Apparatus for treating a fluid in an ion exchange process

An apparatus for treating a fluid to remove at least part of a component or components from the fluid in a reciprocating flow ion exchange system, the apparatus comprising:

• an enclosed vessel having a central holding chamber that contains a packed bed of ion exchange particles, said ion exchange particles capable of taking up said component from said solution and capable of being regenerated in situ;
• upper and lower retaining means disposed within said vessel to confine said bed of ion exchange particles within said central holding chamber in a substantially flat configuration, said enclosed vessel having a cavity free of said ion exchange particles above said upper retaining means and below said lower retaining means, each of said particle-free cavities being in communication with at least one end port extending through said vessel for introducing or removing fluid from said vessel;
• and,
• upper and lower support means disposed within said vessel adjacent to said upper and lower retaining means, for maintaining said upper and lower retaining means in place, and also for maintaining said packed bed of ion exchange particles in said substantially flat configuration, said upper and lower support means comprising support columns in the form of pipes having perforations through their walls, said pipes aligning with said end ports such that when fluid is introduced into said vessel through said and ports said fluid passes through said perforations in said pipes and into said particle-free cavities, said pipes not substantially restricting the flow of fluid through said vessel.