Method of and apparatus for catalytic treatment of gases

Claim 1

IN THE CATALYTIC CRACKING OF HYDROCARBONS INVOLVING THE CONTACT OF A CATALYST WITH VAPORIZED HYDROCARBONS WITH RESULTANT DEPOSITION OF CARBON ON THE CATALYST AND THE SUBSEQUENT TREATMENT OF THE CATALYST IN AN OXIDIZING ATMOSPHERE TO BURN THE CARBON AND REGENERATE THE CATALYST FOR FURTHER CONTACT WITH THE HYDROCARBONS, THE IMPROVEMENT WHICH COMPRISES ROTATING A SERIES OF SEPARATED THIN BEDS OF CATALYST DIRECTLY IN SUCCESSION AND SUBSTANTIALLY CONTINUOUSLY RELATIVE TO AND THROUGH A REACTION ZONE AND A REGENERATIVE ZONE; CONTINUOUSLY DIRECTING THE FLOW OF THE VAPORIZED HYDROCARBONS THROUGH SAID REACTION ZONE; HEATING THE VAPORIZED HYDROCARBONS TO AN OPTIMUM REACTION TEMPERATURE PRIOR TO THEIR PASSAGE THROUGH THE REACTION ZONE; CONTINUOUSLY WITHDRAWING THE CRACKED HYDROCARBONS FROM THE REACTION ZONE; AND CONTINUOUSLY DIRECTING THE FLOW OF A HOT OXIDIZING MEDIUM THROUGH THE REGENERATING ZONE TO BURN THE RESIDUAL GAS IN THE BEDS THEREIN AND ALSO TO OXIDE THE CARBON ON THE CATALYST; AND CONTINUOUSLY WITHDRAWING THE RESULTING CARBONACEOUS GASES FROM SAID REGENERATING ZONE.