Expandable center arrangement

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-10099198-B2
Application number	US-201715602702-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	May 23, 2017
Priority date	May 23, 2016
Publication date	Oct 16, 2018
Grant date	Oct 16, 2018

Abstract

An expandable center arrangement for a reactor is disclosed. The arrangement comprises an expansion tube; a center support inside the expansion tube and three or more spring elements. The spring elements are fastened to the center support and arc out to the expansion tube. A reactor is also disclosed.

First claim

The invention claimed is:

1. An expandable center arrangement for a reactor, the arrangement comprising: an expansion tube; a center support inside the expansion tube and three or more spring elements; the spring elements being fastened to the center support and arcing out to the expansion tube.

2. An expandable center arrangement according to claim 1 , wherein the expansion tube is formed from tail ends of the spring elements spiraling around and overlapping each other.

3. An expandable center arrangement according to claim 2 , wherein each of the tail ends extends around at least one full circumference of the expansion tube.

4. An expandable center arrangement according to claim 1 , wherein the expansion tube is separate to the spring elements and the spring elements press outwardly against the expansion tube.

5. An expandable center arrangement according to claim 1 , wherein the spring elements are resilient so as to bias the expansion tube outwardly away from the center support.

6. An expandable center arrangement according to claim 1 , wherein the spring elements are sheet-like elements aligned with the axial direction of the center support and the expansion tube.

7. An expandable center arrangement according to claim 1 , wherein the expansion tube comprises at least one sheet wrapped around multiple times to form the circumference of the expansion tube.

8. An expandable center arrangement according to claim 6 , wherein the at least one sheet comprises corrugations at an inner end.

9. An expandable center arrangement according to claim 1 , wherein the center support comprises at least one hole to allow air blown down the center support to lubricate the spring elements.

10. A reactor comprising: an outer tube; an expansion tube inside the outer tube; an expandable catalyst support occupying an annular space between the expansion tube and the outer tube; and three or more curved resilient spring elements arranged within the expansion tube so as to bias the expansion tube toward the outer tube, wherein:
(a) the expansion tube is formed from tail ends of the spring elements spiraling around and overlapping each other;
(b) the expansion tube comprises at least one sheet wrapped around multiple times to form the circumference of the expansion tube; or
(c) the spring elements are sheet-like elements aligned with the axial direction of the outer tube and the expansion tube.

11. A reactor according to claim 9 , wherein the spring elements are mounted on a center support.

12. A reactor according to claim 9 , wherein the expansion tube is separate to the spring elements.

13. A method of installing an expandable center arrangement in a reactor, the method comprising: providing an expandable center arrangement comprising an expansion tube and spring elements arranged inside the expansion tube, inserting the center arrangement into the reactor, introducing a pressurised gas into the expansion tube so as to expand the expansion tube, wherein the spring elements resist compression of the expansion tube after the pressurised gas is vented, wherein the center arrangement is inserted into the reactor using a tool and the pressurised gas is introduced via the same tool.

14. A method according to claim 13 , wherein the spring elements provide an outward biasing force to the expansion tube during the introduction of the pressurised gas.

15. A method according to claim 13 , wherein the spring elements remain in contact with the expansion tube throughout the introduction of the pressurised gas.

Assignees

• Johnson Matthey Plc

Inventors

• Whittenberger William Alan
• Whittenberger Joseph W
• Podojil Iii Frank James

Classifications

• B01J2219/00081

  Tubes · CPC title

• B01J19/243

  spirally, concentrically or zigzag wound · CPC title

• B01J19/0013

  Controlling the temperature of the process · CPC title

• B01J2219/32275

  Mounting or joining of the blocks or sheets within the column or vessel · CPC title

• B01J19/2415 Primary

  Tubular reactors · CPC title