PATENT

3349.  SIMPSON, T. P. (Socony-Vacuum Oil Co.).  Method for Controlling Space Velocity.  United States Patent 2,446,986, Aug. 10, 1948; appl. filed Apr. 8, 1944, Serial No. 530,221; 2 claims (Cl. 23-288).  Chem. Abs., vol. 42, 1948, p. 8458.

Space velocity in a catalytic reaction vessel of the moving-bed type can be controlled by a mechanical arrangement that provides for varying the height of the catalyst bed by using feed pipes that can be set at various lengths.  Because space velocity is an important variable and because such vessels operate most satisfactorily at relatively uniform loading, the oil throughout rate is held constant and the control means are confined to varying the volume of catalyst.  For example, in a reactor of a given cross section, space velocity may be doubled by cutting the height of the bed in ½.  1 foreign patent and 5 United States patents cited.

SINCLAIR REFINING CO.  See abs. 3736, 3737, 3738, 3739.