Combination of retaining module and catalyst plates

Claim 1

A retaining module containing and in combination with catalyst plates, said retaining module receiving and detachably retaining a plurality of substantially planar catalyst plates, said plates having a given thickness, said retaining module comprising: four receiving members receiving and holding said catalyst plates in an array; a pair of side walls which are secured to opposing ends of each of said receiving members; said receiving members comprising: a first and upper pair comprising a first set of said receiving members, said first pair of upper receiving members having substantially parallel slots spaced apart and each sized to admit in sliding engagement said catalyst plates, and to maintain them spaced apart from one another; a second and lower pair of said receiving members having a second set of substantially parallel slots sized to admit in sliding engagement said plates while maintaining said plates spaced apart; said lower pair providing along their lower end, a flange which comprises an arresting base for lower portions of said catalyst plates, said slots having a slot width substantially similar to said thickness of said catalyst plates; a first of said upper receiving members being aligned substantially directly above a first of said lower receiving members; a second of said upper receiving members being aligned substantially directly above a second of said lower receiving members; said parallel slots of said first and second of said upper receiving members being disposed in relation to said slots of said first and second of said lower receiving members for receiving in each aligned slot one of said plates; means for retaining said plates in said slots and for substantially preventing sidewise movement of said plates; means for retaining said receiving members disposedly aligned to one another; said module, with the catalyst plates disposed therein, being substantially open at its top and bottom ends and on the sides between said side walls; said catalyst plates forming substantially unobstructed elongated spaces thereinbetween; said retaining module comprising a first module; and means for aligning at least one additional module with said first module and for aligning catalyst plates in the at least one additional module with said catalyst plates in said first module to provide substantially unobstructed alignment of spaces between the substantially aligned catalyst plates of the at least one additional module and the spaces between the catalyst plates of said first module for permitting a substantially unobstructed flow of gases in said substantially unobstructed and aligned spaces of said first module and the at least one additional module.