Selective vaporization process and apparatus

Claim 1

In a selective vaporization process for decarbonizing and demetallizing heavy petroleum fractions by contacting such fraction and an inert gas for reduction of hydrocarbon partial pressure in a rising confined vertical column with a finely divided inert solid contact material consisting essentially of an inert solid material having a microactivity for catalytic cracking not substantially greater than 20 at low severity, including a temperature of at least about 900° F. for a period of time less than 2 seconds and less than that which induces substantial thermal cracking in said charge, at the end of said period of time separating from said inert solid a decarbonized hydrocarbon fraction of reduced Conradson Carbon number as compared with said charge, reducing temperature of said separated fraction to a level below that at which substantial thermal cracking takes place to terminate said period of time, contacting said separated contact material with an oxidizing gas to burn said combustible deposit and heat the contact material to high temperature and returning the so heated contact material to the lower portion of said confined column for renewed contact with said heavy petroleum fraction; the improvement providing flexibility in rate of charging said fraction, or in control of said residence time or both which comprises introducing liquid water to the lower portion of said confined vertical column and injecting said heavy petroleum fraction to said column above the point of introduction of said liquid water.