US3838536A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Method and apparatus for plugging reactor tubes
Assignee: Gulf Research and Development Co
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Filing: 1972-09-25
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Granted: 1974-10-01
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Expires: 1992-09-25
Abstract
Abstract Particles of a fusible material having a melting point preferably several hundred degrees higher than the reaction temperature are supported in the lower end of a vertical reactor tube arranged in a heater parallel with other reactor tubes. If it is desired to take a reactor tube out of service, flow into the inlet end is stopped by closing a valve. The resulting increase in temperature within the reactor tube melts the fusible material which flows through the reactor tube out of the furnace and freezes to plug the outlet line from the reactor tube. The invention is particularly useful in steam-hydrocarbon reforming processes for the production of hydrogen utilizing an aluminumbronze alloy as the fusible material.
Inventors
- 👤 Coy J Mc
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-06 00:55
CPC Classifications
B; B01; B01J; B01J8/00; B01J8/02; B01J8/06; C; C01; C01B; C01B3/00; C01B3/02; C01B3/32; C01B3/34; C01B3/38; C01B3/384; Y; Y10; Y10T; Y10T137/00; Y10T137/6416; Y10T137/6579
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 12
Claim 1
Independent Claim
137 words
A MTHOD OF PLUGGING THE OUTLET END OF A REACTOR TUBE EXTENDING VERTICALLY THROUGH A HEATER AND CONNECTED AT ITS OUTLET END TO A CONDUIT PASSING TO A ZONE AT A LOWER TEMPERATURE THAN THE NORMAL TEMPERATURE IN THE REACTOR TUBE COMPRISIING SUPPORTING IN THE REACTOR TUBE WITHIN THE HEATER ADJACENT THE OUTLET END OF THE REACTOR TUBE PARTICLES OF A MATERIAL FUSIBL AT A TEMPERATURE ABOVE THE NORMAL TEMPERATURE IN THE REACTORE TUBE AND BELOW THE TEMPERATURE OF THE HEATER OUTSIDE OF THE TUBE AND CLOSING THE INLET END OF THE REACTOR TUBE THE FUSIBLE STOPPING FLOW INTO THE INLET END OF THE REACTOR TUBE INTO THE MATERIAL MELTS AND FLOWS FROM THE REACTOR TUBE INTO THE LOWER TEMPERATURE ZONE IN WHICH THE FUSIBLE MATERIAL FREEZES AND BLOCKS FLOW INTO THE OUTLET END OF THE TUBE.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
137 words
A MTHOD OF PLUGGING THE OUTLET END OF A REACTOR TUBE EXTENDING VERTICALLY THROUGH A HEATER AND CONNECTED AT ITS OUTLET END TO A CONDUIT PASSING TO A ZONE AT A LOWER TEMPERATURE THAN THE NORMAL TEMPERATURE IN THE REACTOR TUBE COMPRISIING SUPPORTING IN THE REACTOR TUBE WITHIN THE HEATER ADJACENT THE OUTLET END OF THE REACTOR TUBE PARTICLES OF A MATERIAL FUSIBL AT A TEMPERATURE ABOVE THE NORMAL TEMPERATURE IN THE REACTORE TUBE AND BELOW THE TEMPERATURE OF THE HEATER OUTSIDE OF THE TUBE AND CLOSING THE INLET END OF THE REACTOR TUBE THE FUSIBLE STOPPING FLOW INTO THE INLET END OF THE REACTOR TUBE INTO THE MATERIAL MELTS AND FLOWS FROM THE REACTOR TUBE INTO THE LOWER TEMPERATURE ZONE IN WHICH THE FUSIBLE MATERIAL FREEZES AND BLOCKS FLOW INTO THE OUTLET END OF THE TUBE.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
62 words
A method as set forth in claim 1 in which the reactor tube is for a steam-hydrocarbon reforming process to produce hydrogen, the normal temperature in the reactor tube is in the range of 1, 400* - 1,800* F. and the melting point of the fusible material is approximately 200* F. above the normal temperature of the reactants in the reactor tube.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
117 words
In a heater for a reactor having a plurality of reactor tubes connected in parallel to an inlet header and extending downwardly through a radiant zone of the heater to a collection header outside of the heater and inlet valves for each of the reactor tubes, the improvement comprising grids positioned in the lower end of the reactor tubes within the radiant zone of the heater and particles of a fusible material supported on the grids to form a permeable mass in each of the reactor tubes, the fusible material having a melting point higher than the temperature in the reactor tubes during normal operation and lower than the temperature in the radiant zone of the heater.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
117 words
In a heater for a reactor having a plurality of reactor tubes connected in parallel to an inlet header and extending downwardly through a radiant zone of the heater to a collection header outside of the heater and inlet valves for each of the reactor tubes, the improvement comprising grids positioned in the lower end of the reactor tubes within the radiant zone of the heater and particles of a fusible material supported on the grids to form a permeable mass in each of the reactor tubes, the fusible material having a melting point higher than the temperature in the reactor tubes during normal operation and lower than the temperature in the radiant zone of the heater.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
150 words
Apparatus for steam-hydrocarbon reforming to produce hydrogen comprising a radiant zone of a furnace, an inlet header positioned outside of and above the furnace, a plurality of reactor tubes extending in parallel downwardly through the combustion zone of the furnace, an inlet pig tail connecting the inlet end of each of the reactor tubes with the inlet header, a valve in each of the inlet pig tails, a collection header outside of the furnace near the lower end of the reactor tubes, an outlet pig tail connecting the lower end of each of the reactor tubes to the collection header, a grid within the furNace in the lower end of each of the reactor tubes, and particles of a fusible material supported on the grids, the fusible material having a melting point higher than the reaction temperature and lower than the temperature in the radiant section outside the reactor tubes.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
150 words
Apparatus for steam-hydrocarbon reforming to produce hydrogen comprising a radiant zone of a furnace, an inlet header positioned outside of and above the furnace, a plurality of reactor tubes extending in parallel downwardly through the combustion zone of the furnace, an inlet pig tail connecting the inlet end of each of the reactor tubes with the inlet header, a valve in each of the inlet pig tails, a collection header outside of the furnace near the lower end of the reactor tubes, an outlet pig tail connecting the lower end of each of the reactor tubes to the collection header, a grid within the furNace in the lower end of each of the reactor tubes, and particles of a fusible material supported on the grids, the fusible material having a melting point higher than the reaction temperature and lower than the temperature in the radiant section outside the reactor tubes.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
64 words
A method as set forth in claim 1 in which the reactor tube is for a steam-hydrocarbon reforming process to produce hydrogen, the normal temperature in the reactor tube is in the range of 1, 400* to 1,800* F. and the melting point of the fusible material is in the range of 150* to 300* F. above the normal temperature in the reactor tube.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
74 words
In a reactor tube for use in parallel with other reactor tubes extending vertically through a heater, the improvement comprising a grid positioned within the heater in the lower end of the reactor tube, and a permeable mass of particles of a fusible material supported on the grid, the fusible material having a melting point between the normal temperature in the reactor tube and the temperature in the heater outside of the reactor tube.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
74 words
In a reactor tube for use in parallel with other reactor tubes extending vertically through a heater, the improvement comprising a grid positioned within the heater in the lower end of the reactor tube, and a permeable mass of particles of a fusible material supported on the grid, the fusible material having a melting point between the normal temperature in the reactor tube and the temperature in the heater outside of the reactor tube.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
27 words
Apparatus as set forth in claim 6 including a permeable mass of catalyst particles in the reactor tube above the permeable mass of particles of fusible material.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
29 words
Apparatus as set forth in claim 6 in which the particles of fusible material are coated with a material resistant to attack by reactants passing through the reactor tube.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
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GB1114567A
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US3645701A
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US3595628A
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US3607130A
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US3671198A
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USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1977-09-30 | 1978-04-01 | 1978-10-01 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1981-09-30 | 1982-04-01 | 1982-10-01 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1985-09-30 | 1986-04-01 | 1986-10-01 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |