US 4,142,864 A · Catalytic apparatus

Abstract

A catalytic, gas treating apparatus in which a unitary ceramic catalytic element having gas flow passages therethrough, is positioned within a metallic casing in a manner providing a space between the casing and the catalytic element. A resilient member which is compressible both radially and longitudinally is positioned around the catalytic element in said space to resiliently hold the catalytic element. A plug member is positioned at least partially in said space, and, for instance, around the catalytic element at opposite end portions of the catalytic element, in a manner which longitudinally compresses said resilient member to a substantial extent to increase the holding force exerted on the catalytic element by the resilient member and thereby inhibit axial movement of the catalytic element during use. The device avoids the necessity of providing end flanges extending from the casing and overlapping the periphery of the end faces of the catalytic element for the purpose of minimizing axial movement of the catalytic element, and, as a result, essentially all of the gas flow passages remain available to the flow of the gas to be treated and there is maximum catalyst utilization.

Claims20

Dependent claims

An apparatus for treating gases comprising:

a. a metallic casing defining an enclosure and having a gas inlet and a gas outlet that communicate with said enclosure;
b. a catalytic element of lesser dimension than said enclosure and positioned in the casing in a manner providing a space extending around the catalytic element between the catalytic element and the inner surface of the casing, said catalytic element comprising a unitary skeletal ceramic structure having gas flow passages therethrough;
c. a resilient, flexible member snugly holding said catalytic element and positioned under compression radially between the catalytic element and the inner surface of the casing, said resilient member being compressible longitudinally with respect to said catalytic element;
and
d. at least one plug member at least partially within said space between the inner surface of the casing and the periphery of the catalytic element, said plug member being positioned within said space to longitudinally compress said compressed resilient flexible member to provide a quantity of solid material per unit volume of said space occupied by said resilient member which is at least about 20% greater relative to said quantity before said longitudinal compression, and sufficiently to hold said catalytic element against axial movement during its use.

2 more elements

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.

Catalytic apparatus

Life of this patent

Catalytic apparatus

Life of this patent

Abstract

Claims20