LIQUID FLOW NON-IDEALITIES AND HOLD-UP IN A PILOT-SCALE PACKED-BED REACTOR WITH COCURRENT GAS-LIQUID UPFLOW

Residence time distribution (R.T.D) experiments were carried out in a pilot scale upflow reactor. Feeds with properties similar to the prope rties of feeds at reaction conditions were used. The Piston-Dispersion model is used to decribe the liquid flow non-idealities. The effect o f velocity and particle dimensions on the Peclet number and liquid hol dup are discussed. Predicted deviations of the performance of a typica l pilot hydrotreater From that of an ideal plug flow reactor are prese nted.