Patent ID: 7186388

Claim:
A catalytic reactor comprising a plurality of metal sheets arranged as a stack and bonded together, said sheets defining first flow channels between adjacent sheets, alternating with second flow channels between adjacent sheets for ensuring good thermal contact between fluids in the first and the second flow channels, at least the first flow channels being of width less than 4 mm and following a curved path in plan, fluid-permeable catalyst elements being insertable into and removable from within at least the first flow channels along said curved path, said catalyst elements being flexible for following said curved path during insertion and removal thereof, headers to supply respective fluid to the flow channels, each first header comprising a chamber attached to the outside of the stack and communicating with a plurality of first flow channels, and each second header comprising a chamber attached to the outside of the stack and communicating with a plurality of second flow channels, and such that after removal of a header said catalyst elements in the corresponding flow channels are removable.