Apparatus having similar interstitial passages

Abstract

The invention disclosed herein is a method and apparatus for use therewith for creating flow passages of approximately equal cross section whereby a flow of a fluid through any passage will be approximately equal to the flow of a fluid through another passage.

What is claimed is:  
     
         1 . An apparatus having relatively similar interstitial passages comprising: 
 a housing having an inner surface,    a plurality of elongated bodies having passages defining a bundle having a perimeter, the passages cooperating to define a repeating first interstitial area; and    at least a portion of the housing inner surface being contoured to generally repeat the first interstitial pattern between the perimeter and the inner surface.    
     
     
         2 . The apparatus of  claim 1  wherein the bundle has a length and the housing is contoured throughout the length.  
     
     
         3 . The apparatus of  claim 1  wherein the bundle has a terminus and the housing is contoured at the terminus.  
     
     
         4 . The apparatus of  claim 1  wherein the passages cooperate to define a single flow channel.  
     
     
         5 . The apparatus of  claim 4  wherein a passage has a catalyst positioned thereon on a surface that defines the single flow channel.  
     
     
         6 . The method of equalizing the flow within a catalytic reactor comprising: 
 providing a catalytic reactor comprising a housing having an interior surface defining a volume and a plurality of passages defining a bundle having a catalyst positioned thereon, the passages cooperating to define a repeating interstitial pattern; and the housing contoured to repeat the interstitial pattern between the bundle and the housing.    
     
     
         7 . The method of equalizing the flow within a catalytic reactor of  claim 6  wherein the passages define discrete flow passages.  
     
     
         8 . The method of equalizing the flow within a catalytic reactor of  claim 6  wherein the passages cooperate to define a single flow channel.