IMPROVED FOULING TOLERANT FIXED BED REACTOR

The invention is directed to a fixed bed reactor (51) having one or more bypass devices for extending the operating life of the reactor. The bypass devices may be placed within a fixed catalyst bed (56) to partition the bed (56) into a first top bed (58) and a second virtual bed (59). One embodiment of the bypass device allows a fluid feedstock to bypass the first top bed (58) of the fixed catalyst bed (56) as it fouls and enters the second virtual bed (59) under conditions that promote depositing any foulants contained in the bypass flow on the top surface of the second virtual bed (59) rather than in the interstices of the second virtual bed (59). Another embodiment relates to a multi-tier bypass that allows a fluid feedstock to bypass successive layers of a fixed bed as they foul. The invention also relates to an improved fixed bed reactor comprising the inventive bypass device and a method for extending the operating life of a fixed bed reactor that employs the inventive bypass device.