Process for conditioning gases produced in reforming liquid petroleum

Claim 1

A PROCESS FOR PURIFYING PETROLEUM GASES FOR PREVENTING THE ACCUMULATION OF SUBSTANTIAL PORTION OF RESIDUAL GUMS AND TARS IN DISTRIBUTION LINES OF A DISTRIBUTION SYSTEM COMPRISING: CRACKING LIQUID HYDROCARBOONS AT A TEMPERATURE RANGE FROM ABOUT 1250*F. TO 1600*F.; DIRECTING THE REACTION GASES TO THE LOWER END OF A SUBSTANTIALLY VERTICALLY DISPOSED TOWER AND COOLING THE GASES THEREAT TO A TEMPERATURE FROM ABOUT 225*F. TO 350*F.; PASSING THE GASES THROUGH A MOIST, ACTIVATED-CHARCOAL FILTER IN SAID TOWER AND MAINTAINING HYMIDITY CONDITIONS THEREAT SO AS TO CAUSE A CONDENSATE TO FORM ON THE UNDERSURFACE OF SAID FILTER AND SO AS TO MAINTAIN THE TEMPERATURE OF GASES ABOVE SAID FILTER AT A TEMPERATURE ABOVE ABOUT 120*F., WHEREBY OBJECTIONABLE POLYMERIC MATERIALS ARE ADSORBED BY SAID FILTER WHILE IN A VAPOR STATE; AND DIRECTING THE GASES FROM ABOVE SAID FILTER TO A DISTRIBUTING SYSTEM; WHEREBY RESIDUAL GUMS AND TARS ARE AT A MINIMUM WHEN DISTRIBUTED.