Device for changing nozzles

• US 7,431,058 B2
• Filed: 03/15/2003
• Issued: 10/07/2008
• Est. Priority Date: 04/18/2002
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Lurgi Zimmer GmbH (Mirko Kovats, PhD)
• Original Assignee: Lurgi Zimmer GmbH (Mirko Kovats, PhD)
• Inventors: Holting, Ludwig
• Primary Examiner(s): Huynh; Khoa D
• Application Number:
  US10/509,610
• Publication Number:
  US 20050173471A1
• Time in Patent Office: 2,033 Days
• Field of Search: 141/374, 141/353, 141/355, 141/356, 141/296, 222/566
• US Class Current: 141/374
• CPC Class Codes: B01J 19/0053 Details of the reactor
• CPC Class Codes: B01J 19/0073 Sealings sealings for pressure vessels per se F16J15/00
• CPC Class Codes: B01J 19/26 Nozzle-type reactors, i.e. the distribution of the initial reactants within the reactor is effected by their introduction or injection through nozzles
• CPC Class Codes: B01J 2219/00247 Fouling of the reactor or the process equipment

Abstract

The invention relates to a device which enables nozzles to be changed without changing the pressure conditions in the container or device associated therewith. According to the invention a connector piece support (2) is fixed to a pressurised container (1) wherein a medium (20) is guided into said container through a nozzle (8) by means of a lance (7). Said connector piece is connected to a sealing housing (5) by means of a locking device (3) in order to receive the lance (7). Sealing rings (13a, 13b, 13c) are arranged in the sealing housing (5) thereby ensuring pressure-tightness in relation to the container (1) and the surrounding area when the lance (7) is inserted into the sealing housing (5).

Claims

1. In combination with a vessel at nonatmospheric pressure and with an elongated tubular lance for feeding a fluid into or out of the vessel and having an end provided with a nozzle, a nozzle-changing system comprising:

a support tube fixed to and opening into the vessel at a nozzle seat, the lance being fittable in the tube in an inner position with the nozzle fitted to the seat;

a main valve provided on the tube outward of the seat and displaceable between a closed position completely blocking flow through the tube and an open position permitting such flow, the lance in its inner position extending through the valve in the open position thereof;

a plurality of seal rings spaced along the tube outward of the valve and fittable with the lance when same is in the tube to form respective annular compartments in the tube around the lance; and

means including purge valves opening into the compartments for admitting fluids into and draining fluids from the compartments.

2. The nozzle-changing system defined in claim 1 wherein the seal rings include an outer seal ring, an intermediate seal ring between the outer ring and the main valve and forming with the outer seal ring an outer compartment, and an inner seal ring between the intermediate ring and the main valve and forming with the intermediate seal ring an intermediate compartment and with the main valve an inner compartment, the purge valves including respective outer, intermediate, and inner valves opening into the compartments.

3. The nozzle-changing system defined in claim 2, further comprising

means including a drain valve connected underneath the intermediate compartment for draining fluid therefrom.

4. The nozzle-changing system defined in claim 2, further comprising

supplies of the blocking fluid connected to the outer and intermediate purge valves.

5. The nozzle-changing system defined in claim 1, further comprising

a guide in the tube aligned with the seat and engageable with the lance for coaxial alignment of the lance in the tube and nozzle in the seat.

6. The nozzle-changing system defined in claim 1 wherein the seat is flat.

7. The nozzle-changing system defined in claim 1 wherein the seat is tapered and centered on an axis of the tube.