Reactor installation tools and methods for installing reactor components in a reactor tube are described herein. A reactor installation tool can include a releasable attachment assembly for securing the tool to a reactor or support for holding reactor components. The tool can include a movable cylinder that can be actuated to engage and push on a reactor component in an interior region of the reactor for positioning the contents of the reactor in a desired location. The tool can further include means for supply blasts of compressed gas to an interior region of the reactor to aid in the expansion and positioning of the reactor contents. A skirt seal can be used to ensure that the blasts of compressed gas are contained in the interior region of the reactor.

Apparatus and methods for installation and removal of catalyst carriers in tubular reactors which utilise a support unit. The support unit is installable within a reactor tube together with a plurality of catalyst carriers. The support unit comprises at least one engaging portion for engaging an inner surface of the reactor tube to create a frictional engagement between the support unit and the reactor tube. The magnitude of the frictional engagement is sufficient for the support unit to support a static load of two or more catalyst carriers so as to hold two or more catalyst carriers in place within the reactor tube.

A system of treating waste materials (28) is provided, and includes a waste treatment reactor (10) configured to treat the waste materials. The waste treatment reactor (10) has a cylindrical body (12) having an inlet (14) to receive the waste materials, a waste chamber (26) to store the waste materials, and an outlet (16) configured to deliver treated waste materials out of the waste chamber. A bundle reactor (38) has the waste treatment reactor and performs a waste treatment for the waste materials stored in the waste chamber. An energy recirculation assembly (40) is connected to the bundle reactor and recirculates thermal energy associated with the bundle reactor during the waste treatment. The energy recirculation assembly (40) has a heating unit (42) to heat a first region of the bundle reactor, and a cooling unit (44) to cool a second region of the bundle reactor.