Feedstock conversion in cocurrent-flow reactors

Reports on an investigation of the operation of cocurrentflow reactors of the semiopen type, with either upflow or downflow of the gas/vapor/catalyst mixture. Uses a vacuum gasoil from Romashkino crude as the feedstock. Finds that in an upflow reactor, most of the feed is converted in the first part of the reactor, in one-third of its total height; in the downflow reactor, the feed conversion takes place throughout the entire reactor height, but most of the conversion is achieved in the final part of the reactor. Concludes that feedstock conversion in cocurrent-flow reactors is not proportional to the height (position in the reactor), but that the conversion level depends on the direction of flow of the gas/vapor/catalyst mixture.