Hot topics

Two conditions are required for the emergence of hot spots: first, the catalyst bed has regions with varying densities； Second, the feed load does not meet the requirements. Therefore, when there are areas of varying density within the catalyst bed and the feed load does not meet the requirements, the occurrence of hot spots is inevitable, and they will necessarily appear in those areas of varying density within the catalyst bed – this is what is known as channeling. When the offset flow persists for too long, channeling occurs. The occurrence of channeling leads to a shift in the hot spots within the bed, as this channel can traverse the entire bed, moving from its inlet to its outlet. It entirely depends on the density of the catalyst in the catalyst bed and the distribution of the feed. One thing is certain, however: operating at low load levels is extremely detrimental to controlling the formation of hot spots, especially in catalyst beds with a non-dense phase packing, where this effect is particularly pronounced.