Patent ID: 7771677

Claim:
A method of charging a reactor having inlet and outlet ports with a bed of a particulate catalyst, comprising: a) providing a first, perforate, catalyst restraining means to define a central region within the catalyst bed and connected to one of said ports; b) disposing a second particle restraining means between said first catalyst restraining means and an interior wall of said reactor, thereby forming a space between said first and second restraining means and a space between said second restraining means and the interior wall of said reactor; c) filling the space between said first and second restraining means with particulate catalyst; and d) introducing particulate material into the space defined by the second restraining means and the interior wall of the reactor in a manner such that: (i) the particulate material presents less resistance to flow than said catalyst particles; and (ii) at least a portion of the particulate material is in contact with the interior wall of the reactor.