Patent GB-900114-A (GB)
Title: Two-terminal end cap for high pressure high temperature reaction vessels
IPC: B01J3/06
Filed: 1960-04-11
Abstract: <PICT:0900114/III/1> <PICT:0900114/III/2> A plurality of interfitting electrically conducting and electrical insulating parts within an end cap assembly provides two electrical connections through an electrically conductive part of the apparatus to the exterior of a reaction vessel.  A flanged annular member or bushing 42 has a cylindrical annular portion 43 which fits closely within the ring 41. A flange portion 44 of member 43 overlies the top surface of ring 41 and has an outside diameter similar to the outside diameter of cylinder 30.  Member 42 is of the same type material as cylinder 30 and gaskets 26 and 28.  An electrically conductive metallic disc 311 has an outside diameter equal to the inside diameter of the annular portion 43 and fits herein horizontally as indicated in Fig. 4. Thereafter, a further electrically conductive hard metal ring 45 whose outside diameter is similar to the inside diameter of the annular portion 43 is slidably fitted therein to rest upon the electrially conductive disc 311, the combined height of ring 45 together with disc 311 being equivalent to the height of the annular assembly 42.  A non-conductive plug 46 of a material similar to the material of cylinder 30 and with an outside diameter equal to the inside diameter of the annular metal ring 45 fits therein to rest upon disc 31.  The combined and total interfitting of all parts involved, present an assembled end cap 40 as illustrated in Fig. 4, in assembled relationship with cylinder 30 to present a complete high pressure and temperature reaction vessel.  Reaction vessel 21 comprising the cylinder 30 and end cap assembly 40 contains a specimen material indicated at 37.  If high temperature is a part of the process, a preferred form of heating is resistance heating and in this instance, current is conducted through the specimen, for example, as a high resistance portion of a circuit.  Alternatively, specimen 37 may be made electrically conductive by the addition of electrically conductive elements or materials, or in one form, heated by means of passing a current through a suitable resistance heater. Referring now to Fig. 4, a preferred electrical circuit for measuring or indicating the true conditions within sample 37 is illustrated by an electrical lead 48 which commences in the central part of reaction vessel 21 within specimen 37.  Lead 48 extends laterally outwardly from the specimen, through the cylinder 30 and extends upwardly in a groove provided axially in the exterior wall surface of cylinder 30 to be embedded under and make contact with ring 41.  Lead 48 also extends laterally from specimen 37 and then vertically downwardly to make contact with ring 41 at the bottom of the reaction vessel in a similar manner as the circuit described for the upper part of the reaction vessel.  Outside connections to this circuit are obtained by means of leads 49 and 50 which are connected to the metal tapered gasket 27.  Gasket 27 which was previously unused for this sort of electrical connection, and which was by assembly, connected into the resistance heating circuit of the reaction vessel 21, is now employed as the external connection for the measuring circuit, thereby eliminating passing of wires through the gaskets 26 and 28 where pinch-off conditions have resulted in failure.  Lead 48 passing through the centre of the specimen may be a thermocouple element, i.e. a platinum wire at one end and a platinum rhodium wire on the other for temperature measurements.  Where the wire is to be protected from the same material because of the high pressure or reactions occurring, it may be suitably insulated by an insulating tube 50.  Such a wire lead 48 passing through reaction vessel 21 may also be a barium wire and the measured change in electrical resistance will indicate the pressures involved.