Catalytic reforming of hydrocarbons

Claim 1

IN A REFORMING PROCESS WHEREIN A NORMALLY LIQUID HYDROCARBON FRACTION CONTAINING PARAFFINS AND NAPHTHENES BOILING BELOW ABOUT 425* F. IS PASSED WITH HYDROGEN AND AT REFORMING CONDITIONS THROUGH A CATALYST COMPRISING A METAL SELECTED FROM THE GROUP CONSISTING OF PLATINUM AND PALLADIUM AND A COMPOSITE OF SILICA WITH AT LEAST ONE METAL OXIDE SELECTED FROM THE GROUP CONSISTING OF ALUMINA, ZIRCONIA, MAGNESIA AND THORIA TO EFFECT HYDROCRACKING OF PARAFFINS AND DEHYDROGENATION OF NAPHTHENES, AND WHEREIN THE EXTENT OF SAID HYDROCRACKING TENDS TO INCREASE IN THE LATER STAGES OF THE PROCESSING PERIOD, THE METHOD OF MAINTAINING THE EXTEND OF HYDROCRACKING SUBSTANTIALLY CONSTANT OVER SAID PROCESSING PERIOD WHICH COMPRISES INTRODUCING H2O TO THE REFORMING ZONE DURING THE LATER STAGES, AT LEAST, OF THE PROCESSING PERIOD AND REGULATING ITS PARTIAL PRESSURE TO SUPPRESS SAID INCREASED TENDENCY TOWARD HYDROCRACKING.