of catalyst particles into the gas injection zone and to minimize plugging of gas distributor(s) present in said zone.

Prevention of and recovering from a catalyst bed slumping in a gas-agitated multiphase reactor

The present invention is generally related towards the regeneration of hydrocarbon synthesis catalysts. In particular, the present invention is directed towards the regeneration of deactivated Fischer-Tropsch type catalysts using a two step process wherein the catalyst is first prepared using a dry gas and then regenerated using a hydrogen rich gas. The regeneration process is carried out at temperatures and pressures that are generally different than the operating temperatures and pressures for a typical hydrocarbon synthesis reaction.

Method and apparatus for the regeneration of hydrocarbon synthesis catalysts

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Ponca City, OK, United States of America

Jack E Cnossen