Installation tools for structured catalysts

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-9573106-B2
Application number	US-201414291396-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	May 30, 2014
Priority date	May 31, 2013
Publication date	Feb 21, 2017
Grant date	Feb 21, 2017

Abstract

A reactor installation tool and method for installing reactor components in a reactor housing. A reactor installation tool can include a push unit having a central aperture traversing its entire length and a push rod, a housing gripper having a center open section traversing its entire length and an expandable bladder positioned adjacent the center open section for securing the housing gripper inside a reactor housing. Reactor components can be installed by first lowering reactor components into a reactor housing, then lowering the reactor installation tool into the reactor housing above the reactor components, and then inflating the expandable bladder such that the expandable bladder contacts an inside surface of the reactor housing to secure the housing gripper inside the reactor housing.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1. A reactor installation tool comprising:
a push unit having a central aperture traversing an entire length of the push unit and a push rod; and
a housing gripper having a center open section traversing an entire length of the housing gripper and an expandable bladder positioned adjacent the center open section for securing the housing gripper inside a reactor housing.

2. The reactor installation tool of claim 1 further comprising a standoff having a top end and a bottom end, wherein the standoff is positioned between the push unit and the housing gripper and has an open center section traversing an entire length of the standoff.

3. The reactor installation tool of claim 2 , wherein the standoff is secured to the push unit.

4. The reactor installation tool of claim 2 , wherein the standoff is secured to the housing gripper.

5. The reactor installation tool of claim 2 , wherein the standoff comprises a seal around the top or bottom end of the standoff.

6. The reactor installation tool of claim 1 , wherein the expandable bladder extends entirely around the center open section of the housing gripper.

7. The reactor installation tool of claim 1 , wherein the housing gripper comprises between 2 and 8 expandable bladders.

8. The reactor installation tool of claim 1 , wherein the push unit is positioned below the housing gripper inside the reactor housing.

9. The reactor installation tool of claim 1 , wherein the push unit further comprises a center cavity for receiving fluid, wherein fluid is supplied to the center cavity by an upper inlet port and a lower inlet port for moving the push rod.

10. The reactor installation tool of claim 9 , wherein a portion of the push rod is located within the center cavity such that the fluid supplied to the upper inlet port acts to move the push rod one direction and the fluid supplied to the lower inlet port acts to move the push rod in a second direction.

11. The reactor installation tool of claim 1 , wherein the housing gripper further comprises a port for supplying fluid to the expandable bladder.

12. The reactor installation tool of claim 1 , wherein the expandable bladder has a port for receiving fluid.

13. A reactor installation tool comprising:
a push unit comprising:
a push rod having a through hole traversing an entire length of the push rod,
a center cavity for receiving fluid through an upper inlet port or a lower inlet port in the push unit,

one or more fluid supply lines connected to the upper inlet port or lower inlet port;
a housing gripper comprising:
a center open section traversing an entire length of the housing gripper,
an expandable bladder positioned adjacent the center open section,

wherein the push unit and housing gripper are secured to one another and the through hole in the push rod and the center open section in the housing gripper are in register such that the reactor installation tool has a continuous opening along an entire length of the reactor installation tool.

14. The reactor installation tool of claim 13 , the tool further comprising a standoff positioned between the push unit and housing gripper.

Assignees

• Catacel Corp
• Johnson Matthey Plc

Inventors

• Whittenberger William A
• Whittenberger Joseph W

Classifications

• B01J2219/32275

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

• B01J8/002 Primary

  with a moving instrument · CPC title

• B01J8/0015

  Feeding of the particles in the reactor; Evacuation of the particles out of the reactor · CPC title

• B01J8/008

  Details of the reactor or of the particulate material; Processes to increase or to retard the rate of reaction (B01J8/0285, B01J8/067, B01J8/087, B01J8/1836 take precedence) · CPC title

• B01J19/32

  Packing elements in the form of grids or built-up elements for forming a unit or module inside the apparatus for mass or heat transfer · CPC title