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Abstract

The invention is for a fixed bed reactor with two phase gas and liquid flow. The reactor has at least one auxiliary bed of solid particles disposed above the main bed of solid particles. The auxiliary bed has a liquid bypass comprised of hollow tubing extending through the auxiliary bed. Liquid receptacles provide a liquid seal above the liquid bypasses, thereby preventing gas from bypassing along with the liquid. The liquid spilled from the flow receptacles seeks its lowest level and flows through the auxiliary bed. The tubing provides a bypass first for the liquid and later for both the liquid and gas when the auxiliary bed becomes fouled and the liquid seal is thereby broken. This feed arrangement allows for a low pressure drop bypassing of the auxiliary bed, when the auxiliary bed becomes fouled and clogged. The invention is also applicable to other apparatuses which use a flow arrangement similar to fixed bed reactors, but which do not necessarily utilize a chemical reaction. One example of such apparatus is a packed absorption tower having co-current downflow of gas and liquid.

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First Claim