ABSTRACT
This chapter describes the results obtained of the evaluation of HIDRO-IMP-C technology at semi-commercial scale. First, the importance of scaling-up for the development of new technologies is highlighted. Then, details of the semi-commercial unit and the general plant of tests are given. The preliminary procedures that were carried out before the plant operation (feed preparation, catalyst loading, calculation of average reactor temperature, and catalyst activation) are provided. Subsequently, general comments on the effect of the four main operation variables (total pressure and hydrogen partial pressure, reaction temperature, hydrogen-to-oil ratio and recycle gas rate, space-velocity and fresh feed rate) are reviewed. Finally, the experimental results of properties of upgraded oils (API gravity and impurities removal), operational parameters, and coke and metals deposition on the catalysts are discussed.
