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In a radial flow catalytic reactor, a gravity supported centerpipe is restrained from vertical upward movement due to thermal cycling of the catalyst and the reactor internals by forming the centerpipe to have uniform vertical and radial permeability in a frustoconical configuration. Gravity effect

In a radial flow catalytic reactor, a gravity supported centerpipe is restrained from vertical upward movement due to thermal cycling of the catalyst and the reactor internals by forming the centerpipe to have uniform vertical and radial permeability in a frustoconical configuration. Gravity effect of the catalyst particles forming the bed act along the tapered side of the centerpipe. Additionally improved permeability to radial flow through the uniformly packed catalyst bed, independently of radial resistance to flow through the reactor due to pressure gradient between top and bottom of the vessel is achieved by compensation for differences in radial distance to the centerpipe from the upper portion to the lower portion of the catalyst bed by changes in the permeability of the tapered conical surface of the centerpipe. Uniformity of radial flow through the catalyst bed is assured by forming the conical portion of the centerpipe from rigid screen material so that reaction “dead”spots do not develop adjacent to the centerpipe.

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A method of preventing longitudinal displacement of the centerpipe of a radial flow catalytic reactor vessel due to thermal cycling of fluids flowing therethrough and differences in thermal expansion of said centerpipe with uniform permeability of radial flow for reactant fluids through the catalyst

A method of preventing longitudinal displacement of the centerpipe of a radial flow catalytic reactor vessel due to thermal cycling of fluids flowing therethrough and differences in thermal expansion of said centerpipe with uniform permeability of radial flow for reactant fluids through the catalyst bed along the length of said centerpipe which comprises positioning a centerpipe centralizing socket member in the lower end wall of said vessel, seating a centerpipe in said socket member sufficiently deep to maintain said centerpipe in a vertical position extending axially parallel to a substantial portion of the sidewall of said vessel, said centerpipe being formed throughout its length as a screen member having frustoconical shape whose diameter decreases from said socket member toward the upper end wall of said vessel, said screen member having uniformly spaced openings throughout its circumferential surface over said length, enclosing said screen member of said centerpipe within a generally cylindrical body of catalyst particles extending radially outward from said centerpipe to a location adjacent to said vessel sidewall, and forming vertical passageways between said sidewall of said vessel and said body of catalyst particles to permit radial flow of reactant fluids through said body between said wall and said centerpipe so that the permeability to fluid flow across said body of such radial flow is substantially uniform throughout the length of said frustoconical centerpipe and thermal cycling is resisted by the gravity component of said cylindrical catalyst bed along the length of said frustoconical centerpipe. In a radial flow reactor vessel having inlet and outlet passageways, means for retaining a generally cylindrical bed of catalyst particles extending through said reactor and so arranged as to permit radial fluid flow between the center of said bed and the peripheral area of said cylindrical bed, a perforated centerpipe member extending through said catalyst bed, said reactor having a sealable access opening in the upper end of said vessel for installation and removal of said catalyst particles, said perforated centerpipe member, and said retaining means, the improvement comprising a centerpipe seat member mounted at the lower end of said vessel in fluid communication with said outlet passageway, a centerpipe having one end formed to frictionally engage said seat member for support thereof coaxially with said reactor vessel, and having a diameter which is tapered inwardly from said seat end to the other end thereof to increase the radial distance for fluid flow through said cylindrical catalyst bed from said one end to said other end of said centerpipe, a catalyst engaging surface of said centerpipe being formed as a tapered screen member having substantially uniform permeability to fluid flow throughout the length of said centerpipe from said seat and to the enclosed upper end thereof.