Ethylene is a gas existing everywhere. It is emitted by healthy plants as well as by those in decomposition, and also generally by combustion of air with any type of fuel. This gas causes the ripening of fruit, flowers, vegetables, and the resulting rotting; it accelerates the deterioration and causes a change of colour, shrivelling and sweating. Thus it is necessary to eliminate this gas from all environments in which types of products, which are particularly sensitive to ethylene, will be kept.

The catalytic convertor SE5 is the result of this project. The inflammability of the gas if exposed to high temperature, has allowed for the construction of a machine which - sucking cold air from the cell at about 0°÷ +1°C - preheats this air and sends it through a special exchanger.
At a temperature of about 200÷230°C the air reaches the reactor which is heated by a series of armored resistors in a catalyst bed.

Here the oxidation process occurs, during which the ethylene will be totally reduced.

(C2H4 + 3O2 -> 2CO2 + 2H2O)

The outgoing air passes again through the second part of the exchanger, cooling down while the incoming air gains heat. Exchange and yield are such to expel the purified air at a temperature which is slightly higher than the incoming one. The absorber is supplied with a special thermostat which provides for the gradual insertion and disconnection of the resistors: this is to keep the energy consumption at the lowest, once the ideal temperature and consequently the efficiency of the machine is reached. This thermostat offers the possibility to set the temperature by steps of 1°C at a time. amount to about 0,03 ppm.The performance of this absorber is continuous. Furthermore, it takes only 1.5 hours for reaching its efficiency, as compared to the 100 hours of other machines of the same type.

Another advantage is given by the fact that the problem of balancing between suction and delivery pipes is excluded. Consequently, absorption can occur in two cells simultaneously, without alteration of the performance.

ADVANTAGES

No thermic unbalance in the cell, due to the high efficiency of the heat regeneration system.
Very low ethylene residuals, which