Kraftwerk Union Aktiengesellschaft

Rainer Dorn

Christian Koch

Konrad Kunstle

Kurt Reiter

Refining of crude petroleum by fractionally distilling the crude into lighter cuts and distillate bottoms constituting more than 50% of the crude. Hydrogenating the distillate bottoms at a temperature above 700.degree. C. in a tubular reactor to produce saturated hydrocarbons, some gas and a solid carbonaceous material. Separating the solid material in a cyclone and returning the hydrogenated oil to the fractionating column. Passing the solid carbonaceous material by an extruder to a second tubular reactor in contact with a mixture at a temperature above 750.degree. C. of steam, 1 and 2 carbon atom gases, and combustion products containing O.sub.2 from a third cyclone. Discharging the reaction products containing unreacted carbonaceous material together with substantially no O.sub.2, production of H.sub.2 and increased amounts of CO and CO.sub.2 into a second cyclone. Separating the gaseous products from the solid, recovering H.sub.2 and passing it to the first reactor tube. Extracting heat from the gaseous reaction products to superheat the steam entering the second tubular reactor and to preheat the distillate bottoms prior to entrance in the first tubular reactor. Passing the remaining solid carbonaceous material by an extruder together with excess O.sub.2 into a third tubular reactor to effect substantially complete combustion. Discharging the unburned solid residue and combustion gases into a third cyclone from which the combustion gases are sent to the second tubular reactor and the residue containing ash is discharged from the system.

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Brauningshof, Germany

Rainer Dorn