Device and method for transporting catalyst to a reactor vessel

1. A method for transporting catalyst particles to a chemical reactor having at least one vertical tube with a top and a bottom, said vertical tube being supported by a top tube sheet, comprising the steps of:

providing a plurality of pouches, each containing a plurality of catalyst particles;

arranging said pouches at intervals along a belt; and

using drive means to drive said belt along a predetermined fixed path to transport the pouches from a low elevation to an elevation above the top of the vertical tube.

2. The method for transporting catalyst particles to a chemical reactor recited in claim 1 , wherein said fixed path is defined by a plurality of fixed belt guides, and further including the step of guiding said belt by means of said fixed belt guides as the belt is being driven along said fixed path.

3. The method for transporting catalyst particles to a chemical reactor recited in claim 2 , and further comprising the step of securely mounting the pouches on the belt.

4. The method for transporting catalyst particles to a chemical reactor recited in claim 2 , wherein said pouches are sealed and have an internal pressure that is at least five pounds per square inch below ambient atmospheric pressure.

5. The method for transporting catalyst particles to a chemical reactor recited in claim 4 , wherein said belt defines a plurality of evenly-spaced openings and said fixed belt guides include sprockets that engage said belt at said openings.

6. The method for transporting catalyst particles to a chemical reactor recited in claim 4 , wherein said belt is part of a standard belt conveyor.

7. The method for transporting catalyst particles to a chemical reactor recited in claim 4 , and further comprising the step of enclosing at least a portion of said fixed path to protect the pouches from inclement weather as the pouches are being transported.

8. The method for transporting catalyst particles to a chemical reactor recited in claim 4 , and further comprising the steps of opening the pouches to release the catalyst particles and allowing the catalyst particles to flow by gravity into the vertical tube.

9. The method for transporting catalyst particles to a chemical reactor recited in claim 8 , and further comprising the steps of enclosing the catalyst particles within a vacuum chamber from the point at which the catalyst particles are released from their pouch until they flow into their respective tube and providing a vacuum line that vacuums air from said vacuum chamber to a remote location.

10. The method for transporting catalyst particles to a chemical reactor recited in claim 9 , and further comprising the step of pushing the catalyst particles within the vacuum chamber in order to distribute the particles over the tube sheet.

11. The method for transporting catalyst particles to a chemical reactor recited in claim 10 , and further comprising the step of controlling the drive means from a position adjacent the upper tube sheet.

12. The method for transporting catalyst particles to a chemical reactor recited in claim 3 , and further comprising the steps of opening the pouches to release the catalyst particles and allowing the catalyst particles to flow by gravity into the vertical tube.

13. The method for transporting catalyst particles to a chemical reactor recited in claim 12 , and further comprising the steps of enclosing the catalyst particles within a vacuum chamber from the point at which the catalyst particles are released from their pouch until they flow into their respective tube and providing a vacuum line that vacuums air from said vacuum chamber to a remote location.

14. The method for transporting catalyst particles to a chemical reactor recited in claim 13 , and further comprising the step of pushing the catalyst particles within the vacuum chamber in order to distribute the particles over the tube sheet.

15. The method for transporting catalyst particles to a chemical reactor recited in claim 14 , and further comprising the steps of depositing the catalyst particles onto a screen within the vacuum chamber and vacuuming out dust and fines that fall through the screen.

16. The method for transporting catalyst particles to a chemical reactor recited in claim 15 , wherein the step of spreading the catalyst particles includes inserting a hand into a flexible enclosure sealed to the vacuum chamber, and using the hand to spread the catalyst particles inside the vacuum chamber.

17. The method for transporting catalyst particles to a chemical reactor recited in claim 15 , wherein the step of spreading the catalyst particles includes shifting a movable frame back and forth across the vacuum chamber.