Abstract: In response to the technical requirements for the long-term operation of a fixed-bed residue hydrotreating unit, the key factors restricting its operation period and improvement direction were analyzed first, and then the advantages and disadvantages of the existing fixed-bed residue hydrotreating guard reactor technology were compared. Finally, the future development direction of long-term operation technology was discussed. It is considered that the deactivation caused by metal deposition and carbon deposition is the main factor that restrict the operating cycle of the fixed-bed residue hydrotreating unit; the cut-off guard reactor technology and up-flow guard reactor technology are more suitable for solving the problem of increasing pressure drop of the reactor, which can prolong the running period of the unit; the rotary guard reactor technology and catalyst on-line displacement guard reactor technology can significantly extend the operating cycle of unit, but there are problems of complex process, high investment and high technical safety risks. The technology of gradually cut-off guard reactor has the advantages of both simple process and significantly extended operating cycle, and the development of new guard reactor technologies with more simplified processes is emphasized in the future. At the same time, attention should be paid to the development of high-capacity metal catalyst grading technology, catalyst coke reduction technology, and low-pressure and high-efficiency residual oil hydrogenation catalyst.

Key words: resid hydrotreating, long-term operation, fixed-bed, guard reactor