GBH Enterprises specializes in refinery process catalysts, performance evaluation, and new technology development for refining and petrochemical industries. They provide guidelines for charging primary reforming catalysts via a wet method which involves partially filling the reformer tubes with water during catalyst charging, allowing for drainage, and slowly drying the catalyst over 10-12 hours at increasing temperatures below the dew point to avoid breakage. The guidelines are meant to supplement accepted plant procedures for safe catalyst charging and start-up.

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GBH Enterprises, Ltd.
Guidelines for Charging Primary Reforming
Catalyst
Via the Wet Method
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2. Refinery Process Stream Purification Refinery Process Catalysts Troubleshooting Refinery Process Catalyst Start-Up / Shutdown
Activation Reduction In-situ Ex-situ Sulfiding Specializing in Refinery Process Catalyst Performance Evaluation Heat & Mass
Balance Analysis Catalyst Remaining Life Determination Catalyst Deactivation Assessment Catalyst Performance
Characterization Refining & Gas Processing & Petrochemical Industries Catalysts / Process Technology - Hydrogen Catalysts /
Process Technology – Ammonia Catalyst Process Technology - Methanol Catalysts / process Technology – Petrochemicals
Specializing in the Development & Commercialization of New Technology in the Refining & Petrochemical Industries
Web Site: www.GBHEnterprises.com
VULCAN Series VSG-Z101 Primary Reforming
VSG-Z101 reforming catalysts are manufactured to be robust during both
charging and actual operation. Given this, they are indeed suitable for charging
via a wet method.
Following are some guidelines for how this should be accomplished.
During Charging:
- Fill the reformer tubes approximately 2/3 full of water to begin. As the
catalyst is charged into the tube, water should slowly be drained so that it
does not overflow and wet the furnace refractory.
- After charging the tubes, allow the water to drain for an extended period of
time.
- Pressure drop measurements across the tubes should be within +-5% of
the average for all tubes.
- Putting the Catalyst in Service:
- If possible, pass air or gas over the catalyst for a while to remove
excessive water.
- Slowly dry the catalyst with a flowing system (typically nitrogen), and
maintain the temperature at 80-90C for a period of 10 to 12 hours.
- Raise the temperature to 120C for four hours to complete the drying
phase. It is intended that temperatures listed here and above be lower
than the dewpoint to avoid breakage of the catalyst.
- The temperature in the tubes should not exceed 100C in the first drying
steps. Therefore, the carrier gas should be heated by an external source,
instead of using the burner flames.
- After completing the drying steps, proceed with normal furnace start-up
procedures.
These guidelines are meant to be used as aids to accepted and documented
plant procedures.

3. Refinery Process Stream Purification Refinery Process Catalysts Troubleshooting Refinery Process Catalyst Start-Up / Shutdown
Activation Reduction In-situ Ex-situ Sulfiding Specializing in Refinery Process Catalyst Performance Evaluation Heat & Mass
Balance Analysis Catalyst Remaining Life Determination Catalyst Deactivation Assessment Catalyst Performance
Characterization Refining & Gas Processing & Petrochemical Industries Catalysts / Process Technology - Hydrogen Catalysts /
Process Technology – Ammonia Catalyst Process Technology - Methanol Catalysts / process Technology – Petrochemicals
Specializing in the Development & Commercialization of New Technology in the Refining & Petrochemical Industries
Web Site: www.GBHEnterprises.com