Abstract:
The desulfurization reactor assembly is comprised of two sections. The first section comprises a plenum base having channels therein for inflow and outflow of vapor to be reacted with the channels traversing a chamber within the plenum base through which heating medium travels. The second section includes two pieces comprising a shell engageable to the plenum base within which is seated a self-sealing sorbent vessel having channels for receiving vapor inflow from and providing reacted vapor outflow to the respective channels of the plenum base, with the canister shell providing a continuation for passage of heating medium from the plenum base therethrough. The assembly is structured to produce sealing of the vapor channels in the sorbent vessel when the vessel is removed from engagement with the plenum base.

Description:
FIELD OF THE INVENTION 
     The present invention relates to a desulfurization reactor assembly which includes a disposable self-sealing sorbent vessel. 
     BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
     It is known that fuel processors require hydrocarbon feed which is essentially sulfur-free so as not to irreversibly damage process catalysts. 
     The method of removing light sulfur-containing species from hydrocarbon vapor is also known. In this respect, hydrogen sulfide, mercaptans, and sulfides are removed by adsorption using ZnO and similar sorbents at elevated temperatures, such as 200° C., for example. The sorbent reacts irreversibly with the sulfur-containing species providing sulfur-free gas hydrocarbon feed. 
     It will also be understood that spent sorbent must be periodically removed and replaced. 
     If spent sorbent should come into contact with water, H 2 S is released, requiring only experts to handle such equipment during removal and disposal of spent sorbent. 
     Thus there is a need in the industry for a disposable self-sealing sorbent vessel which will significantly minimize, if not altogether eliminate, the potential of contact of the sorbent with water during removal and disposal thereof. 
     SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
     According to the invention, there is provided a desulfurization reactor assembly having first and second sections, the first section comprising a plenum base having a vapor inflow pathway, a vapor outflow pathway, and a throughflow pathway for passage of heating medium therethrough for heating of vapor in the inflow and outflow pathways; the second section comprising a canister having a shell within which is seated a disposable self-sealing sorbent vessel, the sorbent vessel containing desulfurization sorbent therein and having a normally sealed vapor inflow pathway inlet and a normally sealed vapor outflow pathway outlet, and the shell and sorbent vessel being spaced apart and creating a heating medium throughflow pathway; the pathways in the second section aligning with the corresponding pathways in the first section when the sections are appropriately engaged; and the first section incorporating structure therein for causing and maintaining opening of the self-sealing inlet and outlet in the sorbent vessel of the second section whenever the sections are engaged and until disengagement therebetween. 
    
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
     FIG. 1 is a cross-sectional view through the desulfurization reactor assembly of the present invention. 
     FIG. 2 is a cross-sectional view through a plenum base of the assembly. 
     FIG. 3 is a cross-sectional view through a removable canister of the assembly. 
     FIG. 4 is a cross-sectional view through a disposable self-sealing sorbent vessel functionally engaged within the removable canister. 
    
    
     DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT 
     Referring now to the drawings in greater detail, there is illustrated therein the desulfurization reactor assembly made in accordance with the teachings of the present invention and generally identified by the reference numeral  10 . 
     The assembly  10  in FIG. 1 is seen to be composed of two sections in the disclosed embodiment. 
     The first section is a plenum base  12  and the second section is a two-piece section  14  which is releasably fixed to the plenum base  12 . The second section  14  is seen to include an outer shell, canister, or housing  16  within which a disposable self-sealing sorbent vessel  18  is functionally engaged. 
     Referring to FIG. 2, the plenum base  12  will be seen to comprise a housing or shell  20  defining an open chamber  22  therein into which a heating medium from any suitable source is fed via an inlet  24 . 
     Traversing one extent of the open chamber  22  are first and second tubes  26  and  28 , respectively, which extend through one wall  30  of the shell  20  and terminate at a point coplanar to a point where side wall  21  of the plenum shell  20  terminates, leaving an end  34  of the open chamber  22  open. The end  36  of each tube  26 ,  28  within the open chamber  22  includes a peripheral flange  38  which supports an  0 -ring  40  thereon. 
     Extending longitudinally outwardly of the end  36  of each tube  26 ,  28  is a plunger  44  of predetermined length which is preferably centered relative to the circumference of the tubes  26 ,  28 . Action of the plunger  44  will be described hereinafter. 
     Turning now to the two-piece second section  14  in FIG. 3, the two-piece second section is seen to include an outer shell, canister, or housing  16  of substantially similar peripheral dimension and configuration as that of the plenum base  12 . The shell  16  defines an open chamber  46  therein having an outlet  48  therefrom at one end  50  and having an open end  52  opposite the outlet end  50 . 
     Received in a diametrically centered orientation within the shell  16  is the disposable self-sealing sorbent vessel  18 . The peripheral wall  54  and a closed end wall  56  of the vessel  18  are spaced inwardly of the shell  16 , creating a cylindrical chamber  46  extending therearound. 
     The vessel  18  also has an active end  58  which engages over and coacts with structure at the open end  34  of the plenum base  12 . 
     The active end  58  includes a base plate  60  which includes a plurality of radially arrayed ports  62  extending therethrough in a peripheral area of the plate  60  which extends radially beyond the peripheral wall  54  of the vessel  18 . Such ports  62  create a path communicating the open chamber  22  of the plenum base  12  with the chamber  46  defined within the shell  16 , surrounding the vessel  18 , when the sections  12  and  14  are functionally engaged as illustrated in FIG.  1 . 
     Extending into the vessel  18 , from the base plate  60  are first and second tubes  66  and  68 , respectively, which, when the vessel  18  is properly engaged over the open end  34  of the plenum base  12 , align with and form continuations of tubes  26  and  28 , respectively, within the plenum base  12 . 
     Here, it must be recognized that the vessel  18  is substantially filled with a desulfurization sorbent  70  such as ZnO. 
     It will be seen that the tube  66  is relatively short, terminating within the area filled with sorbent  70  and forming an outflow path  66  while the tube  68  is relatively long, terminating within a void  72  above the area filled with sorbent  70  and forming an inflow path  68 . 
     Tube  66  is constructed to include an area  74  which is vapor permeable but which will not allow the sorbent  70  to pass therethrough. Likewise tube  68  has an open outlet  76  which is covered by a screen  77 , forming a screened end which is vapor permeable but which will not allow the sorbent  70  to pass therethrough. 
     Tube  66  has an outlet  78  and tube  68  has an inlet  79 , the outlet  78  and inlet  79  being proximate the base plate  60 . Ports  80  and  82 , respectively, are provided in the base plate  60  leading to the outlet  78  and inlet  79  of each respective tube  66  and  68 . 
     The inlet  79  and outlet  78  each include a spring biased closure or plug  84  which is biased by a spring  86  toward and against the base plate  60  when the vessel  18  is disengaged from the plenum base  12 . 
     It will be seen that each port  80  and  82  is of decreased circumference relative to a circumference of the outlet  78  and inlet  79 , creating an inwardly directed peripheral flange  88 ′ for each tube  66  and  68 . An O-ring  90 ′ is mounted on this peripheral flange  88 ′ to assure a tight seal between the closure or plug  84  and the peripheral flange  88 ′ of the base plate  60 . 
     Such structuring of the outlet  78  and inlet  79  creates a self-sealing vessel  18 . Such self-sealing substantially reduces, if not altogether eliminates, any potential for the sorbent  70  within the vessel  18  to come in contact with water during replacement and disposal of the disposable vessel  18 . 
     Inasmuch as the outlet  78  and inlet  79  of the vessel  18  are each sealed by a spring biased closure or plug  84 , it is obviously necessary to provide means for causing opening of the plug  84  of each tube  66  and  68  when the vessel  18  is functionally engaged over the open end  34  of the plenum base  12 . 
     It is for such purpose that the plunger  44  is provided for each tube  26  and  28  in the plenum base  12 . Viewing FIG. 1, it will be understood that upon engagement of the active end  58  of vessel  18  over the open end  34  of the plenum base  12 , each of the plungers  44  passes through a corresponding port  80  or  82  in the base plate  60 , pushing the closure or plug  84  into the respective tube  66  or  68  a predetermined distance to effect opening of the outlet  78  and inlet  79  to permit passage of vapor therethrough. 
     In use, it will be understood that the active end  58  of the vessel  18  is seated appropriately over the open end  34  of the plenum base  12 , aligning tubes  26  and  66  and tubes  28  and  68 , with each plunger  44  opening the respective outlet  78  and inlet  79  of the corresponding tube  66  and  68 , with the shell  16  engaging thereover. 
     Inlet  24  to the plenum base  12  is engaged to a source of heating medium with the medium passing into and through open chamber  22  of the plenum base  12 , through the radially arrayed ports  62  in the base plate  60  into and through cylindrical chamber  46  within shell  16 , and out outlet  48  therefrom to any desired location. 
     Next, tube  28  is engaged to a source of vapor to be desulfurized with the vapor passing along tube  28 , through port  82  in the base plate  60  of the vessel  18 , through the tube  68  and out of screened end  76  thereof, into void  72 , through the area filled with sorbent  70 , entering tube  66  through the vapor permeable area  74  thereof, through port  80  in the base plate  60 , and into and through tube  26  in the plenum base  12 , from where the vapor, desulfurized by passage thereof through the sorbent  70 , may now be fed to a fuel processor without fear of damaging the process catalyst therein. 
     It will be understood that both the heating medium and vapor to be desulfurized are fed through the assembly  10  under pressure. Thus, the shell  16  and the vessel  18  must be securely engaged to the plenum base  12 . 
     In a preferred embodiment, the shell  16  may be screw threaded onto and over the open end  34  of the plenum base  12 , though this should not be construed as limiting. Also, in the preferred embodiment, an inner surface  88  of the shell  16  may be provided with a circumferential flange  90  which will seat the base plate  60  of the vessel  18  firmly against the structures at the open end  34  of the plenum base  12 , when the shell  16  is engaged to the plenum base  12 , though this should also not be construed as limiting. 
     As disclosed, the desulfurization assembly  10  of the present invention provides a number of advantages, some of which have been described above and others of which are inherent in the invention. Also, modifications may be proposed to the assembly  10  without departing from the teachings herein. Accordingly, the scope of the invention is only to be limited as necessitated by the accompanying claims.