A radial temperature difference exists in the reactor as soon as a new catalyst is installed
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In the hydrocracking unit, where the catalyst has just been installed, a radial temperature difference of 10–20°C was observed between the various catalyst beds during the drying process. Why is this?
What do radial and axial temperature differences mean?
1. You might not be very good at dense-phase filling； 2. Measurement error of the thermometer.
The radial temperature difference is the difference in temperatures measured by thermocouples at several points within the same bed, while the axial temperature difference is the difference in temperatures measured by thermocouples at the upper and lower parts of the same bed. It is related to catalyst loading and the quality of the instrument thermocouples.
1. Catalyst loading issue； 2. There may be issues with the quality of the catalyst.
Take a look at the distribution of temperature measurement points in the reactor~~~ and consider the literal meaning as well~~~
I’m not sure if you are loading it in a compact manner; a temperature difference of over ten degrees could be due to uneven catalyst loading. But it may also be related to the installation position and errors of the thermocouple ； It’s great to identify the causes promptly and resolve the issues, so as not to affect subsequent production.
It is normal for there to be a temperature difference between different bed layers, as the drying temperature needs to be transmitted from top to bottom, and a certain time lag is required; this is the axial temperature difference. The radial temperature difference you mentioned refers to the temperature difference between different temperature points within the same layer of a catalyst bed. In hydrogenation reforming, the catalyst is usually packed in a dense manner, so this kind of problem generally does not occur, unless the catalyst is not properly packed ； Also, the thermometer has errors.