Distributor system for downflow reactors

1. Downflow catalytic reactor having a plurality of catalyst beds in which a mixture of gas and liquid are passed, the region in between subsequent catalyst beds being provided with a distributor system for the distribution and mixing of gas and liquid prior to contact with a subsequent catalyst bed, said region comprising:

(a) gas injection line arranged below a catalyst support tray,

(b) collector tray adapted to receive gas and liquid,

(c) spillway collectors extending above the level of said collecting tray and provided with outlet openings for the passage of gas and liquid, said outlet openings being adapted to impart swirling motion to the exiting gas and liquid,

(d) mixing chamber adapted to receive and maintain a swirling motion to the gas and liquid descending from said spillway collectors,

(e) impingement plate below said mixing chamber adapted to direct the flow in radial direction from said mixing chamber,

(f) first distributor tray arranged below said impingement plate having a number of apertures throughout to allow for the downward passage of liquid and a number of chimneys to allow for the downward passage of gas, and

(g) second distributor tray arranged below said first distributor tray, said second distributor tray having a number of elongated tubes, in which said elongated tubes provide for the redistribution of gas and liquid prior to contact with the subsequent catalyst bed, wherein the at least one chimney is provided with a distributor device that is able to divide the chimney chamber into at least two chambers.

2. Downflow catalytic reactor according to claim 1 , wherein said distributor device is formed by two plates crossing each other so as to divide the chimney chamber into four substantially equal chambers.

3. Downflow catalytic reactor according to claim 1 , in which the at least one chimney is provided with a closed top with separate side apertures for separate entry of liquid and gas, wherein the apertures for gas flow face away from the orifice hole of the mixing chamber.

4. Downflow catalytic reactor according to claim 1 , further comprising a perforated plate arranged below said first distributor tray and covering substantially the whole cross section of the second distributor tray arranged below.

5. Downflow catalytic reactor according to claim 4 , wherein a substantially horizontal plate of substantially the same diameter as the outer diameter of the at least one chimney is positioned below said chimney and above the perforated plate covering the second distributor tray.

6. Downflow catalytic reactor according to claim 4 , wherein said perforated plate in the region just underneath the at least one chimney is absent of any openings.

7. Downflow catalytic reactor according to claim 4 , wherein said substantially horizontal plate is supported on adjacent elongated tubes of the second distributor tray.

8. Downflow catalytic reactor according to claim 1 , wherein the chimneys are located around the center of the reactor so that the distance from the center of the reactor to any of the chimneys corresponds to about 25% to 75%, 85% or 90% of the radius of the reactor.