Process for conversion of hydrocarbons

Claim 1

A PROCESS FOR UPGRADING AND CONVERTING HYDROCARBONS TO MORE DESIRABLE PRODUCTS WHICH COMPRISES PROVIDING A STATIONARY PARTICULATE ELONGATED BED OF SOLID REFRACTORY MATERIAL WITHIN AN ELONGATED REACTION CHAMBER OCCUPYING SUBSTANTIALLY THE ENTIRE REACTION ZONE THEREIN; HEATING A COMPLETE TRANSVERSE CROSS SECTION OF SAID BED AT ONE END THEREOF TO COMBUSTION-SUPPORTING TEMPERATURE; FORMING A MIXTURE OF SAID HYDROCARBONS AND AIR IN WHICH THE AIR CONCENTRATION IS SUBSTANTIALLY LESS THAN THAT REQUIRED FOR COMPLETE COMBUSITON OF SAID HYDROCARBONS AND AT A TEMPERATURE BELOW COMBUSTION TEMPERATURE; THEREAFTER PASSING SAID MIXTURE INTO THE HOT SECTION OF SAID BED SO AS TO IGNITE SAME AND ESTABLISH A COMBUSTION ZONE THROUGHOUT SAID CROSS SECTION, THEREBY BURNING A SUBSTANTIAL PROPORTION OF SAID HYDROCARBONS SO AS TO MAINTAIN THE TEMPERATURE OF SAID ZONE IN THE RANGE OF 900* TO 1200*F. AND CONVERT WITHIN SAID BED A SUBSTANTIAL PROPORITON TO LIGHTER HYDROCARBONS AND OXYGENATED PRODUCTS; REGULATING THE FLOW RATE OF SAID MIXTURE AND THE PROPORTION OF AIR THEREIN SO AS TO MOVE A RELATIVELY THIN COMBUSTION ZONE THROUGH SAID BED TOWARD THE OPPOSITE END THEREOF; AND RECOVERING SAID HYDROCARBONS AND PRODUCTS FROM ONE END OF SAID BED.