In this paper the effect of design alternation on the particle transport and deposition in industrial hot-gas filter vessels are studied. Particular attention was given to the Siemens-Westinghouse filter vessel at the Power Development Facility, Wilsonville, AL, USA. The gas flow and particle deposition patterns for the current vessel are first evaluated. It is shown that in the present vessel, the majority of large particles (10-30 mu m) are removed from the gas stream in the shroud. Then, three alternative filter vessel designs including using a short shroud, one with no shroud and a vessel with a deflector plate are considered. The effects of design alternations on the gas flow and transport and deposition of particles of different sizes are evaluated. The simulation results suggest that it is possible to modify the shroud in a way to allow large particles to deposit on the filters. Thus, the back-pulse process could more easily remove the filter cake.