SYMMETRICAL REACTOR INCLUDING A PLURALITY OF PACKED TUBES

A reactor having a top to bottom design configuration capable of being operated in an up flow or down flow configuration with equal ease, where the reactor includes a plurality of tubes optionally housed within a shell and includes top and bottom screen assemblies capable of retaining a catalyst within the tubes, while permitting reactants and products to flow through them. 1. A reactor comprising: a plurality of reactor tubes, each tube having a first tube end and a second tube end,', 'a first core end flange and a second core end flange, each end flange including a core sealing surface,', 'a pattern of tube apertures disposed in each flange for locating the reactor tubes,', 'a core flange lip having apertures there through,', 'a gasket,', 'fasteners, and, 'a core including a head flange including an assembly sealing surface, a head flange lip having a plurality of apertures therethrough, and an optional head flange recess,', 'a cap section including an inlet port and an outlet port for flowing a reactant into and out of the reactor, and', 'an interior,, 'a top head assembly and a bottom head assembly, each assembly including a screen comprising a plurality of screen elements, and', 'a screen mounting flange characterized by an inside diameter, an outside diameter,', 'a projected minor diameter, an overall thickness, and a shoulder height, and, 'a top screen assembly and a bottom screen assembly, each screen assembly including the tubes are fixed in place within the tube apertures,', 'the screen is or the screen elements are affixed to the screen flange to form the screen assembly,', 'the gasket is interposed between the sealing surfaces,', 'the head assembly is seated on the core end flange so that the lip apertures of the core and the assembly are aligned and the fasteners are inserted through the lip apertures of the core and the assembly retains the gasket and screen assembly within and tightening the fasteners compresses the gasket creating a fluid tight seal ...