Patent ID: 7163666

Claim:
A support structure for supporting a catalyst structure in a catalytic reactor, said support structure having a center and a perimeter and comprising: a plurality of struts configured to minimally obstruct flow of a gas reaction mixture, wherein said plurality of struts is configured in at least two branched segments radially arranged about the center of the support structure, wherein each branched segment comprises a primary strut with proximal and distal ends, wherein the proximal end of the primary strut is proximal to the center and the distal end extends toward the perimeter, wherein each branched segment further comprises a secondary strut with proximal and distal ends, wherein the proximal end of the secondary strut contacts the primary strut at a position between the proximal and distal ends of the primary strut, and wherein the distal end of the secondary strut extends toward the perimeter, and wherein each branched segment further comprises additional secondary struts with proximal and distal ends, wherein the additional secondary struts alternate in branched fashion in a direction from the center toward the perimeter, wherein the proximal end of each additional secondary strut contacts the previous secondary strut toward the center in the branched segment at a position between the proximal and distal ends of the previous secondary strut and the distal end of each additional secondary strut extends toward the perimeter, wherein the struts are configured such that the struts are free to thermally expand and contract as the temperature changes, and wherein the struts are configured to provide substantially uniform support with respect to a substantial portion of the catalyst structure.