Catalytic cracking feed stock preparation

Claim 1

IN A VACUUM FLASHING PROCESS FOR THE PREPARATION OF A CATALYTIC CRACKING FEED STOCK OF AN ACCEPTABLE LOW PITCH CONTENT FROM A PITCH-CONTAINING PETROLEUM RESIDUE, WHEREIN THE PROCESS INVOLVES HEATING THE RESIDUE IN A FURNACE TO PROVIDE AN UNVAPORIZED PITCH ENTRAINED IN A VAPOR, PASSING THE VAPOR THROUGH A CENTRIFUGAL SEPARATION ZONE AND THERE SEPARATING SUPERHEATED VAPOR FROM MOST OF THE PITCH, SUBSEQUENTLY REMOVING THE SUPERHEATED VAPOR TO A DE-ENTRAINING ZONE AND THERE PASSING THE VAPOR UPWARDLY THROUGH THE ZONE INTO CONTACT WITH A DE-ENTRAINMENT SURFACE DISPOSED THEREIN AND WETTED BY A REFLUX LIQUID CONSTITUTING A PART OF THE PRODUCT CONDENSATE OF THE VAPOR LEAVING SAID DE-ENTRAINMENT ZONE TO LOWER STILL FURTHER THE PITCH CONTENT OF THE VAPOR BY RETENTION OF PITCH ON SAID DE-ENTRAINMENT SURFACE, THE IMPROVEMENT COMPRISING CONTACTING THE VAPOR UPSTREAM OF WETTED DE-ENTRAINMENT SURFACE AND BEYOND THE CENTRIFUGAL SEPARATION ZONE WITH A PITCH CONTAINING PETROLEUM RESIDUE SPRAY INTRODUCED IN AN AMOUNT EFFECTIVE TO DISSIPATE AT LEAST A SIGNIFICANT PORTION OF THE SUPERHEAT OF THE VAPOR BEFORE IT CONTACTS SAID DEENTRAINMENT SURFACE, THUS REDUCING THE AMOUNT OF THE PRODUCT VAPOR CONDENSATE REFLUXED TO THE DE-ENTRAINING ZONE AND PERMITTING A REDUCTION IN FURNACE FUEL COST.