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What happens to the catalyst if water goes to naphtha or diesel hydrotreater reactor along with feed which is having Nickel molybdenum catalyst.
 
Answers
05/04/2015 A: Sarath Konda, DuPont India, sharathsatya@gmail.com
During Normal operation, typically water present is the reactor feed will be vapor phase and which will lower the H2 partial pressure in the reactor.
If during shutdown if free water gets onto the catalyst and when unit is started water present on the catalyst vaporizes and in that process steaming of catalyst takes place causing structural damage and popcorn effect.
30/12/2014 A: Ganesh Maturu, Self, maturu.ganesh@gmail.com
Two main adverse effects
1. Because of water in catalyst, catalyst breakage may happen because of sudden popping or vaporization in the catalyst which reduces the catalyst activity and increases the pressure drop in the reactor
2. H2 partial pressure reduces at the reactor outlet because of most of the water is in vapor phase and hence catalyst activity