Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 10
Claim 1
Independent Claim
264 words
A method for hydrocracking a heavy polynuclear carbonaceous feedstock to produce lighter hydrocarbon fuels by contacting said heavy feedstock with hydrogen in the presence of a molten metal halide catalyst, said method consisting essentially of: (a) mixing said feedstock with a heavy naphtha fraction to produce a mixture, said heavy naphtha fraction having an initial boiling point from about 100° to about 160° C. and a boiling point difference between its initial boiling point and its final boiling point of no more than about 50° C.; (b) contacting said mixture in an extractor zone with a partially spent molten metal halide and hydrogen under temperature and pressure conditions so that said temperature is within 35° C. of the critical temperature of said heavy naphtha fraction for an effective period of time to extract at least a portion of the lighter hydrocarbon fuels having a boiling point above about 475° C. contained in said partially spent molten metal halide and in said feedstock; (c) separating at least a portion of said heavy naphtha fraction and at least a portion of said lighter hydrocarbon fuels having a boiling point above about 475° C. from said partially spent molten metal halide, unreacted feedstock and reaction products; (d) contacting said partially spent molten metal halide, said unreacted feedstock and said reaction products with hydrogen and fresh molten metal halide in a hydrocracking zone to produce additional lighter hydrocarbon fuels; and, (e) separating at least a major portion of said lighter hydrocarbon fuels and at least a major portion of the unreacted hydrogen from the spent molten metal halide.
Claim 2
Independent Claim
264 words
A method for hydrocracking a heavy polynuclear carbonaceous feedstock to produce lighter hydrocarbon fuels by contacting said heavy feedstock with hydrogen in the presence of a molten metal halide catalyst, said method consisting essentially of: (a) mixing said feedstock with a heavy naphtha fraction to produce a mixture, said heavy naphtha fraction having an initial boiling point from about 100° to about 160° C. and a boiling point difference between its initial boiling point and its final boiling point of no more than about 50° C.; (b) contacting said mixture in an extractor zone with a partially spent molten metal halide and hydrogen under temperature and pressure conditions so that said temperature is within 35° C. of the critical temperature of said heavy naphtha fraction for an effective period of time to extract at least a portion of the lighter hydrocarbon fuels having a boiling point above about 475° C. contained in said partially spent molten metal halide and in said feedstock; (c) separating at least a portion of said heavy naphtha fraction and at least a portion of said lighter hydrocarbon fuels having a boiling point above about 475° C. from said partially spent molten metal halide, unreacted feedstock and reaction products; (d) contacting said partially spent molten metal halide, said unreacted feedstock and said reaction products with hydrogen and fresh molten metal halide in a hydrocracking zone to produce additional lighter hydrocarbon fuels; and, (e) separating at least a major portion of said lighter hydrocarbon fuels and at least a major portion of the unreacted hydrogen from the spent molten metal halide.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
20 words
The method of claim 1 wherein spent molten metal halide is withdrawn from said hydrocracking zone and passed to regeneration.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
58 words
The method of claim 1 wherein said portion of said heavy naphtha fraction and said portion of said lighter hydrocarbonaceous fuels having a boiling point above about 475° C. are passed to further processing to separate at least a portion of said lighter hydrocarbonaceous fuels having a boiling point above about 475° C. from said heavy naphtha fraction.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
10 words
The method of claim 1 wherein said feedstock is coal.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
11 words
The method of claim 1 wherein said feedstock is coal extract.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
21 words
The method of claim 1 wherein the vapor density in said extractor zone is from about 0.23 to about 0.35 gm/cc.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
34 words
The method of claim 2 wherein said withdrawn spent molten metal halide is contacted with hydrogen to facilitate the removal of lighter hydrocarbonaceous fuels therefrom prior to passing said molten metal halide to regeneration.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
36 words
The method of claim 6 wherein said temperature in said extractor zone is from about 275° to about 385° C. and wherein said pressure in said extractor zone is from about 1500 to about 5000 psig.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
36 words
The method of claim 8 wherein the temperature in said hydrocracking zone is from about 400° to about 455° C. and wherein the pressure in said hydrocracking zone is from about 1500 to about 5000 psig.