ABSTRACT
The chapter is dedicated to the various shapes of existing catalysts designed for industrial application that have been widely used for many years and have promising use in the near future. It is shown that catalyst shape and structure have a significant influence on the intensity of heat and mass transfer in the catalyst beds; therefore, it should be considered as an important parameter for optimization of catalytic processes. Namely, the chapter describes the fixed beds of granular catalysts, monolith catalysts, catalysts on the base of foam and flexible metal supports, and wire-mesh monoliths. The advantages and limitations of these structures are analyzed from the point of intensity of mass transfer, pressure drop, and uniformity of reactive media distribution inside catalyst beds. It is demonstrated that despite all the achievements in the field the development of a new catalyst shape is still the important and critical task.
