Device and method for loading solid particles into a chamber

1. A device for loading solid particles into a vessel comprising:

a particle feed means;

a means for dispersing the particles from the top to the bottom of the vessel, the dispersion means comprising a fixed hollow tube, installed inside a rotating hollow shaft;

several measurement means for simultaneously measuring a height of a filling bed and a loading profile at the time of loading, said several measurement means having different measurement axes for measuring a distance between the several measurement means and a certain number of points distributed substantially over an entire surface of a loading front, wherein the several measurement means are positioned inside the fixed hollow tube or inside the particle feed mean and is provided with at least one displacement means that allows each of the several measurement means, via a connection means, to be either housed in the fixed hollow tube or the particle feed means, or to partly or completely emerge from the fixed hollow tube or from the particle feed means; and

at least one automated system for controlling at least one of the feed means and the dispersion means.

2. The device according to claim 1 , wherein the same measurement means allows the measurement of the height of the filling bed and the measurement of the loading profile.

3. The device according to claim 1 , wherein the several measurement means are positioned over a radius of a curve, a spheroidal shape or a cylindrical shape.

4. The device according to claim 1 , wherein the means for measuring the loading profile is composed of several transceivers positioned in a hemisphere volume.

5. The device according to claim 1 , further comprising means for comparing the desired and measured loading profiles, in particular these comparison means are computer implemented.

6. The device according to claim 1 , further comprising an automated control system comprising jacks allowing automated actions for modifications of the adjustment parameters of at least one of the feed means and the dispersion means according to the data from at least one of the measurements of the height and from the analysis of the filling front of the catalyst bed during loading.

7. The device according to claim 1 , wherein each of the several measurement means is firmly attached to the rotating hollow tube.

8. The device according to claim 1 , wherein the means for measuring the height of the filling bed involves electromagnetic waves selected from the group consisting of radar waves, soundwaves, and sonar waves.

9. A method for hydrotreating hydrocarbons, wherein the method comprises carrying out a loading of at least one catalyst bed in a chemical reactor using the device of claim 1 .

10. A method for reforming hydrocarbons, wherein the method comprises carrying out a loading of at least one catalyst bed in a chemical reactor using the device of claim 1 , wherein the chemical reactor is a radial flow chemical reactor.

11. The device according to claim 1 , wherein the means for measuring the height of the filling bed involves electromagnetic waves.

12. The device according to claim 11 , further comprising at least one means enabling the means for measuring at least one of the height of the filling bed and the loading profile to carry out a translation in order to enter into and exit from the hollow of the fixed tube in order to take measurements.

13. The device according to claim 1 , wherein each of the several measurement means is equipped with angular motor means.

14. The device according to claim 13 , wherein the measurement angle determined between the axis (Y′Y) of the measurement means and the longitudinal axis (X′X) of the vessel to be loaded ranges up to 80°.

15. A process for loading solid particles into a vessel with a device as described according to claim 1 , the process comprising the steps of:

flowing said particles from the top to the bottom;

measuring simultaneously at least one of the height of the particle bed and the loading profile of serveral surfaces or over the entire surface of the loading profile; and

adjusting the loading parameters according to the measurement of at least one of the height of the filling bed, and the loading profile.

16. The process according to claim 15 , wherein said measurement requires that loading be stopped for less than 10 minutes.

17. The process according to claim 15 , wherein the parameters of the feed means and of the dispersion means are adjusted as a function of at least one of the measured height of the particle bed, and the loading profile, relative to a model that takes into account the internal geometric features of the vessel to be loaded.

18. The process according to claim 15 , wherein the means for measuring the loading profile measures the height of at least one point for each unit of surface area representing less than 20% of the total surface area.