Starting up of reforming unit using platinum catalyst without extraneous hydrogen

Claim 1

IN A REFORMING SYSTEM FOR REFORMING A NAPHTHENIC HYDROCARBON FEED STOCK HAVING A BOILING POINT IN THE RANGE OF 150* TO 500*F. IN WHICH A PLURALITY OF SEPARATE REACTION ZONES ARE PROVIDED, EACH OF SAID REACTION ZONES CONTAINING A BED OF PLATINUM CATALYST, THE PROCEDURE FOR BRINGING THE SYSTEM ONSTREAM FROM AN INITIALLY INACTIVE STATE WHICH COMPRISES THE STEPS OF SELECTING ONE OF SAID SEPARATE REACTION ZONES AS A FIRST SELECTED REACTION ZONE, PASSING A STREAM OF HOT GAS CONSISTING ESSENTIALLY OF METHANE AT A TEMPERATURE OF ABOUT 850* TO 1000*F. THROUGH SAID FIRST SELECTED REACTION ZONE UNTIL IT IS AT A TEMPERATURE OF ABOUT 750* TO 1000*F., NEXT CHARGING A MIXTURE OF VAPORIZED FEED STOCK AND SAID HOT GAS TO SAID FIRST SELECTED REACTION ZONE IN THE RATIO OF ABOUT 1000 TO 10.000 CUBIC FEET OF SAID HOT GAS PER BARREL OF FEED UNDER RACTION CONDITIONS INCLUDING A TEMPERATURE WITHIN THE RANGE OF 850* TO 1000*F., A SPACE VELOCITY OF ABOUT 1 TO 4 LIQUID VOLUMES OF FEED STOCK PER VOLUME OF CATALYST PER HOUR, AND A PRESSURE OF ABOUT 200 TO 400 POUNDS PER SQUARE INCH, REMOVING THE RESULTANT EFFLUENT FROM THE SAID FIRST REACTION ZONE, HEATING AT LEAST A MAJOR PORTION OF THE GASEOUS FRACTION OF THE EFFLUENT AND RETURNING IT AS RECYCLE GAS TO THE SAID FIRST SELECTED RACTION ZONE AND CONTINUING UNTIL THE HYDROGEN CONTENT OF THE RECYCLE GAS IN EXCESS OF 50%, CONTINUING TO CHARGBE SAID RECYCLE GAS AND VAPORIZED FEED STOCK TO SAID FIRST SELECTED REACTION ZONE WHILE WITHDRAWING AT LEAST A PORTION OF THE GASEOUS FRACTION OF THE EFFLUENT FROM SAID FIRST SELECTED REACTION ZONE, PASSING SAID WITHDRAWN PORTION OF SAID GASEOUS FRACTION THROUGH AT LEAST A SECOND SELECTED REACTION ZONE OF SAID SYSTEM TO HEAT IT UNTIL SAID SECOND SELECTED REACTION ZONE IS HEATED TO A TEMPERATURE OF ABOUT 850* TO 100*F., AND THEREAFTER CHARGING VAPORIZED FEED STOCK TO THE SAID SECOND SELECTED REACTION ZONE UNDER SAID REACTION CONDITIONS IN THE PRESENCE OF SAID WITHDRAWN PORTION OF SAID GASEOUS FRACTION TO INITIATE HYDROFORMING OF SAID FEED STOCK IN SAID SECOND SELECTED REACTION ZONE.