Ceramic structures
AssigneeImperial Chemical Industries PLC
InventorPeter J. Davidson
Life of this patent
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Abstract
A self-supporting structure, particularly for use as a support for a catalyst, e.g. for secondary steam reforming of hydrocarbons, comprises an assembly of interlocking units, preferably of prismatic polygonal, e.g. hexagonal, configuration. Each unit is provided with projections in its upper part enabling the unit to be supported on a complementary projection in the lower part of an adjacent unit and/or on a supporting member of a vessel containing the assembly. As the structure heats or cools, expansion and contraction of the units relative to the containing vessel is accommodated by the structure bowing.
Claims7
A self-supporting structure disposed within a containing vessel and comprising a plurality of discrete interlocking units, each unit consisting of a ceramic material having a plurality of channels therethrough, and
- having the general shape of a right prism of polygonal cross section having rectangular prism faces,
- having at least one upper projection extending from the upper part of the unit, each upper projection corresponding to a rectangular prism face, said units being disposed such that each unit that is disposed adjacent the walls of the containing vessel has an upper projection resting upon a supporting surface of the containing vessel, and
- each one unit that is not adjacent the walls of the containing vessel has an upper projection resting upon a lower projection extending from the lower part, and corresponding to a rectangular prism face, of the unit that is adjacent to said one unit and is between said one unit and the wall of the containing vessel,
- the individual units being capable of sufficient movement relative to one another that expansion or contraction of the individual units can be accommodated, whereby expansion or contraction of the units relative to the vessel has the cummulative effect of causing variation in the extent of bowing of the structure.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.