Abstract: A process is disclosed for the thermal cracking of heavy oil containing nonvaporizable, high-molecular weight hydrocarbone in the presence of steam in one or more thermal cracking tubes or ducts, which process is characterized in that a fluid comprising steam and heavy oil is flowed through a thermal cracking tube such that thermal cracking is carried out under the following conditions:(a) temperature of the fluid in the thermal cracking tube: 800.degree. to 1100.degree. C.(b) pressure of the fluid in the thermal cracking tube: 0 to 50 kg/cm.sup.2 G(c) flow rate or velocity of fluid through the thermal cracking tube: 10 to 100 m/sec, and(d) residence time of the fluid in the thermal cracking tube: at least 0.2 seconds.

Abstract: Disclosed is a process for reforming hydrocarbon which comprises heating up to 800.degree. C. or higher a gaseous mixture of sulfur containing hydrocarbon with an oxidizing agent for reforming such as steam or a mixture of steam and carbon dioxide, while passing the gaseous mixture through an alkaline solid packing bed containing alkali metal and/or alkaline earth metal followed by bringing into contact thereof with a nickel containing catalyst at a temperature of 800.degree. C. or higher to produce a mixed gas containing hydrogen and carbon monoxide. An apparatus for the practice of the process is also disclosed.

Abstract: A gasification process for forming a gas mixture containing hydrogen wherein a hydrocarbon including a heavy residual oil is atomized with a mixture of an oxygen-containing gas and steam in an atomizing zone, the formed jet streams containing the atomized hydrocarbon drops are introduced to the catalyst bed while adjusting the residence time in the atomizing zone to 0.05 to 5 seconds, substantially without forming eddy currents and the reaction is carried out at a temperature of at least 850.degree. C. to form said gas mixture while avoiding deposition of solid carbon on said catalyst bed.

Abstract: A catalyst comprising 10 to 30 wt.% of nickel as nickel oxide, 20 to 60 wt.% of calcium as calcium oxide, 10 to 70 wt.% of aluminum as aluminum oxide and containing less than 1 wt.% of silicon dioxide. The catalyst is prepared by using: as the starting material for the nickel component, fine particles of nickel oxide obtained by heating a nickel compound which is decomposed to nickel oxide by heating at a temperature in the range of 400.degree. to 800.degree. C in the presence of oxygen; as the starting material for the calcium component, calcium oxide per se or a calcium compound which is decomposed to calcium oxide by heating and; as the starting material for the aluminum component, alumina cement of a high purity. The catalyst is prepared by mixing and kneading the starting materials with water, molding the same, then keeping the catalyst composition under a highly humid atmosphere at a temperature in the range of 5.degree. to 35.degree.

Abstract: A hydrogen manufacturing process is carried out by catalytic steam reforming of normally gaseous or liquid hydrocarbons using a catalyst comprising substantially silica-free aluminum oxide at temperatures above 850.degree. C., the catalyst optionally also comprising more than 10 weight percent, preferably more than 20 weight percent, of at least one of the group consisting of beryllium oxide, calcium oxide and strontium oxide.

Abstract: A sintered catalyst article is prepared by:molding into a shaped article and aging (I) eitherA. a refractory powder of calcium aluminate substantially free of silicon dioxide, alone, orB. a homogenous mixture of1. said refractory powder and2. at least one member selected from the group consisting of aluminum oxide, calcium oxide, beryllium oxide, magnesium oxide, strontium oxide and a compound which is converted by heating to one of said oxides;(II) sintering said molded and aged article at a temperature above 1150.degree.C;the thus sintered catalyst article containing 10 to 60 wt. percent of calcium oxide, 30 to 90 wt. percent of aluminum oxide, 0 to 30 wt. percent of at least one oxide selected from the group consisting of beryllium oxide, magnesium oxide and strontium oxide, and less than 0.2 wt. percent of silicon dioxide.

Abstract: A hydrogen manufacturing process is carried out by catalytic steam reforming of normally gaseous or liquid hydrocarbons using a catalyst comprising substantially silica-free aluminum oxide at temperatures above 850.degree.C., the catalyst optionally also comprising more than 10 weight percent, preferably more than 20 weight percent, of at least one of the group consisting of beryllium oxide, calcium oxide and strontium oxide.

Abstract: A gaseous mixture rich in hydrogen is prepared by catalytic partial oxidation of hydrocarbons at a temperature of higher than 850.degree.C in the presence of a catalyst containing 10 to 60% by weight of calcium oxide and 40 to 90% by weight of aluminum oxide.