Catalytic reforming process

Claim 1

IN A PROCESS IN WHICH A HYDROCARBON FEED MATERIAL IS CONTACTED IN A REACTION ZONE WITH A REFORMING CATALYST AND PRODUCT VAPORS ARE RECOVERED FROM SAID ZONE, THE IMPROVEMENT WHICH COMPRISES COOLING SAID PRODUCT VAPORS TO A TEMPERATURE AT WHICH THEY ARE PARTIALLY LIQUEFIED, PASSING THE RESULTING VAPOROUS AND LIQUID MATERIALS INTO A SEPARATION ZONE, RECOVERING VAPOROUS MATERIALS COMPRISING HYDROGEN AND LIGHT HYDROCARBONS FROM AN UPPER PORTION OF SAID SEPARATION ZONE, RECOVERING LIQUID HYDROCARBON MATERIALS FROM A LOWER PORTION OF SAID SEPARATION ZONE, SEPARATELY REFRIGERATING SAID VAPOROUS MATERIALS TO ABOUT 35 TO 45*F. AND SAID LIQUID HYDROCARBON MATERIALS TO ABOUT 33 TO 43*F.; COUNTERCURENTLY CONTACTING SAID VAPOROUS MATERIALS WITH SAID LIQUID HYDROCARBON MATERIALS IN AN ABSORPTION ZONE, SAID CONTACTING OCCURRING UNDER CONDITIONS SUCH THAT LIGHT HYDROCARBONS PRESENT IN SAID VAPOROUS MATERIALS ARE ABSORBED BY SAID LIQUID HYDROCARBON MATERIALS, RECOVERING A HYDROGEN RICH STREAM ENRICHED WITH LIGHT HYDROCARBONS FROM A LOWER PORTION OF SAID ABSORPTION ZONE, RECOVERING A HYDROGEN RICH STREAM FROM AN UPPER PORTION OF SAID ABSORPTION ZONE, AND RECYCLING A PORTION OF SAID HYDROGEN RICH STREAM TO SAID REACTION ZONE.