Conduit positioner

Abstract

A catalytic firebox reactor employing an exothermic catalytic reaction channel and multiple cooling conduits for creating a partially reacted fuel/oxidant mixture. An oxidation catalyst is deposited within an exothermic catalytic reaction channel. The catalyst is backside cooled. The heat of reaction is added to both the fluid in the exothermic catalytic reaction channel and the fluid passing through the cooling conduits. After discharge of the fluids from the exothermic catalytic reaction channel, the fluids mix to create a single combined flow.

What is claimed is:  
     
         1 . A catalytic reactor comprising: 
 a casing having an inlet and an outlet, and an interior surface and an exterior surface, the casing interior surface defining an interior chamber:    at least two conduits, each conduit having an inlet and an outlet, and an interior surface and exterior surface, the conduit exterior surfaces and the casing interior surface forming an exothermic catalytic reaction channel having an exit, the exothermic catalytic reaction channel exit and the conduit outlets proximately located and laterally spaced by a positioner; and    an oxidation catalyst deposited within the exothermic catalytic reaction channel on at least a portion of at least one of the conduit exterior surfaces.    
     
     
         2 . The catalytic reactor of  claim 1  wherein the positioner is a grid.  
     
     
         3 . The reactor of  claim 1  wherein the positioner is a honeycomb.  
     
     
         4 . The method of supporting and positioning conduits within a catalytic reactor wherein a fuel and air mixture having a stoichometry equal to or greater than 1.0 is oxidized in the presence of the catalyst comprising: providing a catalytic reactor comprising conduits and an exothermic catalytic reaction channel, each conduit having an outlet; and positioning the conduit exits with respect to a plurality of exits from the exothermic catalytic channel in a fixed lateral relationship.  
     
     
         5 . The method of  claim 2  wherein the plurality of exits are uniformly spaced.  
     
     
         6 . The method of supporting and positioning conduits within a catalytic reactor wherein a fuel and air mixture having a stoichometry greater than 1.0 is oxidized in the presence of the catalyst comprising: providing a catalytic reactor comprising conduits and an exothermic catalytic reaction channel, each conduit having an outlet; and positioning the conduit exits with respect to a plurality of exits from the exothermic catalytic channel in a fixed lateral relationship.  
     
     
         7 . A catalytic reactor comprising: 
 a casing having an inlet and an outlet, and an interior surface and an exterior surface, the casing interior surface defining an interior chamber:    at least two conduits, each conduit having an inlet and an outlet, and an interior surface and exterior surface, the conduit exterior surfaces and the casing interior surface forming an exothermic catalytic reaction channel having an exit, the exothermic catalytic reaction channel exit and the conduit outlets proximately located and laterally spaced by a positioner;    separated inlets to the conduits and to the exothermic reactor channel; and    an oxidation catalyst deposited within the exothermic catalytic reaction channel on at least a portion of at least one of the conduit exterior surfaces.    
     
     
         8 . The catalytic reactor of  claim 7  further comprising a plenum in fluid communication with the exothermic catalytic reaction channel.  
     
     
         9 . A catalytic reactor comprising: 
 a casing having an inlet and an outlet, and an interior surface and an exterior surface, the casing interior surface defining an interior chamber;    at least two conduits, each conduit having an inlet and an outlet, and an interior surface and exterior surface, the conduit exterior surfaces and the casing interior surface forming an exothermic catalytic reaction channel having an exit, the exothermic catalytic reaction channel exit and the conduit outlets proximately located and positioned by a retainer;    separated inlets to the conduits and to the exothermic reaction channel; and    an oxidation catalyst deposited within the exothermic catalytic reaction channel on at least a portion of at least one of the conduit exterior surfaces.    
     
     
         10 . The catalytic reactor of  claim 9  further comprising a plenum in fluid communication with the exothermic catalytic reaction channel.  
     
     
         11 . The catalytic reactor of  claim 9  wherein the retainer defines a plurality of passages, the passages being uniformly spaced.  
     
     
         12 . The catalytic reactor of  claim 11  further comprising a plenum in fluid communication with the exothermic catalytic reaction channel.