Patent ID: 8863385

Claim:
A method for installing a reactor, said method comprising: a) providing an outer tube for encasing a reactor, said outer tube having an inner diameter; b) providing a monolith comprising a plurality of fins in an annular arrangement wherein said fins define flow channels for receiving fluid flow through said reactor, said monolith having an outer annular surface forming an outer annular diameter and an inner annular surface forming an inner annular diameter, said inner annular surface defining a center section of the reactor; c) compressing said monolith with a compressing means such that the outer annular diameter of said monolith is less than said inner diameter of said outer tube, wherein said monolith has an uncompressed outer annular diameter greater than said inner diameter of said outer tube; d) inserting said compressed monolith in said outer tube; and e) releasing said compressing means to allow said monolith to expand into an uncompressed position, wherein said outer annual surface of said monolith is in contact with said outer tube.