US2715567A

US2715567A - Rotary converter sealing devices

Info

Publication number: US2715567A
Application number: US412230A
Authority: US
Inventors: Clarence H Thayer
Original assignee: Sun Oil Co
Current assignee: Sunoco Inc
Priority date: 1954-02-24
Filing date: 1954-02-24
Publication date: 1955-08-16
Anticipated expiration: 1972-08-16

Description

ROTARY CONVERTER SEALING DEVICES Filed Feb. 24, 1954 4 Sheets-Sheet 1 INVENTOR. CLARENCE H. THAYER fiakrk o. Sapd z ATTORNEY Aug. 16, 1955 CH. THAYER ROTARY CONVERTER SEALING DEVICES 4 Sheets-Sheet 2 53 CLARENCE H. THAYiER LL-41 b Filed Feb. 24, 1954 I Fig, 2

ATTORNEY p, EF 4 6, 1955 c. H. THAYER 2,715,567

ROTARY CONVERTER SEALING DEVICES Filed Feb. 24, 1954 4 Sheets-Sheet 3 Aug. 16, 1955 c. H. THAYER ROTARY CONVERTER SEALING DEVICES 4 Sheets-Sheet 4 Filed Feb. 24, 1954 Fig. 5

INVENTOR. CLARENCE H.THAYER ATTOR EY United States Patent Ofitice 2,715,567 Patented Aug. 16, 1955 ROTARY CONVERTER SEALING DEVICES Clarence H. Thayer, Wallingford, Pa., assignor to Sun Oil Company, Philadelphia, Pa., a corporation of New Jersey Application February 24, 1954, Serial No. 412,230 11 Claims. (Cl. 23288) In an application filed September 14, 1953, Serial No. 380,027, later allowed, and issue March 22, 1955, as Patent No. 2,704,741, there is shown and described a converter in which difierent fluids are passed successively through contact material, typically a catalyst, from which efliuent products are successively removed. The converter comprises fixed inner and outer cylindrical casings, and an annular rotatable reaction vessel between such casings and spaced from both to form inner and outer circumferential spaces each of which is enclosed, top and bottom, by circumferentially extending sealing devices, and each of which is divided by vertically extending sealing devices into independent arcuate spaces or compartments. One of said casings, preferably the inner casing, is divided into compartments, equal in number to said arcuate spaces, into which the different fluids to be passed into the contact material are conveyed and from which such fluids continuously flow into the corresponding arcuate spaces and thence into radially extending catalyst containers communicating at opposite ends with said inner and outer circumferential spaces, which containers, in the rotation of the reaction vessel, are brought into communication one after another with the several arcuate spaces. The vertically extending sealing devices carried by the two casings are arranged in pairs, one carried by each casing, so that any given time in the rotation of the reaction vessel the same set of catalyst-containing containers communicates with corresponding inner and outer arcuate spaces.

It is of importance that these seals shall be as fluidtight as possible, in order to avoid any substantial leakage from one arcuate compartment to another. Varyiing conditions of operation, such as substantial changes in temperature, produce some contraction and expansion of the metal of the casings and reaction vessel and possible slight displacement of their ideal relative positions. The invention has for its object to provide sealing devices that are dependably tight under all conditions of operation.

In the drawings, which illustrate a preferred embodiment of the invention Figure 1 is a vertical section through the reactor.

Figure 2 is an elevational view of a vertical sealing member showing its interconnecting means with the upper and lower circumferential sealing members. The view is taken on a cylindrical plane indicated generally by a line 2-2 on Figure 1.

Figure 3 is a vertical sectional view, through the upper and lower circumferential seals, taken on the line 33 of Figure 2.

Figure 4 is a vertical sectional view through a vertical sealing member taken on the line 44 of Figure 2.

Figure 5 is a cross-section through a vertical sealing member taken on the line 5-5 of Fig. 2.

Figure 6 is a cross-section of a vertical sealing member equivalent to Figure 5 but having a concave sealing surface for use at the outer shell of the reactor.

Figure 7 is a cross-section through a vertical sealing member as constructed to frame the sides of an opening in the inner cylindrical casing.

Figure 8 is a cross-section through a circumferential sealing member, as constructed, to frame the top, or inverted, the bottom, of an opening in the inner cylindrical casing.

The main features of construction of the converter, disclosed in more detail in said prior application and to which the improved sealing devices are applied, will first be briefly described, reference being made more particularly to Figure 1.

10 is an outer cylindrical casing which is fixed to a supporting base 11. The casing 10 is made pressure-tight and encloses the reaction vessel 12 containing the catalyst.

The reaction vesel 12 is annular in shape, being formed by an outer cylindrical wall and an inner cylindrical wall connected by upper and lower annular plates.

The reaction vessel 12 contains a multiplicity of similarly shaped radially extending tubular members 15 arranged circumferentially within the reaction vessel 12 and grouped in a number of tiers one above another, each tier comprising a multitude of such tubular members arranged along approximately the same horizontal plane. This arrangement may be varied so long as a multiplicity of catalyst containers or chambers are arranged completely around the reaction chamber. The opposite ends of each catalyst-containing tube are secured in apertures in the outside and inside walls respectively of the reaction vessel. The tubes are preferably inclined downward from their inner ends toward their outer ends. The tubes contain catalyst of a type and activity suitable for the desired hydrocarbon reaction. At their inlet ends the tubes may contain a relatively short section of heat retentive non-catalystic contact material for supplying heat of vaporization for the liquid hydrocarbon injected therein.

In Fig. 1 only five tiers are shown, but the commercial embodiment of the invention will contain a greater n l ber of tiers, as disclosed in said application, so that the height of the tiers will substantially exceed the radial width of the reaction vessel and reduce the volume of the spaces, shown in Fig. 1, above and below the tiers of tubes. These features are, however, not essential to the invention herein claimed.

The proper temperature is maintained within the reaction vessel by admitting heat exchange fluid through an inlet conduit 2% to an inlet manifold 21, which fluid passes therefrom through orifices in the upper wall of the reaction vessel to its interior. Within the reaction vessel are vertical baffles 22 around the lower edge of which the heating fluid passes upward through orifices in the upper wall of the reaction vessel to an outlet manifold 23 and thence to an outflow conduit 24.

The reaction vessel and the associated heat exchange circulating system form an assembly which is disposed within the casing 10 to provide an outer annular space 25 between the casing and the outer Wall 12 of the reaction vessel, 21 lower space 26 between the base 11 and the lower wall 14 of the reaction vessel and an enlarged space 27 below the top of the casing. A set of rollers 28 is provided within the lower space 26 to rotatably support the reaction vessel, which is driven by a motor M through a gear wheel 29 engaging a ring gear 36 secured to an extension 31 of the reaction vessel. The inner heat exchange conduit 20 is connected to the lower end of the outer heat exchange conduit 24 by a flange 32 and both conduits are arranged for rotation with the reaction vessel in a stufiing box 33 extending through the roof of the casing 10.

Within and spaced from the reaction vessel is an inner stationary cylindrical casing 35 the interior of which ing products-formed during the third step. Three of the four supply conduits; lettered a, 11 and c, that supply three of the above specified fluids to their respective sectors are sh'oWnJin'Fig. 1. ment of walls or partitions. feed units is not: herein illustrated, of the invention herein :clai-med. from the several sectors the several'lspeci-fied fluids flow into theseveral arcuate spaces or compartments inner casing 35 andttheinner wall of the reaction vessel 12 and from such enclosure into the inner ends of the various catalyst-containing tubes 15.: This annularv enclosure is sealed t the top by a circumferentially extending sealing device e and is'sealed at the. bottom by a circumferentiallry' extending sealingdevice f (see Fig. 1). These sealing devices are hereinafter more-. particularlydescribed and illustrated. The .annu-. lar enclosure so formed is. divided into-arcuate enclosures The just described arrangeforming such sector-shaped since it forms no part It suffice'sto say-that or: spaces (corresponding in number to the fluid supply.

chambers. of the inner casing) by vertically extending sealing devices i; shown in Fig. 1 and illustrated in greater detail in other figures and hereinafter particularly described These. vertically extendingsealing' devices may be four in number and align radially. with the radial partitions. that divide the chambers, so that each arcuate space constantly receives one of the four supply fluids specified. Similarly, the annular space between the reaction vessel .12. andthe outer. cylindrical casing is sealed .top and bottomby circumferentially extending sealing devices g and h, and is divided into .arcuate spaces by vertically extending seals illustrated in other figures and hereinafter described. Where the inner vertical seals are arranged in alignment with the radial partitions ofthe inner .casing,.thei outer vertical seals are paired with that at any given time in; the rotation of the-reactionvessel the same set otlcatalyst-containingtubes communicates-with corresponding arcuate spaces inside and outside the reaction vessel.

.This description, so no feature of construction which, is essentially; difierent fromiwhat. is disclosed in said prior application: 7 ltmay be desirable, however, to briefly describe the operation common to that. of said prior application and the present disclosure, As: the reaction, vessel rotates each catalystcontaining tube of each tier oftubesregisters suc cessively withthe several. arcua-te spaces between the reaction vessel; and the. inner casing and therefore each catalyst-containingtube receives successively the several fluids supplied to. the several arcuate spaces from the re: spective compartments within the inner casing, At any given moment a considerable number of tubes receives the same fluid. The vertical seals that determine the lengths, measured arcuately, of the several; arcuate spaces between the inner casing and the rotating reaction vessel are of suflicient width to each overlap the inlet to any tube. .The same descriptionapplies to the. arcuate spaces between the rotating reaction vessel and the outer casing. Thus at any given moment one set of from. oneof the inner a'rcuate spaces, the. same hydrocarbonqrea'c'tant or the same purging fluid and .isdischarging the products of reaction or purging into the corresponding outer arcuat'e space fromeach of which out'e" ricu'atespa'ces theproduct s of reaction-or purgingare 'reriioveda cbmnron outletconduit; these outlet conduits 47'- are showir in" Fig-$1.)

The s'ealingdevicesmereiiiafter described are designed for applicationtoa converter or thetype described'and of the inner cylindrical casing between the outer Wall of the inner casing into sector-shaped.

the inner. vertical seals, so

far as, it has proceede d, discloses tubes isreceiving (Two of 7 4 are illustrated in detail on

Sheets

2, 3 and 4 (Figs. 2 to 8, inclusive).

Each of the sealing devices, whether extending vertically or circumferentially, is made up of separate units arranged in a row extending vertically or circumferentially. The sealing units of each row may be identical in specific construction and in the way in which they are supported; All are supported from one or theother of the fixed casings. V

Fe: 3 a ar extending sealingunits supported on niewan'dr' the inner casing.

Fig. 5 shows-one of the vertically extending sealing units applied to thewall of; the inner casing, while Fig. 6 shows one of the vertically extending units applied to the wall of the outer casing.

Each of the sealing units shown in Figs. 3, 5 and 6, supported by one or the other of t e casings, corn-prises a holder of channel bar shape, opening toward the rotary reaction v'essel'. 51', slid'ably" pressed radiallv against the rotary reaction vesselby any coiivenient'pneumatic or mechanical means} 501s supported from the easing w'all-by means of

plates

53, 53,-each'sea]ledby welding at one end to'th e casing wall, at their other ends'secured to opposite sides of the holder,

wall ofthecasin-g with'an opening of maximum arcuate width inorder-toapply the injector (notv shown) for the efll-uentifluidasclose as possible toone openedge ofthe casing Wall. In such case it is desirable to utilize a' seal of the specific construction shown in Figs; 7' and 8. The construction: embodying the holder 50, sliding block 51 andsprin g 52 may be'thesarne as that shown in Figs. 3; 5: and fi, but'vvith a different' seal support for the holder. One such support 54? is welded at one end to the casing and at its other'end is secured to the holder 50, as in Figs- 3, 5 and 6i one endto the holder while the other end extends around an edge ofthe casi-n g andis welded to'the oppositeface' of the casing-v.1 2. y Reference shouldinow be made to an: important feature of theinventioniishowninFigs; 2' and 4.

units constitntinga completevertically extending sealn'g. device. Thefend sealing units 60'shownare sealing .units ofia .eii'cumferentially extending sealing device which are overlapped by the adjacent vertically extending sealing units .61; that is,'by the end units of a vertically extending sealing? device. So, also, adjacent vertically extending sealing: units overlap one another; extend .throfiughqane;

hQkz-r;

In a manner. the adjacent units 60 of each i.

cumfere H i :"a'l movenientfwhile maintaining unimpaired the elfidiency and tightness of the sealing device as a whole.

generally radially within the vessel, said vessel located between the innerandouter casings and spaced from both toform inner and outer caeumreren'ziarspaees and ldwer eneunif rennauv In this holder is a sealing block It is desirable however, toflprovide the inner The other support '55 is secured at- I In Fig 4 isis disclosed aurow lfrom' top to'bottom, of the sealing Pins 63 of the overlapping: units and make close to end .contact..witl1' theadjacent unit. Thereby. limited relative. vertical movement of adjacent sealing units. of a line of sealing units is permitted without impairing the efliciency and tightness of' thesealing device.

he and lower circumferentialsealing devices are overlappingly connected so asto allow relative cirpartitioned by vertically and circumferentially extending sealing devices between the annular revoluble reaction vessel and the casings to form sets of inner and outer arcuate spaces, the arcuate spaces of one set adapted to receive the respective fluids, and the arcuate spaces of the other set adapted to receive the efliuent fluids; the improvement in said sealing devices which comprises a holder of channel-bar shape supported from one of the casing walls and open toward the opposing face of the annular revoluble vessel, and a sealing block supported in and slidable radially of the holder, the above specified support for the holder comprising plates each sealed at one end to the casing and extending toward and secured to opposite sides of the holder.

2. A converter as described in claim 1 in which one of the plates is sealed to one face of the casing and in which the other plate is sealed to the other face of the casing.

3. A converter in which difierent fluids are fed successively into catalyst containers and from which the different products are successively removed, the same comprising a fixed outer cylindrical casing, a fixed inner cylindrical casing, an annular revoluble reaction vessel containing a multiplicity of catalyst chambers arranged around the vessels circumference and each extending generally radially within the vessel, said vessel being located between the inner and outer casings and spaced from both to form inner and outer circumferential spaces partitioned by vertically and circumferentially extending sealing devices between the annular revoluble reaction vessel and the casings arranged to form inner and outer arcuate spaces, the arcuate spaces of one set adapted to receive the respective fluids, and the outer arcuate spaces of the other set adapted to receive the efiluent fluids; the improvement in a vertically extending sealing device comprising a series of sealing units arranged in vertical alignment between one of said casings and the annular revoluble reaction vessel and carried by such casing, adjacent sealing units of a series overlapping and having limited relative vertical sliding movement.

4. A converter as defined in claim 3 in which each sealing unit comprises a holder of channel-bar shape supported from one of the casing walls and open toward the opposing face of the revoluble vessel, and a sealing block supported in and radially slidable of the holder, the above specified support for the holder comprising plates each sealed at one end to the casing and extending toward and secured to opposite sides of the holder.

5. The construction defined in claim 4 in which a pin is secured to one of each two adjacent holders and is in loose fitting engagement with the other holder.

6. A converter in which difierent fluids are fed successively into catalyst containers and from which the different products are successively removed, the same comprising a fixed outer cylindrical casing, a fixed inner cylindrical casing, an annular revoluble reaction vessel containing a multiplicity of catalyst chambers arranged around the vessels circumference and each extending generally radially within the vessel, said vessel being located between the inner and outer casings and spaced from both to form inner and outer circumferential spaces partitioned by vertically and circumferentially extending sealing de vices between the annular revoluble reaction vessel and the casings arranged to form sets of inner and outer arcuate spaces, the arcuate spaces of one set adapted to receive the respective fluids, and the arcuate spaces of the other set adapted to receive the effluent fluids; the improvement in a circumferentially extending sealing device comprising a series of sealing units arranged in circumferential alignment between one of said casings and the annular revoluble reaction vessel and carried by said casing, adjacent sealing units of a series overlapping and having limited relative circumferential sliding movement.

7. A converter as defined in claim 6 in which each sealing unit comprises a holder of channel-bar shape supported from one of the casing Walls and open toward the opposing face of the revoluble vessel, and a sealing block supported in and radially slidable of the holder, the above specified support for the holder comprising plates each sealed at one end to the casing and extending toward and secured to opposite sides of the holder.

8. The construction defined in claim 7 in which a pin is secured to one of each two adjacent holders and is in loose fitting engagement with the other holder.

9. A converter in which different fluids are fed successively into catalyst containers and from which the different products are successively removed, the same comprising a fixed outer cylindrical casing, a fixed inner cylindrical casing, an annular revoluble reaction vessel containing a multiplicity of catalyst chambers arranged around the vessels circumference and each extending generally radially within the vessel, said vessel being located between the inner and outer casings and spaced from both to form inner and outer circumferential spaces partitioned by vertically and circumferentially extending sealing devices between the annular revoluble reaction vessel and the casings arranged to form sets of inner and outer arcuate spaces, the arcuate spaces of one set adapted to receive the respective fluids, and the arcuate spaces of the other set adapted to receive the efiiuent fluids; the improvement in said sealing devices, in which a vertically extending sealing device comprises a series of sealing units arranged in vertical alignment and carried by one of the casings and between such casing and the annular revoluble reaction vessel and in which a circumferentially extending sealing device comprises a series of sealing units arranged in circumferential alignment and carried by one of the casings and between such casing and the annular revoluble reaction vessel the sealing units of each series overlapping and having limited relative movement in the direction of extension of the series, the end sealing units of a vertical series engaging in overlapping arrangement sealing units of upper and lower circumferentially extending sealing devices.

10. A converter as defined in claim 9 in which each sealing unit comprises a holder of channel-bar shape supported from one of the casing walls and open toward the opposing face of the revoluble vessel, and a sealing block supported in and radially slidable of the holder, the above specified support for the holder comprising plates each sealed at one end to the casing and extending toward and secured to opposite sides of the holder.

11. The construction defined in claim 10 in which a pin is secured to one of two adjacent vertical and circumferential holders and is in loose fitting relation with the other holder.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,590,266 Fiedtke et al June 29, 1926 2,053,159 Miller Sept. 1, 1936 2,507,538 Miller May 16, 1950

Claims

1. A CONVERTER IN WHICH DIFFERENT FLUIDS ARE FED SUCCESSIVELY INTO CATALYST CONTAINERS AND FROM WHICH THE DIFFERENT PRODUCTS ARE SUCCESSIVELY REMOVED, THE SAME COMPRISING A FIXED OUTER CYLINDRICAL CASING, A FIXED INNER CYLINDRICAL CASING, AN ANNULAR REVOLUBLE REACTION VESSEL CONTAINING A MULTIPLICITY OF CATALYST CHAMBEWR ARRANGED AROUND THE VESSEL''S CIRCUMFERENCE AND EACH EXTENDING GENERALLY RADIALLY WITHIN THE VESSEL, SAID VESSEL BEING LOCATED BETWEEN THE INNER AND OUTER CASINGS AND SPACED FROM BOTH TO FORM INNER AND OUTER CIRCUMFERENTIAL SPACES PARTITIONED BY VERTICALLY AND CIRCUMFERENTIALLY EXTENDING SEALING DEVICES BETWEEN THE ANNULAR REVOLUBLE REACTION VESSEL AND THE CASINGS TO FORM SETS OF INNER AND OUTER ARCUATE SPACES, THE ARCUATE SPACES OF ONE SET ADAPTED TO RECEIVE THE RESPECTIVE FLUIDS, AND THE ARCUATE SPACES OF THE OTHER SET ADAPTED TO RECEIVE THE EFFLUENT FLUIDS; THE IMPROVEMENT IN SAID SEALING DEVICES WHICH COMPRISES A HOLDER OF CHANNEL-BAR SHAPED SUPPORTED FROM ONE OF THE CASING WALLS AND OPEN TOWARD THE OPPOSING FACE OF THE ANNULAR REVOLUBLE VESSEL, AND A SEALING BLOCK SUPPORTED IN AND SLIDABLE RADIALLY OF THE HOLDER, THE ABOVE SPECIFIED