AU2014202515A1 - Vessel containing fluid distribution media - Google Patents

Abstract

ABSTRAC OPF TIE DISCLOSURE A Vctelompdsing a bed of UaRhoy deieramt. .OdJ avingluid distribuon channels incorporated in the outer surac ofth media is disclosed. The Channels capture and redirectthe fhud there jprfing distbib ut the duid in the

Description

AUSTRALIA PATENTS ACT 1990 REGULATION 3.2 Name of Applicant: SAINT4GOBAIN CERAMICS & PLASTICS, INC. Actual Inventor/s: Hassan S. Niknafs; and Daniel C, Sherman Address for Service: E, F. WELLINGTON & CO., Patent and Trade Mark Attorneys, 312 St. Kilda Road, Melbourne, Southbank, Victoria, 3006. Invention Title: "VESSEL CONTAINING FlID DISTRIBUTION MEDIA" Details of Associated Provisional Applications Nos: The following statement is a full description of this invention including the best method of performing,, it known to us.

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATE) APPLICATION This application is a 'divisional application derived front Australian Patent Application No. 2010213665 (PCTYUS20I0/023974: WO 2010/093841), claiming priority 5 of US Application No. 611152912, the entire text of which are hereby incorporated herein by reference. BACKGROUND OF TH E INVENTON It This invention generally relates to a bed of randomly oriented ceramic media used to improve the distribution a fluid by redirecting the fluid over an increasingly larger area as the fluid passes through the bed. More particularly, this invention directed to a bed topping media, located at one end of a chemical reactor's containment vessel, which redistributes a fluid over a layer of components that may include materials such as 15 catalyticaly active material, adsorbents oractivated carbon. One example of a patent which discloses fluid distribution materials that may be used to reduce maldistributon of a fluid in a chemical reactor is US 62961,03, SUMMARY 20 This invention provides for improved redistribution of an incoriing fluid stream disposed onto a bed of randomly oriented ceramic media by incorporating fluid diverting channels into the outer surfaces of the media. The channels are configured to capture and then redirect a portion of the fluid as it flows through the bed. in some situations, the 25 media may cause the fluid to flow perpendicularly to the initial direction of incoming fluid. In one embodiment, the present invention includes a vessel comprising a fluid entry point and a bed. The bed comprises a first layer comprising a plurality of individual elements disposed therein. At least a majority of elements in the first layer comprise randomly oriented ceramic media. The ceramic media comprise an outer surface with one 30 or more fluid diverting channels formed therein. The bed also comprises a second layer comprising components wherein the majority of the components are physically distinct 2 from the ceramic media. The first layer of the bed is positioned between the second layer and the fluid entry point. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS Fig, 1 is a cross-section of a chemical reactor that includes a vessel of this invention; Fig. 2 is a perspective view of a first embodiment of a ceramic media useful in the first layer shown in Fig. I: to Fig, 3 is an end view of a second embodiment of a ceramic media useful in the first layer shown in Fig, 1; Fig. 4 is a theoretical cross-sectional view of a fluid distribution pattern; Fig, 5 is a schematic drawing of a liquid distribution testing device; Fig. 6 shows a diagram of the central, intermediate and outer regions of the testing 15 device shown in Fig. 5; and Fig. 7 is a graph of pressure drop versus mass velocity. DETAILED DESCRIPTION 20 As used herein, the phrase chemical processing apparatus" is intended to describe equipment, such as tanks, burners, combustion chambers, piping, tc., that receives one or more raw Tnateriais and then chemically and/or physically converts it to one or more end products that are discharged fromhe apparatus The conversion may involved: chemical reaction that utilizes a catalyst to convert raw materials to an end product; desorption or 25 absorption;a physical change (eg. liquid to gas) to the raw material's state ofiatter; and/or an increase or decrease in the temperature of the raw material Ohemical reactors arw widely used in chemical manutturin industries for a variety of pupe 'Vol considered to be a subset of the phrase chemical processing apparatus. Chemical reactors may contain a vessel in which the conversion process occurs 30 Chemical reactors that generate an end product by providing a vessel with a reaction zone therein where two or more reactants can interact to produce an end product may also include a layer of bed topping material located at one end of the reaction zone and a layer of bed support material located at the opposite end of the reaction zone. Examples of commercially available bed topping materials include ceramic spheres and reticulated foams, One function of the bed topping material is to accept an incoming fluid that is disposed onto a fixed area of the layer of bed topping material and then redirect the fluid : over a larger area as the fluid passes through and exits the bed topping layer The incoming fluid may be disposed onto the bed topping layer via a mcxhanieal device commonly known as a distributor which may include one or more nozzles, The distributor may be described herein as a "fluid entry point", The term "fluid entry point" may also describe a single pipe or a plurality of pipes that collectively or individually dispose one or more 1a fluids onto the bed topping layer As the incomumg fluid contacts the bed topping, the fliid inherently forums an incoming fluid distribution pattern. As the fluid exits the bed of topping material, the fluid inherently forms a final fluid distribution patten Bed topping made of ceramic spheres are known to provide for a modest redistribution of the incoming fluid but the ongoing need to substantially increase the redistribution using spheres has not been 15 realized- Similarly, bed topping made of reticulated cermic foamnmay include a plurality of web members which define flow passageways through the ceramic material. The web members subdivide the incomin g lhid into a plurality of smaller fluid streams which then flow through the reactor. While subdivision of a larger sin le stream into many smaller streams may be adequate for some industrial presseslateral redistribution of a fluid over 20 an area much larger than the incoming fluid distribution pattern may be necessary if the operation of the chemical reactor depends upon a broad homogenous distribution of one or more fluids Referring now to the drawings and more particularly to Fig. 1, there is shown a crossesectionatview of a chemical reactor 10 that includes a vessel 12., a mechanical 25 distributor 14, and dischare piping 16. The vessel houses a bed 18 that includes a first layer 20 of randomly oriented ceramic media 22 a second layer 24 of components 26 that includes a catalytically active metal deposited onto the Surface of a ceramic pellet, and a thirdlayer 28 of Ied support nmedia 30As used herein, the ceramic media in the first layer are considered to be physically distinct fron the components in the second layer if the 30 ceramic media have fluid diverting channels and the components do not have fluid diverting channels. Furthermore, first layer 20 may include elements that are not randomly oriented ceramic media provided at least the majority of elements in the first layer are 4 randomly oriented ceramic media. Preferably all of the elements in the first layer are ceramic media that have fluid dverting channels incorporated therein. Similarly, the Ceramic components that comprise the second layer are all devoid of fluid diverting channels in the outer surface and thus are distinct from media in the first layer. However, the advantages of this invention may be realized if at least the majority of the second layer s components are physicaly distinct from the ceramic media in the first layer. Referring again to Fig. 1. the second layer may also be described as the reaction zone, Bed 18 has a known height and the first layer occupies less than 20% of the bed's height. The second layer may occupy more than 50% of the bed's height If desired the third layer ) could be replaced with a screen located beneath the second layer, A suitable commercially available bed support media, identified by the trademark deltaPThr, is available from Saint Gobain NorPro of Stow. Ohio, USA, Fig, 2 discloses a perspective view of one embodiment of ceranic media 22 that would be suitable for use in first layer 20 of vessel 12 as shown in Fig. 1. The media 15 inc ludes a peripheral wall 32 a first end 34, a second end 36. and four fluid diverting channels 38, 40, 42 and 44 that extend from the first end to the second end. In this embodiment, the four fluid diverting channels have the same cross-sectional shape, As will be shown in Fig. 3, the shapes of the channels may be altered, Opening 46, which is an optional feature of a suitable media, defines an internal passageway through the media and 20 also extends from the first end to the slond end. The shape, size and existence of opening 46 may be altered significantly without influencing the performance of the fluid diverting channels. Shown in Fie3 is an end view of another embodiment of a suitable media 48 for use in first layer 20 As illustrated in Fig. 3, the cross-sectonal shape of the fluid diverting 25 channels may be inodified provided the channel effectively captures and diverts a portion of the fluid that contacts the pripheral surface of the media (see arrow 50) and then flows over the peripheral walls curvilinear surface into one or more of the fid diverting channels(see arrows 52 and 54) wherein at least a portion of the tluid is redirected to an end of the medi Fluid that impacts the peripheral wall at a perpendicular angle, then 30 flows into and through a fluid diverting channel, thereby changing the direction of the fluid's flow, is defined herein as horizontally displaced fluid A plurality of randomly oriented media having the tiid diverting channels described herein will cause a fluid flowing through the media to be rapidly diverted as much as 90' relative to the initial direciion ofthe fluid flow, The diversion occurs repeatedly as the fluid contacts and then exits a first nedia, then contacts and exits a second media, then contacts and exits a third media, etc. When media that have fluid diverting channelsformed in the outer surface are used in a vessel as shown in Fig 1 and the media form the first layer which is positioned between the fluid's port of entry and the second layer of components, then the fluid diverting channels in the ceramic media cooperate to establish numerous fuiddspersion passageways through the first layer. A fluid dispersion passageway includes two or more 10 channels fiorned in two or more media through which the fluid flows after leaving the port of entry and prior to contacting the second layer. If fluid flows through aluid diverting channel in a first media and then flows through another fluid diverting channel in a second media, then the fluid is considered to have flowed through a fluid dispersion passageway The direction that the fhuid flows is not important provided the fid flows first through the 15 first layer and then the second. layer. In a down flow chemical reactor, gravity causes the fhlud to flow doxwaardl y from the distributor, through the first layer and then the second layer. In an upilow chemical reactor the flid's entry point is located near the hotom of the vessel and the first layer is located below the second layer, A pump of simiar device is used to force fluid upwardly through the first layer and then the second layer, 20 As shown in itg 4, a theoretical cross-sectional view of a uid distrbution pattern created by a fluid as it flows through a plurality of media may resemble a cone shaped zone seearrows 56 and 58) wherein the top of the cone 60 is the point at which the fluid 62 contacts the top surftae of the media and the bottom of the cone 64 is the pattern created by the fuid as it exits the bottom of the plurality of nedia. The media's fid diverting 25 channels may simultaneously achieve two objectives. First, the fluid flowing through the media isredirected over a wider and wider area as the fluid passes through the bed of media. The amount of horizontal displacement per unit of vertical travel tray be treasured and used to calculate a media bed's fluid distribution angle which is defined as the angle between a line, such as line 66 which defines the center of the cone in Fig. 4, and the 30 closest side of the cone as represented by arrow 56. A large fluid distribution angle, such as 15" or larger, is preferred to a small Iluid distribution angle, such as 10' or less in addition to having a large fluid distribution angle, media with fluid distribution channels 6 incorporated therein advantageously provide for honogenous distribution of the fluid within the cone shaped dispersionz Achieving both hooonenous distribution of fluid within the cone shaped zone and a large fluid distribution angle may be preferable to chievin either a large distribution angIe and non-homogenous distribution within the cone 5 or a homogenous distlbution within the cone and a snial fluid distribution angle, To effectively divert a luid into wider and wider pattem as the fluid travels through a plundlity of edia parnieters such as physical characteristics of the media; the media's fluid diverting channels, and the plurality of media may be modified independently or preterablyin concert with one another Characteristics of the channel that may be Ito modified to impact horizontal displacement of the fluid include the width of the channel, the depth ofthe channel, the length of the channel and the cross-sectional shape of the channel. Similarly, characteristics of the media that may be modified to impact horizontal displacement of the fluid include: the rotational angle between the centerline of the chauels; and the ratio of the media's maximum diameter to its length. One characteristic i5 of the bed that may be modified to impact horizontal displacement of the fluid is the depth of the bed. With reaard to the channels, a fluid divertin channel may be configured to allow some of the fluid to easily enter the channel and then inhibit the escape of latest a portion of the fluid frmm the channel until the fluid travels through the channel to one end of the 20 media. The depth of channel 68 in Fig. 3 is approximately 17% of the maximum diameter DR'$ of the mcdi a. The depth of the channel may be between 15% and 25% of the media's maximum diameter Channels having depths between 10% and 45%of the media s maximum diameter are feasible. For channels that are defined by opposing walls that are substantially parallel lith one anothersuch as the walls that define chann el 70, the width 25 of the channel is determined by measuring the distance between opposing walls 72 and 74. In contrast to channels that have substantially paalelvalls a channel, such as channel 76 may be designed to have an overhang 78 which reduces the size of the channel's opening For channels that include an overhang, the width of the opening is the distance between opposing portions of the overhang, see overhang portions 80 and 82 If the channel 30 gradually tapersin width from the top of the channel to the bottom of the channel, then the width of the channel is defined as the width between opposing walls at one-half the depth ofbthe channel, See Fig,. 3, channel 84, arrow 86. Channels that perifrmn adequately may have a depth to width ratio between 1.2:1.0 and .010 Chamels that have a depth to width ratio less than 1,2:1J0 may be too shallow to retain fluid in the channel. Chapels that perform adequately may have a length to width ratto between 2: and 20:1 As indicated above, one characteristic of the media that has an impact on the fd d 5 distribution capability of the media is the rotational angLe between the channels. The rotational angle is defined as the angle formed by the intersection 88 of centerline 90 in channel 6$ and centerline 92 in adjacent channel 70. As shown in Fig 3, the channels may be positioned 9n from one another so that the media has four channels. While a minimum of three equally spaced channels may be workable four equally spaced channels are I preferred. Media having either five or six equally spaced channels are feasible. As shown in Fig 2. the cross-sectional shape of each channeln one media may be the same. However, as shown in Fig 3 the cross-sectional shape of the channels does not need to be the same for each channel. Furthermore, all of the media ina a layer of media (1o not need to be identical 5 Another media characteristic that may be altered to improve the fluid distribution of a layer of ceramic media in a vessel is the ratio of the media's length to its diameter, which is defined herein as the L:D ratio, and may range from 0.5:1. .0 to 2.5: L0 If the ratio is less than (.5:1, the media will tend to orient with the ends perpendicular to the flow of the fluid which adversely impacts the channels' ability to disperse the fuid in a horizontal 21 if the media's length to diameter ratio is greater than 2.51,0, the vast majority of media may tend to orient pepiendicularly relative to the direction of the initial fluid flow which coud unduly increase the pressure drop within the bed. If the pressure drop within the bed increases beyond an acceptable level then ie reactor must be shut down. With regard to characteristics of the bed that may be altered to achieve adequate 25 distribution of many fluids, the average bed depth should be at least five times the length of the media. In some applications the average bed depth niay be at least 10 times the length of the media. If the minimum bed depth is too shallow, the media will have little influence on the distribution of the fluid. Ceramic media that is useful in a vessel of this invention, including the ceramic 30 media shown in Fig s 2 and 3 may be formed from any ceramic materialthat provides sufficient strength for the media and is compatible wNith the fluids to be used. For example, ate uh natural or synthetic clays feidparszeolites, cordierites, aluminas, zirconia, 8 silica or mixtures of these may be used. Clays are generically mixed oxides of alumina and silica and include materials such as kaolin, ail clay, fire clay china clay, and the like. Suitable clays are high plasticity clays such as ball clay and fire clay The clay may have a methylene blue index ("MBIJy of about I I to 13 meq/I( gin0 The term fbldspar is 5 used heein to describe siliates of alumina with soda, potash and lime. Other components such as quartz, zircon sand. feldspathic clay, montnorilonne, nepheline syenhe, and the like can also be present in minor amounts of the other ceramic morning components. Materials fired together to produce the ceramic bed topping media may be supplied in fine powder form and may be made into a shapeable mixture lby the addition of water to andOr processing aids, such as bonding agents% extrusiori aids, lubricants, and the like to assist in the extrusion process. The mixture can be processed using several different techniques, such as extrusion or pressing using dry pressing techniques to achieve the desired shape. For example, an initial extrusion process may be followed by cutting perpendicular to the direction of extrusion into the desired lengths. An initial drying may be is used to drive off water. This may avoid disrupting the relatively weak structure of the greenwareand ma be carried o below about 120c an in one embdoment, below about 70"C and may last Ar about 5 hours The bodies may then be processed at high temperatures, for example; a maximum temperature of from I0I 0"C to 1400<, in one embodiment, at least 1200C, and in another embodiment about 1250C, to form a dense 20 body that typical has less than 1.5% apparent porosity and in one embodiment less than 0.1% apparent porosity. However, the porosity may be up to about 15% for some applications. he firing temperature may depend. to some degree. on the composition of the elements, and in general may be suffeient for the bulk of the material to achieve a low posity. This is in contrast to reticulated ceramic bodies that typically have up to 30-80% 25 apparent porosity or intra-material voids, and which thus may be unsuited to capturing fluid in afuid diverting channel rather than allowing the fluid to pass through the media's intra material voi ds The ceramic media may be fabricated from a mixture of clays and feldspars and other minor ingredients to form a resuhant body that is comprised mainly of silicon oxide 30 and aluminum oxide (an alummosilicate). For example the mixture used to form tie elements may comprise at least about 90N of ceramic forming ingredients and the balance (typically up to about 10%) of processing aids. The ceramic formg ingredients may comprise 20499% aluminum oxide and 0-84% silicon oxide The processing aids may be largely volailized during firing. The dry ingredients may be thoroughlyniixed before water is added in an amount sufficient to enable the mixture to be shaped into the desired form and to retain that fon during firing. Generally, the amount of water added may be 5 from 12 to 30 mi forevery 100 gm of the mixture of dry ingredients Theshapeabie mixture can then be molded, or extruded to flrm the desired shape before the shape is fired in a kiln to a maximum temperature of from 1 004C to 14004CThe temperature in the kiln inaybe increased at a rate of between 50 to 9*/hr. and the dwell time at the caicining temperature may he from I to 4 hrs before the kili is allowed to coo] to ambient temperatures. 1 Where ceramic media are produced by an extrusion or a drypressing process, they can have an essentially uniform cross-section along one axial direction which provides an axis of symmetry tr the element. To evaluate the fluid distribution characteristics of different bed topping meda, including the media shown in Fig. 2, the liquid distribution testing device shown in Fig. _ 15 was construct ted and operated as will now be described. The test device included a vertically oriented and tubularly shaped retaining wall 100 that was open on both ends and housed a bed of media 102, a mechanical distributor 104 located above the bed, a first divider ring 106 and a second divider ring 108, both rings located below the bed and concentrically a signed with the center or of the vessel, and a plurality of fluid collection bins 20 11 0, 112, 114, 116 and I IS located beneath the rings Fig 6 is a top view of the testing device. The rings were carefully positioned so that the first divider ring defined the central region 1 20, the second diider ring and the first divider ring cooperated to define the boundaries of the intermediate region 122 and the second dvider ring and the retainina wall defined the boundaries of the outer region 124. Each of the regions occupied one-third 25 of the bed's surface area. A sufficient qluantity of the media shown in Fig. 2 were made by flying a mixure of clay feldspars and organic extorsion aids comprising about 25 weight percent alumina 68 wx*eight percent silica which was combined with water. A portion of the nmixture was extruded through a die, sectioned into lengths, and fired at temperature of approximately 1200C to form the ceramic media, Theealuation test began by loading a So plurality of the media into the testing device, The media were loaded to a constant depth of 18 cm and rested. on top of a wiremesh support screen 1.26 wi defined square shaped openitigs that were approximately 5 mm by 5 mm The distributor included connector 10) piping 128 and, as shown in Fig. 5, and eight horizontal arms 130, see Fig. 6, which were secured to the connector pipig 128 and radially distributed from the center 109 of the testing device. ach of the eight horizontal arms included three openings 132, thereby resulting in a total of 24 openings, which were uifmily spaced along the arm and S functioned as nozzles. Sixteen of the 24 openings were positioned above the central region. Eight of the 24 openings were positioned above the intermediate region None of the openings were positioned above the outer lt TheiLnmeter of each opening 1 32 was approximately 8 mm Prior to measuring the amount of water flow in each region and thereby determining the fluid distribution pattern, the redia was allowed to become fully 10 wetted by allowing water to flow through the distributor and onto the top of the bed of media for approximately thirty minutes without capturing and measuring the quantity of water as it flowed from the bed. After the nedia has been wetted, the fluid was allowed to flow onto the media bed at the rate of 189 1nin (5 galons per minue) The average fow rate of water through each nozzle was approximately 0.79 1/mmn (0.208 gallons per minute. l5 As described above, when the water contacted the individualmembers of the bed o nAdia the water flowed over a wider and wider area as the water was diverted by the media's fluid After the water exited the bed of media and flowed through the wre mesh sCree the water was collected in a series of circular trouhs 134, 136 and I38 w hi correspoAde 1Cetral egon intermediate region and outerregio, respect 20 The quantity of liquid in each trognh was measured and the weight percentage of liquid in each trough was then calculated. Ihe testing device described above was used to evaluate the fluid distribuion characteristics of two cmnerciallv available bed topping media and the media shown in Pig. . The two commercial available media are commonly known as 19 mm Pentarings 25 and 19 in ceramic balls. Both the Pentarings and ceramic balls are commercially available from Saint-Gobain NorPro in Stow OH1 USA. The Pentarings are ceramic media, which when viewed from one end, resemble a wagon wheel that has a centrally located hub and five equally spaced spokes which extend radially from the hub to a perpheral wai The spokes and wall define five triangulady shaped openings through the 30 Penlaring media. The Pentarings were 10 mm in height and 19 mu in diameter. Shown in 'Table I below are the quantities of water, measured as kg/m.in which flowed into the central, intermediate and outer regions when each of the bed toppings described above were Ii evaluated. The percentage deviation between the quantities of water that flowed into the central and intermediate regions is shown in the column on the right side of the table. Table I Central I ntemediat O Percent Deation Region Region Recion Between Central kg/mhin kgmn min Vizand Intermediate 9m Pentarings 93 109 20 147 19 urm cermi balls 8 0 0 37. Media shown in Fi 8 1 4 25 8 S The data clearly shows that the niedia with the flaid diverting chmels innS corporated in the outer surface of the nedia mprided more Iateral distribution of the water than either the Pentarings or ceraIni bails because the percent deviation between the central region and intermediate region for the media shown- in Fig. 2 was 8&% while the percent deviation between the central region and intermediate region for the Pentarings and ceramic balls was 10 14.7% and 375%, respectively. The data supports the conclusion that the media with the fluid distribution channels provided greater horizontal displacement than either of the other bed topping media when evaluated at the same bed depth. Media suitable fOr use in a vessel of this inven-tion hav lss thna 1 2% diferenec betwe -en the dtstrtbution in the testing device's central region and its intermediate region Preferably, the difference is less 5 than 10%. In addition to providing lateral redistribution of fluid as the fluid passes through the first layer, the ceramiC media in the firs yer, inherently impacts the pressure drop across the bed relative to the pressure drop across a bed without a first layer of bed. topping However, ceramic media with fluid distribution channels incorporated in the outer surface 20 advantageously provide less increase in pressure drop than a first layer that consists of 19 run ceramic spheres or 19 mm Pentarings. Shown in Fig 7 is a graph of pressure drop versus mass velocity tor ceramic spheres, Pentarings and the ceramic media shown in Fig 2. Line 138 represents the data obtained when evaluating only spheres Similarly, lines 140 and 142 represent daia obtained when evaluating only Pentarings and the ceramic Z5 spheres show in. Fig 2, respectivdly. The graph supports the conclusion that pressure drop increases most rapidly for the spheres and least rapidly for the ceramic media with fluid distribution channels in the outer surface. The combination of relatively low pressure drop 112 and. broad, hoognou orizontal distribution of a fluid as It passes through. a bed Of ceramIc media may be desirable characteristics fOr the operation of a chemical reactor. The above description is considered that of particular embodiments only. Modifications of the invention will occur to those skilled in the art and to those ho make or use thie invention., Therefore, it is understood that the embodiments shown in the drawings and described above are- nerelv f'or Illstatv purposes andu are not intended to limit the scope of the invention, which is defied by the following claims as interpreted according to the principles of patent law. A reference herein to a patent document or other matter which is given as prior art is ID not taken as an admission that that document or prior art was part of common general knowledge at the priority date of any of the claims. With reference to the use of the word(s) "comprise" or "conmprises" or "comprising" in the foregoing description and/or in the following claims unless the context requires otherwise, those words are used on the basis and clear understanding that they are to be 15 interpreted inclusively, rather than exclusively, and that each of those words is to be so interpreted in construing the foregoing description and/or the following claims,

Claims (8)

1- A vessel, comprising a fluid entry poid; aRd a bed, said bed comprising a first layer comprising aplualy da entsdisposederein wherein at lcast a majority of elements in the first layer comprise randomly oriented ceramic nedia, said ceramic media comprising an outer surface with one or more fluid diverting channels formed therein; a second layer comprising components wherein the majority of the components are physically distinct rom the ceramic media; and wherein the first layer of the bed is positioned between the second layer and the fluid entry point.

2. ihe vessel of claim i wherein only said ceramic media in said first layer comprises an outer surface with fluid diverting channels formed therein.

3.. The vessel of claim I wherein said first layer's media comprise a first end, a second end and said fluid diverting channels extend therehetween 4, The vessel of claim 2 wherein said first layer's media each comprise a peripheral wall extending between said ends and said fluid diverting channels formed in said peripheral wallH. 5 The vessel of claim 4. wherein the peripheral wall deines the media's maximum diameter and the depth of said fluid diverting channel exceeds 10 percent of the medas muaxmuin diameter.

6. The vessel ofaim 5, wherein the depth of each fluid diverting channel exceeds 15 percent of the media's maximum diameter.

7. The vesel of claim 5, wherein the depth o each fluid diverting channel does not exceed 40 perucnti of the media's maximumwl diameuter.

8. The vessel of claim 6, wherein the depth of each fluid diverting channel does not exceed 25 percent of the media's maximum diameter.

9. The vessel of claim 1 wherein each fluid diverting channel has a length and a width and the ratio of the channel's length to width exceeds 2:1 and does not exceed 20:1 10, The vessel of claim 1 wherein each fluid diverting channel has a depth and a width and the ratio of the channel's depth to width exceeds 1.2:1 0 and does not exceed 3.0:1.0. 1 L The vessel of claim I wherein the majority of said media have a length and a cross sectional diameter and the media's length to diameter ratio exceeds 0.5:1.0 and does not exceed25:,O 1 The vessel of claim I wherein said bed defines a bed depth and said first layer occupies less than 20 percent of said bed depth. 13, The vessel of claim I wherein the majority of said media have substantially the same length and the minimum depth of said first layer is at least 5 times greater than said media's le-ncth,

14. The vessel of claim I wherein said second Layer's components comprise a material selected from the group consisting of: a catalyicaly active metal. adsorbents, mass trnsfrmdia, heat transfer media and filtration media., Iis\ 00wR A.