System for externally holding a catalyst bed in radial-flow reactor

1. A system for the external retention of a bed of catalyst in a radial-flow catalytic reactor, comprising a plurality of longitudinal hollow conduit elements ( 2 ) evenly distributed in a peripheral annulus around a central space ( 3 ) containing said catalyst bed, each said element having a front wall ( 5 ) that is filtering in respect of the catalyst, for radially admitting a process fluid into said bed of catalyst ( 3 ), wherein each said element ( 2 ) is laterally bounded by two lateral walls ( 6 ) directed radially in the reactor which comprise cooperating assemblers of a male-in-female member type ( 7 , 8 ) for assembling it with the respectively adjacent elements ( 2 ′).

2. The system as claimed in claim 1 , wherein said assemblers are made of complementary longitudinal profiles ( 7 , 8 ) positioned near the front end of said lateral walls ( 6 ) and configured for ensuring continuity of the internal surface of said peripheral annulus.

3. The system as claimed in claim 1 , wherein said lateral walls ( 6 ) are solid, or are holed so as to allow said fluid to circulate from one conduit element ( 2 ) to another.

4. The system as claimed in claim 1 , wherein said lateral walls ( 6 ) comprise assembly stoppers of the male-in-female member type ( 15 , 16 ) that are positioned near the rear end of said lateral walls.

5. The system as claimed in claim 1 , wherein said assemblers ( 7 , 8 ) are fixed together by screw-fasteners ( 9 ), which are optionally set into the surface of said peripheral annulus.

6. The system as claimed in claim 1 , wherein said lateral walls ( 6 ) comprise a lateral reinforcement ( 13 ), positioned on the opposite side to said assemblers ( 7 , 8 ) backwards from said front wall ( 5 ).

7. The system as claimed in claim 1 , wherein the conduit elements comprise distributors that gradually distribute the fluid along the longitudinal direction.

8. The system as claimed in claim 7 , wherein said distributors comprise a perforated plate ( 14 ) fixed set back from said catalyst filtering front wall ( 5 ) and showing a perforation density that is greater in the lower part than in the upper part of the reactor and which varies along its height.

9. The system as claimed in any claim 1 , wherein said catalyst filtering front wall ( 5 ) is supported at the rear by parallel annular reinforcements ( 22 ), and in that a longitudinal rigid comb ( 18 ) is positioned at right angles set back from said wall ( 5 ), substantially at the middle thereof, between said reinforcements ( 22 ).

10. The system as claimed in claim 1 , which comprises a leading hollow conduit element ( 27 ), having been intended to be the first one installed in the reactor, and which is provided with a female assembly profile ( 8 ) profile ( 8 ) on each of its lateral walls ( 6 ).

11. The system as claimed in claim 10 , which comprises a hollow conduit element ( 19 ) capable of joining the peripheral annulus by coming adjacent to said leading element ( 27 ) and a shoulder ( 28 ), having a shape similar to the male assembly member ( 17 ) and capable of accepting adjustable cover strip ( 21 ), is provided on one lateral wall ( 20 ), and wherein said cover strip is positioned to cover the female assembly profile ( 8 ) of said leading element ( 27 ) adjacent to said lateral wall and to seal the internal surface of the annulus against the catalyst and to provide it with continuity between said wall ( 20 ) and the leading element ( 27 ).

12. The system as claimed in claim 1 , wherein said conduit elements ( 2 ) comprise a filtering rear wall ( 12 ) or a solid rear wall ( 12 ).

13. A system for the external retention of a bed of catalyst in a radial-flow catalytic reactor, comprising a plurality of longitudinal hollow conduit elements ( 2 ) evenly distributed in a peripheral annulus around a central space ( 3 ) containing said catalyst bed, each said element having a front wall ( 5 ) that is filtering in respect of the catalyst, for radially admitting a process fluid into said bed of catalyst ( 3 ), wherein each said element ( 2 ) is laterally bounded by two lateral walls ( 6 ) directed radially in the reactor which comprise a cooperating means for assembling a male-in-female member type ( 7 , 8 ) capable of assembling it with the respectively adjacent elements ( 2 ′).

14. The system as claimed in claim 13 , wherein said assembly means are made of complementary longitudinal profiles ( 7 , 8 ) positioned near the front end of said lateral walls ( 6 ) and configured for ensuring continuity of the internal surface of said peripheral annulus.

15. The system as claimed in claim 13 , wherein said lateral walls ( 6 ) comprise a means for stopping assembly of the male-in-female member type ( 15 , 16 ) that are positioned near the rear end of said lateral walls.

16. The system as claimed in claim 13 , wherein said assembly means ( 7 , 8 ) are fixed together by a means for screw-fastening ( 9 ), which are optionally set into the surface of said peripheral annulus.

17. The system as claimed in claim 13 , wherein the conduit elements comprise a means for distributing capable of gradually distributing the fluid along the longitudinal direction.

18. The system as claimed in claim 17 , wherein said means for distributing comprises a perforated plate ( 14 ) fixed set back from said catalyst filtering front wall ( 5 ) and showing a perforation density which varies along its height.

19. The system as claimed in claim 13 , which comprises a leading hollow conduit element ( 27 ), having been intended to be the first one installed in the reactor, and which is provided with a female assembly member ( 8 ) on each of its lateral walls ( 6 ).

20. The system as claimed in claim 19 , which comprises a hollow conduit element ( 19 ) capable of joining the peripheral annulus by coming adjacent to said leading element ( 27 ) and a shoulder ( 28 ), having a shape similar to the male assembly member ( 17 ) and capable of accepting adjustable cover strip ( 21 ), is provided on one lateral wall ( 20 ), and wherein said cover strip is positioned to cover the female assembly profile ( 8 ) of said leading element ( 27 ) adjacent to said lateral wall and to seal the internal surface of the annulus against the catalyst and to provide it with continuity between said wall ( 20 ) and the leading element ( 27 ).