System and process for reacting a petroleum fraction
In one exemplary embodiment, a system for reacting a first feed can include a petroleum fraction having at least about 90%, by volume, with a boiling point of at least about 300° C. The system can include a bubble column reactor. The bubble column reactor, in turn, can include a first inlet for the first feed and a second inlet for a second feed including a gas rich in hydrogen. In addition, the petroleum fraction may be in counter-current flow with respect to the gas rich in hydrogen inside the bubble column reactor.
1. A system for reacting a first feed comprising a petroleum fraction stream having at least about 90%, by volume, with a boiling point of at least about 300° C., comprising:
A) a bubble column reactor; wherein the bubble column reactor comprises:
1) a first inlet proximate to a top of the bubble column reactor for the first feed in communication with a source of said petroleum fraction stream and a source of a catalyst stream; and
2) a second inlet for a second feed in communication with a source of a gas rich in hydrogen; wherein the petroleum fraction is in counter-current flow with respect to the gas rich in hydrogen inside the bubble column reactor.
2. The system according to claim 1 , wherein the bubble column reactor further comprises a gas distributor proximate to a base of the bubble column reactor.
3. The system according to claim 1 , further comprising a level control system to permit disengagement of a second product, comprising a gas, from a petroleum fraction at a top of the bubble column reactor.
4. The system according to claim 1 , wherein the bubble column reactor contains a catalyst comprising at least one group VIII metal with a diameter of less than about 45 microns entrained in a petroleum fraction.
5. The system according to claim 4 , wherein the at least one group VIII metal comprises iron.
6. The system according to claim 1 , wherein the first inlet is in communication with at least one of an atmospheric tower bottom and a vacuum tower bottom.
7. The system according to claim 1 , wherein a partial pressure of hydrogen is greater proximate to a first outlet for a first product comprising a petroleum fraction than the first inlet for the first feed.
8. A system for reacting a first feed in a plurality of bubble column reactors, comprising:
“A) a first bubble column reactor receiving first and second feeds, wherein the first bubble column reactor comprises a first inlet proximate to a top of the bubble column reactor for the first feed” in communication with a source of a petroleum fraction stream having at least about 90%, by volume, with a boiling point of at least about 300° C. and in communication with a source of a catalyst stream, and the second feed comprises a first gas rich in hydrogen wherein the petroleum fraction is in counter-current flow with respect to the first gas rich in hydrogen in the first bubble column reactor; and
“B) a second bubble column reactor receiving a third feed in communication” with a bottom product from the first bubble column reactor comprising another petroleum fraction, and a fourth feed comprises a second gas rich in hydrogen wherein the another petroleum fraction is in counter-current flow with respect to the second gas rich in hydrogen in the second bubble column reactor.
9. The system according to claim 8 , wherein the first and second gases rich in hydrogen are from a same source.
10. The system according to claim 8 , wherein the first and second gases rich in hydrogen are from different sources.
11. The system according to claim 8 , wherein each of the first bubble column reactor and the second bubble column reactor comprises a gas distributor proximate to a base of the respective bubble column reactor.
12. The system according to claim 8 , further comprising respective level control systems for the first and second bubble column reactors.
13. The system according to claim 8 , wherein each of the first and second bubble column reactors contains a catalyst comprising at least one group VIII metal with a diameter of less than about 45 microns entrained in a respective petroleum fraction.
14. The system according to claim 13 , wherein the at least one group VIII metal comprises iron.
15. The system according to claim 8 , wherein the first inlet is in communication with at least one of an atmospheric tower bottom and a vacuum tower bottom.
16. The system according to claim 8 , wherein the first feed comprises a catalyst comprising at least one group VIII metal with a diameter of less than about 45 microns.