Patent ID: 7223373

Claim:
A catalytic reactor comprising a plurality of metal sheets arranged as a stack and bonded together, said stack defining first flow channels between adjacent sheets, alternating with second flow channels between adjacent sheets, for ensuring good thermal contact between fluids in said first and second flow channels, the channels extending in transverse directions, fluid permeable catalyst layers being provided within said second flow channels shaped to define flow paths that are at least partly parallel to the direction of said first flow channels, said catalyst layers being shaped for defining dogleg shaped corrugations having a straight central section parallel to the direction of said first flow channels, first and second headers for supplying respective fluids to said first and second flow channels, each first and second header comprising a chamber attached to the outside of said stack and communicating with a plurality of said first flow channels, and each second header comprising a chamber attached to the outside of said stack and communicating with a plurality of said second flow channels, and such that after removal of one of said headers the catalyst layers in the corresponding flow channels are removable therefrom.