Patent ID: 8158074

Claim:
A reactor for the heterogeneous synthesis of chemical compounds, comprising: a shell closed at the opposite ends by respective bottoms; an opening for the inlet of synthesis gas; an opening for the outlet of the reaction products; and at least one catalytic bed having a gas inlet side or bottom and a gas outlet side or bottom, said at least one catalytic bed being delimited at least one of said gas inlet side/bottom or gas outlet side/bottom by at least one system of walls for said at least one catalytic bed, wherein said at least one system of walls comprises a containment wall in direct contact with said catalytic bed for containing it, said wall having a plurality of portions permeable to gases and a plurality of portions impermeable to gases, said portions permeable to gases each being equipped with a plurality of slits of a size such as to allow the free passage of the synthesis gases through them but not the passage of the catalyst, said portions impermeable to gases constituting a mechanical support for said catalytic bed, and a distribution wall equipped with gas-permeable portions arranged in spaced relationship with said containment wall so as to create an interspace with it.