Patent ID: 6235246
Filing Date: 2001-05-22
Classification: B01J

Abstract:
A pressurizable vertically-oriented reactor assembly having a cylindrical-shaped wall attached to a lower head and having a flow distribution grid plate fixedly attached transversely within the reactor lower portion for supporting a bed of particulate catalyst, the grid plate containing multiple riser tubes each covered at its upper end by a cap, the reactor further comprising:at least one elongated conduit attached pressure-tightly at its lower end to the reactor lower head and extending upwardly through the reactor lower head and the grid plate; anda bellows unit sealably attached at its lower end to the grid plate upper side and attached at its upper end to the outside surface of said elongated conduit; andsaid bellows unit separate from, and concentrically configured around, said elongated conduit; andwhereby during reactor operations and temperature cycling, said bellows unit allows the elongated conduit to expand upwardly relative to the grid plate, and particulate catalyst can be passed through the elongated conduit into the catalyst bed, without gas passing around the conduit and upwardly trough the grid plate.