Axial flow catalyst pack
AssigneeAerojet-General Corporation
InventorsJames B. Ponzo, Robert C. Schindler, Hans Harry Mueggenburg
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A stack of very thin metal plates provides high surface area for catalytic decomposition of a fluid flowing axially from upstream to downstream through the stack. Each plate has flow-through passages of selected size and location to promote uniform flow and good surface contact with a catalyst surface on the plates. The downstream surface of each plate is etched to provide gaps between plates for lateral fluid flow. The plates are divided into groups separated by metering plates that promote more uniform flow from group to group.
Claims17
A catalyst bed for decomposition of monopropellant fuel using a transition metal catalyst over which the fuel is made to flow, the bed comprising:
- a plurality of thin metal plates in a stacked contiguous relation, each such plate having a surface of catalytic material and a plurality of flow-through holes of selected size and location for flow of said fuel axially through said stacked plates, said flow-through holes being axially offset from plate to plate to promote lateral flow of said fuel between adjacent plates, at least a portion of each such plate on a downstream side being etched to direct said lateral flow in all directions between flow-through holes of adjacent plates.
A catalytic converter for promoting the decomposition of a liquid fuel into a gas, the converter comprising:
- a plurality of thin metal plates having a surface formed of a catalyst material and stacked axially along a flow path of said fuel form upstream to downstream;
- each said plate having a plurality of flow-through holes leading from its upstream surface to its downstream surface,
- said flow-through holes being axially offset from plate to plate to promote lateral flow of said fuel between adjacent plates, the downstream surface of each said plate being at least partially removed to promote said lateral flow in all directions between flow-through holes of adjacent plates.
A catalyst bed comprising:
- a generally cylindrical array of catalyst material the axis of which is substantially parallel to the direction of flow of a fluid through said bed, the catalyst material being configured as the surface material of a plurality of stacked, contiguous, thin metal plates having axial flow-through holes of selected size and location to promote uniform flow and contact of said fluid with said catalyst material, said flow-through holes being axially offset from plate to plate to promote lateral flow of said fuel between adjacent plates, at least a portion of each said thin metal plate on a downstream side is removed to provide a gap between adjacent plates to promote said lateral flow in all directions between flow-through holes of adjacent plates.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.