Variable volume catalyst cell for catalytic oxidation of ethylene oxide emissions and related methodology

A gas purification system configured to receive unpurified gas and process the gas to create purified gas having desired compositional characteristics, the gas purification system comprising:

• a preheater configured to apply heat to the unpurified gas;
• a catalyst cell downstream of the preheater, the catalyst cell comprising:
• a main body having a sidewall extending around a cavity sized to receive a catalyst material, a sidewall inlet at the sidewall and in communication with the cavity and configured to receive the unpurified gas to allow the unpurified gas to pass through the cavity, and an outlet at the sidewall in spaced relation to the sidewall inlet and in communication with the cavity to discharge purified gas after passing through at least a portion of the cavity;
• a compaction plate positionable within the cavity adjacent the catalyst material, the compaction plate and the main body collectively defining a volume of the cavity, the compaction plate being moveable relative to the main body to facilitate variation in the volume of the cavity;
• and
• a spring operatively connected to the compaction plate and configured to impart a force on the compaction plate to facilitate adjustment of the volume of the cavity in response to breakdown of catalyst material within the cavity;
• and
• a heat exchanger comprising a first unpurified outlet in fluid communication with the preheater and the catalyst cell, the heat exchanger being configured to receive the unpurified gas from an unpurified inlet and the purified gas from the catalyst cell to facilitate heat transfer from the purified gas to the unpurified gas.

A gas purification system configured to receive unpurified gas and process the gas to create purified gas having desired compositional characteristics, the gas purification system comprising:

• a preheater configured to apply heat to the unpurified gas;
• a catalyst cell downstream of the preheater, the catalyst cell comprising:
• a main body having a sidewall extending around a cavity sized to receive a catalyst material, a sidewall inlet at the sidewall and in communication with the cavity and configured to receive the unpurified gas to allow the unpurified gas to pass through the cavity, and an outlet at the sidewall in spaced relation to the sidewall inlet and in communication with the cavity to discharge purified gas after passing through at least a portion of the cavity;
• a compaction plate positionable within the cavity adjacent the catalyst material, the compaction plate and the main body collectively defining a volume of the cavity, the compaction plate being moveable relative to the main body to facilitate variation in the volume of the cavity;
• and
• a spring operatively connected to the compaction plate and configured to impart a force on the compaction plate to facilitate adjustment of the volume of the cavity in response to breakdown of catalyst material within the cavity;
• and
• at least one deflection plate upstream of the preheater and configured to direct at least a portion of the unpurified gas flow in a prescribed direction.