US2545686A - Internally lined and insulated chamber - Google Patents

Description

March 20, 1951 COLLINS 2,545,68$

INTERNALLY LINED AND INSULATED CHAMBER Filed April 21, 1948 192 Urz for ioe'r' 3 (blleres Patented Mar. 20, 1951 UNITED STATES I PATENT OFFICE INTERNALLY LINED AND INSULATED CHAMBER Robert B. Collins, Downers Grove, Ill., assignor to Universal Oil Products Company, Chicago, 111., a corporation of Delaware Application April 21, 1948, Serial No. 22,441

Claims.

This invention relates to an internally lined and insulated chamber which is particularly adapted to maintain a catalytic contact material therein for use in a high temperature conversion operation.

There are various ways of lining chambers and processing vessels whereby the internal lining under high temperature and pressure conditions,

but to a lesser extent, or not at all, at a reduced temperature condition.

The present liner is particularly constructed to prevent the effect of hydrogen on carbon'. steel at a high temperature and at the same time to accommodate a bed of catalyst material through which is passed a vaporous stream containin hydrogen. Those familar with metal corrosion and hydrogen attack at high temperatures, are cognizant of there being critical conditions of temperature and pressure above which carbon steel is attacked. Further, that where the steel is subject to a long time exposure to hydrogen, then less severe conditions of temperature and pressure may be critical.

Briefly, the lined chamber of the present invention comprises a pressure retaining outer housing or shell having a removable upper head, a segmental inner liner spaced from the outer housing, the liner comprising a plurality of ring shaped sections adapted to be inserted into the housing through the upper head, spaced supporting members attached to the housing wall, opposing supporting members attached to each of the liner sections which are spaced to engage and rest on the members attached to the outer housing, a continuous strip attached inside the top edge of the ring sections and extending a short distance above so that the next higher ring secs tion overlaps the strip and forms therewith a slip type of expansion joint, an insulating material positioned between the inner lining and the outer housing, an annular shaped insulation supporting plate positioned between the outer housing and the inner liner at eachof the slip joints, and inlet and outlet openings at each end of the chamber suitable to pass a fluid stream therethrough.

The inner liner normally may be made of a relatively thin alloy metal which is resistant to hydrogen or chemical attack and to high temperature conditions of the particular process for which the chamber may be employed. The segmental construction of the liner is such that the internal pressure may pass through the slip joint at each section and exert pressure behind the sheet lining and on the outer housing. Therefore, the alloy liner need only be of a nominal thickness and have suitable stifiness to maintain its shape and to hold an insulating material in place between it and the outer wall. Also the method of supporting each of the segments independently on a sliding type of lug or bracket allows each to accommodate longitudinal and radial expansion from high temperature processing conditions within the chamber.

The insulation between the lining and wall is preferably a soft resilient type of material such as mineral or slag wool which may be in pellet or blanket form. In each case, the insulating material is placed after inserting each ring shaped liner section and the annular plate which extends between the two walls is put in place and serves to support the next layer of insulating material. This insulating support plate is in turn supported by a rib extending around the outer housing and a stifiening rib around the top of each inner lining section. It may also be noted that this annular plate serves a dual purpose, not only does it support the insulating material in a series of superimposed sections, so that there will be little or no settling of the insulation throughout the height of the column, but each of the plates serve as vapor stops throughout the height of the chamber. Vapor stops or seals in a lined chamber are particularly necessary where there is a considerable pressure drop from one end of the chamber to the other and there would normally be a tendency for a portion of the vapor stream being treated to by-pass the contact bed and flow through the insulated portion of the chamber.

Ina special embodiment of the liner, the insulation supporting ring may be held in place between the inner liner and the outer housing so as to form a pressure tight vapor seal between vertical sections. However, normally, it has been found that the weight of the annular plate and the superimposed packed insulation serves to hold the plate in place on its supporting rings and to form an adequate vapor barrier which will efiect a pressure drop in the insulated section that is adequate to prevent vapor by-passing therethrough.

Further construction features and advantages will be apparent upon reference to the accompanying drawing and to the following description thereof. I

Figure '1 of the drawing is an elevational view partially in ,section of a lined. chamber having an improved segmental type of construction and placement for the inner liner.

Figure 2 is a partial sectional plan view through the chamber as indicated by .line -2.1' 2.

Figure 3 is an enlarged view of one of the liner supporting members and the joint construction between the vertical sections.

Figure 4 is also an enlarged sectional view indicating an alternate construction and assembly for the insulating support plate-ina manner forming a tight vapor seal.

Referring now to Figures 1, 2 and 3 of the drawing, there is shownalined chamber having an outer housing-or shell 5 which in turn has a taperedor conicallyshapedlower head 2-ancl a flat removable upper head This upper head may 1 be boltedto'a' flange 4 at the upper end of the chamber wall;- Thus, when the head is removed, "the housing 5 is open for-the insertion or removal of the internal lining sections and insulating ma- 'terial.

The inner liner comprises a plurality of'ring haped section-s 5 positioned throughout they ylindrical portion of the-chamber, a tapering section 6* that is especially constructed to conform with the shape of the lower head 2, and an upper section i which is especially constructed-to hold insulating material above it and to project into an inlet oroutlet nozzle 3;connecting with-the upper head 3.

Spaced both vertically and horizontallyaround the outer housing I are rows of supporting plates 'or lugs 9 which serve to support each or the inner -liner sections. --The vertical'spacing ofthese lugs will-of course dependuponthe length of thering shaped inner liner sections; While the horizontal spacingwill in-general depend uponthediameter of the "chamber and the weight "of the section being supported. Attached to each-oi -the inner liner-sections, near their'upper-ends, are a plurality or" spaced supportswhich arepositioned to engage and rest-upon each -of 'thesupporting mernbers 9 that 'attach'togthe outer housing. In

--the embodiment illustrated, eachof the support- '-ingmembers-on-the linersections have a-top plate "wand side plates or ribs H which form a socket or pocket type of support that will rest on the various-wall lugs fi-a-nd serveto support each-of the segmental sections. At the-top endof each of the inner liner-sections and around the outer -periphery thereof is a'stiiTening-rib l2. "Each of -the-ribs i 2 is preferably welded or otherwise fixedly attached'toeach of theinner sections and are placed-to extend above-the-top edge -of-each -section so that the-lower-end eithe -section just above will overlap it-a-nd-form aslip jointtherewith.

The size -01 the stiffening rib and the spacing tion. The radial expansion is accommodated-by the slipping of the inner supports over the outer supporting lugs 9. In view of the fact that there will be some radial expansion and movement of the inner liner sections toward the outer housing,

5 under high temperature conditions, the insulating materiali-J3;is;preferably a compressible or resilient type of material which can be packed between the inner lining and the outer wall and which will permit the slight radial expansion of the inner .10.; liningzwallpandlat the same time being a material that will not settle appreciably between the secv,tions.

Ateach of..the;slip joints or expansion joints -between, vvertical, liner sections there is positioned the insulation supporting plate M which isof-an-annular-shape extending around the entirechamber between the inner and outer walls.

On the outer wall 1, a continuous relatively nar- -row ring liis fixedly attached theretotolsupport 2o..-the..outer 'eQsQ tth pla 1, 'whileith inner edge of ,each of the plates il rests on the upper .surface .oiueach oil the stiiifening and joint forming ribs [2. Each'of the continuousstripsiiS are ...therefore necessarily placed and attached to" the .outer wall 1. opposite the upper dge of thestrips 12 thatare attached tofeach of the ring'shap'ed ..li,ner s.ections, so'thatj the plate l4 may rest in a substantially horizontal. posi ion.

.In assemblingthe liner. within the chamber, .the lower liner section,,section 6, inithisembodiment,..is lowered into the, outer housing throu the .upper. head .andis, brou ht ,to. rest and into position, on the lower row. of wsupporting lugs 9. The insulating material jl3 isthen filled in to the v space between the liner. section and the outer wall of; the chamber.,beg nni at.the lower end and filling it .up to. the .top ,edgejofthestrip 12.: The lower of the insulation supportin Iplates i4 .is then lowered into place over the ,lower. section of 40 insulation, the. plate. resting on the. lower outside strip l 5 and. the stiffening. rib. I L01". the lower section 6.

The lower, of ,theringshaped. liner sections; 5 isthen. drqppedeinto .place,., it .being supported by ethe {plurality of ,supporting, ..plates..i0.. attached theretopand the accompa ying. supporting.- .lugs 9 preiectingfiromthe ontergwall at that-level. The lower end .of the section is: fitted inside the strip 1 5:! 2 fth low rsection ia d orms. a lap dy p vpi expansioncioin will-he? nsu a in materiai :43 is then packed betweenbh, hnenringsectionand rtheionterwall. p: 531 3 .Mpp n ndpfrth t; se t n, mas 'WithLmGIJOWerihEa C sec ion- :Ilhe. addition l .'.ring sshapedlsections. 5; andztheliupper; head:se :.:.tion ll:are.insertediintothephamberginiikermam L, :ner ;.and 5 the: insulating; material. placed between a 1 themandi-therouterrwall iOf; the: chamber. :Atter placing the .uppen' liner section 1 and. the insulat- ;--ing material thereabove, theflathead 3iisabrought -into=position andbolted-in place toithe flange. 4 1 of the ;outer housing I and the assembly is. com- --=-pleted.

The segmentalconstruction serves-to out the magnitude =0hthe-long-itudinalexpansion for a -=lo ng-- cl'1amber- -by-providing fora-plurality--of smallerexpansions -ateach slip 'joint between the superimposed sections. -Also,--as-notedhereinabove, the-internal pressure from the fluid stream passing 1 through the chamber-will pass -through each -of the a slip --joints or QXDa-nsiorr joints and beiexerted behind each "of the inner liner sections --so-that-o1 rly nominal thickness liner sections'need be used. However, by the use "of a substantial thickness of insulating material l3, the temperature at the outer wall can be lowered sufiiciently such that the outer shell I may be designed to withstand the particular operating pressure without resorting to excessively low design stresses and a normal steel thickness used as a result.

Referring now to Figure 4 of the drawing, there is indicated a slightly different embodiment of the liner in that the insulation supporting plate 14 is bolted into place to insure its maintaining its proper position between the various sections of the liner and to serve as a vapor stop in the insulation zone. Where there is a compact contact bed maintained within the chamber and there is a high pressure drop through the bed it may be advisable to have substantially pressure tight vapor seals between each of the vertical sections of insulating material so that there will be no by-passing of vapors in the insulation from one end of the chamber to the other. In this embodiment the stiffening rib I2 is formed from a small size channel having an upper flange suitable to hold a gasket I6 between it and the support plate I4. The upper flange of the rib l2 is tapped to accommodate a plurality of spaced bolts I? which will hold the plate and gasket rigidly thereto. The outer supporting strip I5 is likewise tapped to accommodate a plurality of bolts or machine screws l8 which hold the outer periphery of the annular plate l4. Also, a continuous gasket I9 is placed between the strip and. the bolted edge of the plate M, to provide a substantially pressure tight connection thereto. In each case holes at the inner and outer edges of the annular plate [4' for the bolts I1 and l8, may be provided slightly oversize, or slotted radially with respect to the center of the chamber, so that radial expansion of the inner liner sections with respect to the outer shell of the chamber may be accommodated.

The aforegoing description refers to the inner liner sections as an alloy metal liner suitable for resisting high temperatures or corrosive attack from chemicals, however, it is not intended to limit this invention to a liner utilizing only an al- 10y metal for in some instances, the same construction and form of liner may be accomplished by utilizing a resinous or plastic material or a porcelain covered sheet which will have suitable strength and stiffness to maintain the insulating material in place and where necessary support the pressure from a contact bed of material housed within the interior of the chamber. Also, it is not intended to limit the lining to any particular form of insulating material other than one which is capable of withstanding the temperature condition from the gaseous or vaporous reactant streams. In addition the material must be of a resilient type that will not settle over a period of time.

I claim as my invention:

1. A lined chamber comprising in combination a pressure retaining outer housing having a removable upper head, a segmental liner within and spaced from said outer housing, said liner comprising a plurality of ring-shaped sections of a size adapted to be inserted into said housing through said removable head, spaced supporting members attached to the inner wall of said housing, other supporting members attached to each of said liner sections and spaced to engage and rest on said supporting members of said housing wall, a continuous strip attached outside the top of each ring section and extending a short distance thereabove, said strip providing a slip joint with the adjacent ring section, an insulating material between said liner and said outer housing, an annular shaped insulation supporting plate resting on each of said continuous strips and positioned between'said housing wall and said liner at each of said slip joints, and inlet and out let openings to said lined chamber at the ends thereof.

2. The lined chamber of claim 1 further characterized in that said inner liner is a heat resistant metallic alloy and that said insulating material between said liner and said outer housing is of a resilient nature.

3. A lined chamber for hot fluid streams comprising a vertically positioned pressure tight outer housing of a substantial thickness, a removable upper head to said housing, a segmental alloy metal liner comprising a plurality of relatively thin ring-shaped sections each being adapted to be placed into said housing through said upper head, horizontally and vertically spaced supporting lugs attached to the interior of said housing wall and spaced supporting members on each of said ring shaped liner sections arranged to engage and rest on said supporting lugs, a continuous channel-shaped rib attached around the upper end of each of said ring-shaped sections and extending a short distance thereabove, each of said ribs forming a slip joint with the lower end of the section thereabove, a plurality of relatively narrow continuous ribs attached to and extending around the inside wall of said outer housing, last said ribs being positioned in a manner to be opposite the upper flange of each of said channel shaped ribs that are attached to said liner sections, annular shaped plates positioned between said housing wall and said inner liner at each of said slip joints, said plates resting on said continuous ribs which attach to said outer wall and on the upper flanges of each of said channel shaped ribs attached to the ring shaped liner sections, a high temperature resistant insulating material packed between said outer housing and said liner, said insulation being vertically supported by said annular shaped plates, an inlet and outlet means to said lined chamber at the ends thereof.

4. The lined chamber of claim 3 further characterized in that said insulating material between said inner liner and said outer housing is of a resilient nature,

5. The lined chamber of claim 4 still further characterized in that said annular shaped insulation supporting plates are removably bolted to said continuous ribs, and heat resisting gaskets are placed between said plates and ribs providing thereby a plurality of substantially pressure tight vapor stops of said plates that are spaced throughout said insulating material.

ROBERT B. COLLINS.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the file of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Name Date Williams May 7, 1929 Benner Aug. 29, 1930 Sitton Jan. 28, 1938 Brown June 5, 1942 Number

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