Abstract: Because of the high price of crude oil, it is necessary to utilize crude oil resources efficiently, and residue hydrotreating technology is a better choice. The residue hydrotreating technology with the combination of micro expansion upflow reactor and fixed bed reactor has been successfully developed and applied several times. Two sets of pre-upflow reactor residue hydrogenation units(A and C) and two sets of fixed bed residue hydrogenation units(B and D) were selected for comparative analysis. The result showed that the residue hydrogenation process in the upflow reactor could also process different types of residue. The residue feedstock with high nitrogen content was treated by unit A, and the desulphurization rate, nitrogen removal rate, metal removal rate and carbon residue reduction rate in RUN-14 period were 82.46%, 31.51%, 73.69% and 54.85%, respectively. High sulfur content residue was treated by unit C, and the desulphurization rate, nitrogen removal rate, metal removal rate and carbon residue reduction rate in RUN-5 period were 85.23%, 38.71%, 72.83% and 54.49%, respectively. The performance of graded catalysts can meet specifications of two units. As with fixed-bed residue hydrogenation unit, the first catalyst layer of the upflow reactor also had a large radial temperature difference, and the pressure drop of the first reactor also increased, it was mainly related to the mal-distribution of fluids and expansion degree in the catalyst bed. It is suggested that collaborative research and development of upflow reactor internals, catalysts, and key process parameters should be carried out.

Key words: up-flow reactor, residue hydrotreating, radial temperature difference, hydrodesulfurization, hydrodenitrification