Method for controlling a hydrocarbon synthesis reaction

Claim 1

IN A PROCESS IN WHICH A GASEOUS FEED MIXTURE OF CARBON MONOXIDE AND HYDROGEN IS REACTED AT A REACTION TEMPERATURE AND PRESSURE IN A REACTION ZONE IN THE PRESENCE OF A CATALYST COMPRISING THE METALS AND OXIDES THEREOF SELECTED FROM GROUP VIII OF THE PEROIDIC TABLE TO FORM A PRODUCT COMPRISING HYDROCARBONS AND OXYGENATED ORGANIC COMPOUNDS IN WHICH CARBON IS DEPOSITED IN AND ON SAID CATALYST AND SAID PRODUCT IS SEPARATED FROM SAID CATALYST, THE STEPS OF COOLING SAID PRODUCT TO FORM A LIQUEFIED PRODUCT COMPRISING HYDROCARBONS AND OXYGENATED ORGANIC COMPOUNDS, EXPOSING AT LEAST A PORTION OF SAID LIQUEFIED HYDROCARBON-CONTAINING PRODUCT TO A BEAM OF LIGHT HAVING A WAVE LENGTH IN THE RANGE OF 225 TO 270 MILLIMICRONS, ABSORBING AT LEAST A PORTION OF SAID LIGHT AND LEAVING AN UNABSORBED PORTION, OBTAINING FROM SAID UNABSORBED PORTION AN ELECTRICAL POTENTIAL WHICH IS A FUNCTION OF THE RATE AT WHICH CARBON DEPOSITS IN AND ON SAID CATALYST AND INCREASING THE PARTIAL PRESSURE OF HYDROGEN IN SAID FEED MIXTURE IN RESPONSE TO INCREASES IN SAID ELECTRICAL POTENTIAL AND DECREASING THE PARTIAL PRESSURE OF HYDROGEN IN SAID FEED MIXTURE IN RESPONSE TO DECREASES IN SAID ELECTRICAL POTENTIAL, WHEREBY THE RATE OF CARBON DEPOSITION IN AND ON THE CATALYST IS REDUCED.