Patent ID: 8056205

Claim:
A method of adapting a reaction vessel comprising a shell having opposed ports from a configuration for providing axial flow to a configuration for providing opposed flow, said method comprising: (i) installing process fluid collection means centrally within the shell and in fluid communication with one or more outlet ports of said ports, wherein said process fluid collection means comprise a perforate member defining a chamber and a conduit in fluid communication with said chamber, said conduit being adapted for attachment to said one or more of said outlet ports, (ii) providing the vessel with a bed of particulate catalyst or sorbent around said process fluid collection means; and (iii) adapting the vessel to direct a process fluid fed to the vessel through one or more inlet ports of said ports such that the process fluid is passed axially and in an opposite direction through said fixed bed of catalyst or sorbent and is collected by said process fluid collection means.