Mixed-phase conversion product separation process

Claim 1

A PROCESS FOR SEPARATING A MIXED PHASE HYDROCARBONACEOUS REACTION PRODUCT EFFUENT, RESULTING FROM THE CONVERSION OF A HYDROCARBON CHARGE STOCK BOILING ABOVE A TEMPERATURE OF ABOUT 400*F., SAID PRODUCT EFFLUENT CONTAINING HYDROGEN TO BE RECYCLED, NORMALLY LIQUID HYDROCARBONS, AND NORMALLY GASEOUS HYDROCARBONS, WHICH COMPRISES THE STEPS OF: (A) SEPARATING SAID EFFLUENT IN A FIRST SEPARATION ZINE UNDER SUBSTANTIALLY THE SAME PRESSURE AS SAID EFFLUENT, TO PROVIDE A FIRST LIQUID PHASE AND A FIRST VAPOR PHASE; (B) COLING SAID FIRST VAPOR PHASE TO A TEMPERATURE WITHIN THE RANGE OF FROM ABOUT 60*F. TO ABOUT 140* F., AND SEPARATING THE COOLED VAPOR PHASE IN A SECOND SEPARATION ZONE AT SUBSTANTIALLY THE SAME PRESSURE AS SAID FIRST SEPARATION ZONE, TO PROVIDE A HYDROGENRICH SECOND VAPOR PHASE AND A SECOND LIQUID PHASE; (C) SEPARATING AT LEAST A PORTION OF SAID FIRST LIQUID PHASE IN A THIRD SEPARATION ZONE AT SUBSTANTIALLY THE SAME TEMPERATURE AS IN SAID FIRST SEPARATION ZONE, UNDER A SUBSTANTIALLY REDUCED PRESSURE, TO PROVIDE A SEPARATED THIRD LIQUID PHASE, CONTAINING NORMALLY LIQUID HYDROCARBONS, AND A THIRD VAPOR PHASE; (D) COOLING SAID THIRD VAPOR PHASE AND COMBINING IT WITH SAID SECOND LIQUID PHASE, SEPARATING THE RESULTING MIXTURE IN A FOURTH SEPARATION ZONE AT A TEMPERATURE OF FORM 60*F. TO ABOUT 140*F. TO PROVIDE A FOURTH VAPOR PHASE CONTAINING NORMALLY GASEOUD HYDROCARBONS AND A SEPARATED FOURTH LIQUID PHASE CONTAINING NORMALLY LIQUID HYDROCARBONS.