Abstract: An apparatus to decompose a hydrocarbon reactant into a gaseous product and a solid product includes a reactor volume, a reservoir of liquid material, a plurality of nozzles connected to the reservoir of liquid material, the plurality of nozzles configured to distribute the liquid material into the reactor volume from the reservoir as a liquid mist, a gas inlet connected to a hydrocarbon gas source to receive hydrocarbon gas reactant, a distributor connected to the inlet to distribute the hydrocarbon gas reactant into the reactor volume, a heat source located adjacent the reactor volume configured to heat the reactor volume, a separator to separate the solid product from the liquid material, a re-circulation path connected between the reactor volume and the reservoir to re-circulate the liquid material from the reactor volume to the reservoir, a gas outlet connected to the reactor volume configured to outlet hydrogen gas from the reactor volume, and at least one filter connected to the gas outlet to remove en

Abstract: A process for producing coke that may include: heating a coker feedstock to a coking temperature to produce a heated coker feedstock; feeding the heated coker feedstock to a coking drum; feeding a coking additive, such as at least one hydroconversion or hydrocracking catalyst, to the coking drum; and subjecting the heated coker feedstock to thermal cracking in the coking drum to crack a portion of the coker feedstock to produce a cracked vapor product and produce a coke product.

Abstract: This present invention generally relates to a process for upgrading and desulfurizing crude oil using supercritical water. In general, the invention provides a process for removal of contaminants from a crude oil stream by mixing the crude oil stream with supercritical water and then filtering out the precipitated solid compounds that result from mixing the crude oil stream with supercritical water.

Abstract: Methods are disclosed for generating electrical power from a compound comprising carbon, oxygen, and hydrogen. Water is combined with the compound to produce a wet form of the compound. The wet form of the compound is transferred into a reaction processing chamber. The wet form of the compound is heated within the reaction chamber such that elements of the compound dissociate and react, with one reaction product comprising hydrogen gas. The hydrogen gas is processed to generate electrical power.

Abstract: An embodiment of the present invention is directed to a pyrolysis device including a reactor in which an injected raw material and a melted liquid metal are present together, a circulating pump connected to the reactor, a buffer tank disposed on an upper portion of the reactor and receiving the liquid metal from the circulating pump, a nozzle coupled with the buffer tank and jetting the liquid metal within the buffer tank into the reactor, a separating apparatus separating pyrolyzed char and slag, and a combustion furnace connected to the reactor to combust the fuel supplied from the reactor and supply heat to the reactor, thereby reacting the liquid metal sprays jetted from the nozzle with gases generated in the reactor to purify the gases.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a pyrolysis device using a liquid metal including: a hollow reactor in which the liquid metal is received; a circulating pump connected to the reactor; a buffer tank disposed on an upper portion of the reactor and receiving the liquid metal from the circulating pump; a nozzle coupled with the buffet tank and jetting the liquid metal within the buffer tank into the reactor; and an air supply source supplying air to the liquid metal within the reactor, wherein char generated from fuel injected into the reactor is combusted by reacting with air introduced into a lower portion” of the reactor through the air supply source, and liquid metal sprays jetted from the nozzle react with gases generated in the reactor to purify the gases.

Abstract: The morphology of petroleum cokes produced by the delayed coking of feeds produced from extra-heavy crude sources such as those from the Venezuela Orinoco Heavy Oil Belt can be controlled to produce a less dense coke which is less likely to inflame in the coke pit or in subsequent handling. An aqueous solution of an alkali metal or alkaline earth metal carbonate salt when added to a feed of this type which would normally produce a dense coke product is effective to produce a quenchable coke product of lower density and higher porosity, usually in compact, granular form permitting it to be readily discharged from the drum.

Abstract: Methods for defoaming in hydrocarbon processes include the steps of providing a defoaming agent, and introducing the agent into a hydrocarbon process to inhibit or control foaming in the hydrocarbon process. These methods may be particularly useful in coking processes, especially as to foaming in coke drums. In certain embodiments, defoaming agents may comprise a plurality of carbon nanoparticles. In some embodiments, drag reducing agents may comprise high-molecular weight alkanes. Advantages include, but are not limited to, more efficient and effective foam inhibition, reduced or eliminated product contamination, reduced or eliminated catalyst poisoning, increased refinery production rate, debottlenecking the coker, and reduced cost and consequences of applying too much antifoam.

Abstract: An apparatus for breaking molecular bonds of a liquid may include a first arrangement configured to create macroscopic flow of a liquid such that a molecule of the liquid has a velocity corresponding to a bond disassociation energy of the molecule. The apparatus may also include a second arrangement configured to collide the macroscopic flow of liquid with an obstacle. The collision results in molecular collisions having an energy that exceeds the bond disassociation energy of the molecule.

Abstract: Methods for defoaming in hydrocarbon processes include the steps of providing a defoaming agent, and introducing the agent into a hydrocarbon process to inhibit or control foaming in the hydrocarbon process. These methods may be particularly useful in coking processes, especially as to foaming in coke drums. In certain embodiments, defoaming agents may comprise a plurality of carbon nanoparticles. In some embodiments, drag reducing agents may comprise high-molecular weight alkanes. Advantages include, but are not limited to, more efficient and effective foam inhibition, reduced or eliminated product contamination, reduced or eliminated catalyst poisoning, increased refinery production rate, debottlenecking the coker, and reduced cost and consequences of applying too much antifoam.

Abstract: A process of producing a light oil stream from slurry oils. The process begins by obtaining slurry oil from a fluid catalytic cracking unit. The slurry oil is then flowed over a fixed bed catalyst, consisting essentially of a non-metal catalyst, to produce a processed slurry oil. The processed slurry oil is then separated by boiling point to separate out the light oil stream.

Abstract: A simplified process is provided for creating hybrid crude oils and hybrid crude fractions with characteristics superior to the original. The process uniquely combines gases with crude oil or crude fractions in an effervescent turbulent manner at low temperatures and pressures and without the further aid of catalysts. The process breaks large chain hydrocarbons into smaller chain hydrocarbons, molecularly combines carbon, hydrogen, and/or hydrocarbon molecules from the gases with and into hydrocarbon molecules of the crude or crude fraction, and separates contaminants and impurities.

Abstract: A process for distributing a deflecting media into an axial center of a riser to push catalyst outwardly toward the feed injectors ensures better contacting between hydrocarbon feed and catalyst.

Abstract: A process for cracking a hydrocarbon feedstream containing non-volatile components in a hydrocarbon cracking furnace having upper and lower convection heating sections within a flue of the furnace, a radiant heating section downstream of and connected to said lower convection heating section, a transfer line exchanger downstream of and connected to said radiant heating section, a furnace box containing furnace burners and said radiant heating section, and a vapor/liquid separator vessel connected between the upper and lower convection heating sections, the process comprising (a) passing said hydrocarbon feedstream into said upper convection section to heat said hydrocarbon feedstream to a first temperature sufficient to flash at least a portion of the hydrocarbons within said hydrocarbon feedstream into a vapor phase to form a vapor/liquid stream; (b) passing said vapor/liquid stream out of said upper convection section and into said vapor/liquid separator to separate said vapor/liquid stream into a hydrocarb

Abstract: The present invention relates to a process for the pretreatment of heavy oils using a catalytic hydrotreating process prior to introduction to a refinery. More specifically, the invention relates to the use of an HDM reactor and an HDS reactor in order to improve the characteristics of the heavy oil, such that when the oil is introduced into the refinery, the refinery can achieve improved throughputs, increased catalysts life, increased life cycles, and a reduction in overall operation costs.

Abstract: A process is disclosed process for converting a solid or highly viscous carbon-based energy carrier material to liquid and gaseous reaction products, said process comprising the steps of: a) contacting the carbon-based energy carrier material with a particulate catalyst material b) converting the carbon-based energy carrier material at a reaction temperature between 200° C. and 450° C., preferably between 250° C. and 350° C., thereby forming reaction products in the vapor phase. In a preferred embodiment the process comprises the additional step of: c) separating the vapor phase reaction products from the particulate catalyst material within 10 seconds after said reaction products are formed. In a further preferred embodiment step c) is followed by: d) quenching the reaction products to a temperature below 200° C.

Abstract: Embodiments of a nozzle reactor of the type useable to inject a first material feed stock and a second material feed stock to cause interaction between the first material feed stock and second material feed stock are described herein. According to some embodiments, the nozzle reactor may crack residual oil produced by other processing units in a refinery process. Furthermore, nozzle reactors may replace traditional processing units of a refinery process, such as cokers, hydrocrackers and deasphalting units.

Abstract: A method of cracking hydrocarbon material in a nozzle reactor. The method includes a step of providing a nozzle reactor, a step of injecting a stream of cracking material into the reactor body of the nozzle reactor, and a step of injecting hydrocarbon material into the reactor body of the nozzle reactor, wherein the cracking material is methanol, ethanol, ethane, propane, biodiesel, carbon monoxide, nitrogen, or combinations thereof. The cracking material can also include steam. The hydrocarbon material can be injected into the reactor body at a direction transverse to the direction the cracking material is injected into the reactor body.

Abstract: A circulating fluid bed reactor such as that used in fluid coking processes has a circular dense bed reaction section above the reactor base where the fluidizing gas is injected and a plurality of frusto-conical baffles in the dense bed reaction section, each of which depends downwardly and radially inwards from the reactor wall to a lower, inner edge defining a central aperture. The baffles are preferably provided with downcomers which permit downward flow of solids and upward flow of gas through the baffles.

Abstract: The invention relates to a process for thermally cracking a hydrocarbon feed in an installation comprising a radiant section and a convection section, wherein a hydrocarbon feed stock is fed to a feed preheater present in the convection section, the heat pick-up of the feed preheater is controlled by regulating the heat exchange capacity of an economiser, said economiser being located in the convection section between the feed preheater and the radiant section, and wherein the feed heated in the preheater is thereafter cracked in the radiant section. The invention further relates to an installation for the cracking of a hydrocarbon feed.

Abstract: A process and apparatus for cracking a hydrocarbon feed containing resid, comprising: heating a hydrocarbon feedstock containing resid; passing said heated hydrocarbon feedstock to a vapor/liquid separator; flashing said heated hydrocarbon feedstock in said vapor/liquid separator to form a vapor phase and a liquid phase containing said resid; passing at least a portion of said resid-containing liquid phase from said vapor/liquid separator to a thermal conversion reactor operating at 649° C. or more, wherein the thermal conversion reactor contains coke particles; and converting at least a portion of said resid into olefins.

Abstract: This invention relates to a process for the selective conversion of vacuum gas oil. The vacuum gas oil is treated in a two step process. The first is thermal conversion and the second is catalytic cracking of the products of thermal conversion. The product slate can be varied by changing the conditions in the thermal and catalytic cracking steps as well as by changing the catalyst in the cracking step. The combined products from thermal and catalytic cracking are separated in a divided wall fractionator.

Abstract: Randomly packing with filler material at least part of a pass in a coil used in a system for pyrolyzing hydrocarbon feedstock to lighter hydrocarbons. Randomly packing increases heat transfer and decreases the rate of coke build-up within the coil, yielding an improvement in overall system efficiency. Packing material can comprise or be treated with a suitable catalyst for increasing the rate of chemical decomposition, thus further improving system efficiency.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a process for the selective conversion of hydrocarbon feed having a Conradson Carbon Residue content of 0 to 6 wt %, based on the hydrocarbon feed. The hydrocarbon feed is treated in a two-step process. The first is thermal conversion and the second is catalytic cracking of the products of the thermal conversion. The present invention results in a process for increasing the distillate production from a hydrocarbon feedstream for a fluid catalytic cracking unit. The resulting product slate from the present invention can be further varied by changing the conditions in the thermal and catalytic cracking steps as well as by changing the catalyst in the cracking step.

Abstract: A process and apparatus for steam cracking liquid hydrocarbon feedstocks utilizes a vapor/liquid separation apparatus to treat heated vapor/liquid mixtures to provide an overhead of reduced residue content and includes: i) indirectly heat exchanging liquid bottoms with boiler feed water to provide cooled liquid bottoms and preheated boiler feed water; ii) directing at least a portion of said preheated boiler feed water to a steam drum; and iii) recovering steam having a pressure of at least about 4100 kPa (600 psia) from said steam drum.

Abstract: A process for treating a heavy oil which comprises subjecting a heavy oil to cavitation to reduce the viscosity of the heavy oil. The treated heavy oil, which has a reduced viscosity and specific gravity, thus is more pumpable and transportable, which facilitates further processing. The treated heavy oil also can be fractionated with less severity than untreated heavy oil.

Abstract: An improved fluidized coking process wherein an effective amount of a basic material, preferably an alkali or alkaline-earth metal-containing compound, is added to the coking zone to mitigate agglomeration of the coke during the coking of a heavy hydrocarbonaceous feedstock to produce lower boiling products.

Abstract: A process for making lower olefins from a wide boiling range hydrocarbon feed by use of a combination of one or more vapor/liquid separation devices, and then pyrolytically cracking the vapor phase in separate sets of pyrolysis radiant tubes, thereby producing a higher level of lower olefin product.

Abstract: A processing scheme and arrangement for enhanced olefin production involves cooling or treating an olefin cracking reactor effluent stream by contacting the olefin cracking reactor effluent stream with a quench oil stream in a single contact cooler contact zone to produce a cooled vapor stream and to form a heated quench oil stream. A pressure differential across the single contact cooler is less than about 3.5 kPa. The heated quench oil stream can be subsequently cooled and returned to the single contact cooler.

Abstract: A triglyceride or a triglyceride/hydrocarbon combination can be heated to produce thermally treated feeds. The thermally treated feeds can then be contacted with a hydrotreating catalyst in a reaction zone.

Abstract: A process is disclosed process for converting a solid or highly viscous carbon-based energy carrier material to liquid and gaseous reaction products, said process comprising the steps of: a) contacting the carbon-based energy carrier material with a particulate catalyst material b) converting the carbon-based energy carrier material at a reaction temperature between 200° C. and 450° C., preferably between 250° C. and 350° C., thereby forming reaction products in the vapor phase. In a preferred embodiment the process comprises the additional step of: c) separating the vapor phase reaction products from the particulate catalyst material within 10 seconds after said reaction products are formed; In a further preferred embodiment step c) is followed by: d) quenching the reaction products to a temperature below 200° C.

Abstract: This invention relates to a hydrocarbon conversion process additive and related processes, such as upgrading a heavy hydrocarbon material and making sponge coke. The hydrocarbon conversion process additive works with thermal processes, catalytic processes, or thermal-catalytic processes. The hydrocarbon process conversion additive includes lignin or macromolecular substructures of lignin like para-coumaryl alcohol, coniferyl alcohol, or sinapyl alcohol.

Abstract: A method for utilizing a feed comprising condensate and crude oil for an olefin production plant is disclosed. The feed is subjected to vaporization and separated into vaporous hydrocarbons and liquid hydrocarbons. The vaporous hydrocarbons stream is thermally cracked in the plant. The liquid hydrocarbons are recovered.

Abstract: A delayed coking process and apparatus which greatly shorten the required duration of the alternating drum fill and decoking cycles and eliminate the need to perform drum quenching, draining, unheading, hydraulic decoking, reheading, pressure testing, and warming procedures in the decoking cycle. In the inventive system, the decoking cycle preferably comprises simply a steamout stage and a coke product draining procedure. The coke product produced in the coking drums is a hot, solid, flowable material from which heat can be recovered for preheating the coker feed and/or producing steam.

Abstract: Hydrocarbon feedstock containing resid is cracked by a process comprising: (a) heating said hydrocarbon feedstock; (b) mixing the heated hydrocarbon feedstock with steam to form a mixture stream; (c) introducing the mixture stream to a flash/separation apparatus to form i) a vapor phase comprising coke precursors existing as uncoalesced condensate, and ii) a liquid phase; (d) removing the vapor phase as overhead and the liquid phase as bottoms from the flash/separation apparatus; (e) treating the overhead by contacting with a condensing means downstream of the flash/separation apparatus to at least partially coalesce the coke precursors to provide residue hydrocarbon liquid, and subsequently removing the hydrocarbon liquid; (f) heating the treated overhead to provide a heated vapor phase (g) cracking the heated vapor phase in a radiant section of a pyrolysis furnace to produce an effluent comprising olefins, the pyrolysis furnace comprising a radiant section and a convection section; and (h) quenching the eff

Abstract: A process is disclosed for the mild cracking of C7+ paraffins using a supported ionic liquid of the formula AB, wherein: A is a cation capable of forming an ionic liquid, and B is an anion containing aluminum and a halogen which is capable of forming an ionic liquid.

Abstract: Hydrocarbon feedstock containing resid is cracked by a process comprising: (a) heating the hydrocarbon feedstock; (b) mixing the heated hydrocarbon feedstock with steam and optionally water to form a mixture stream; (c) introducing the mixture stream to a flash/separation apparatus to form i) a vapor phase at its dew point which partially cracks and loses/or heat causing a temperature decrease and partial condensation of the vapor phase in the absence of added heat to provide coke precursors existing as uncoalesced condensate, and ii) a liquid phase; (d) removing the vapor phase as overhead and the liquid phase as bottoms from the flash/separation apparatus; (e) treating the overhead by contacting with a hydrocarbon-containing nucleating liquid substantially free of resid and comprising components boiling at a temperature of at least about 260° C. (500° F.

Abstract: A process and apparatus for cracking liquid hydrocarbon feedstocks utilizes a vapor-liquid separator to treat heated vapor-liquid mixtures to provide an overhead of reduced residue content. Hot liquid bottoms from the separator are heat exchanged with cool hydrocarbon feedstocks for cracking to provide cooled liquid bottoms and preheated feedstock. At least a portion of the preheated feedstock is directed to a convection section of a pyrolysis furnace for additional heating and subsequent cracking.

Abstract: The invention relates to a method for processing asphaltene-containing feed to a pyrolysis furnace by raising the final boiling point of the feed/steam mixture to the pyrolysis furnace to ensure fouling occurs lower in the convection section where the mixture of air and steam can burn off fouling deposits during decoking operations. The final boiling point of the feed stream is increased by adding a heavy essentially asphaltene-free high boiling point hydrocarbon to the feed stream before the feed stream enters the convection section of the pyrolysis furnace, whereby said fouling occurs lower in the convection section.

Abstract: A coking process and apparatus may include cracking a hydrocarbon feed stream with a catalyst, generating a hot flue gas from regenerating said catalyst, directing the hot flue gas into a spray contactor, spraying a heavy residual oil into the spray contactor, and coking the heavy residual oil utilizing the hot flue gas as a heat source. The hydrocarbon feed stream and the heavy residual oil may each or both be generated by a solvent deasphalter. The coking process produces a solid coke product and volatile hydrocarbons which leave with the hot gas and may be burned in an oxidizer to generate steam with the pressure energy recovered by a turbo-expander.

Abstract: In a system for thermal cracking gaseous feedstocks, the system including a gas cracker for producing an effluent comprising olefins, at least one transfer line exchanger for the recovery of process energy from the effluent and a water quench tower system, a process for extending the range of system feedstocks to include liquid feedstocks that yield tar is provided. The process includes the steps of injecting a first quench fluid downstream of a primary transfer line exchanger to quench the process effluent comprising olefins, separating in a first separation vessel a cracked product and a first byproduct stream comprising tar from the quenched effluent, directing the separated cracked product to a water quench tower system and quenching the separated cracked product with a second quench fluid to produce a cracked gas effluent for recovery and a second byproduct stream comprising tar. An apparatus for carrying out such process is also provided.

Abstract: A process for feeding or cracking heavy hydrocarbon feedstock containing non-volatile hydrocarbons comprising: heating the heavy hydrocarbon feedstock, mixing the heavy hydrocarbon feedstock with a fluid and/or a primary dilution steam stream to form a mixture, flashing the mixture to form a vapor phase and a liquid phase, and varying the amount of the fluid and/or the primary dilution steam stream mixed with the heavy hydrocarbon feedstock in accordance with at least one selected operating parameter of the process, such as the temperature of the flash stream before entering the flash drum.

Abstract: In a system for thermal cracking gaseous feedstocks, the system including a gas cracker for producing an effluent comprising olefins, at least one transfer line exchanger for the recovery of process energy from the effluent and a water quench tower system, a process for extending the range of system feedstocks to include liquid feedstocks that yield tar is provided. The process includes the steps of injecting a first quench fluid downstream of the at least one transfer line exchanger to quench the process effluent comprising olefins, separating in a separation vessel a cracked product and a first byproduct stream comprising tar from the quenched effluent, directing the separated cracked product to the water quench tower system and quenching the separated cracked product with a second quench fluid to produce a cracked gas effluent for recovery and a second byproduct stream comprising tar. An apparatus for cracking a liquid hydrocarbon feedstock that yield tar is also provided.

Abstract: The present invention provides a feedstock composition for increasing the efficiency of atomization in hydrocarbon processing that includes a water-in-hydrocarbon oil emulsion including a non-ionic surfactant capable of stabilizing the emulsion and having a hydrophilic-lipophilic balance of greater than about 12. The emulsion includes water droplets of about 5 to about 10 microns in diameter, the droplets being dispersed substantially uniformly in the hydrocarbon oil phase. These surfactants are capable of stabilizing the water-in-hydrocarbon oil emulsion under relevant temperature and pressure conditions for hydrocarbon processing. The inventive feedstock composition provides a metastable water-in-oil emulsion where expanding water vapor explodes under spray conditions where the system pressure is released, demolishing a larger oil droplet and producing smaller oil droplets.

Abstract: A catalyst composition suitable for reacting hydrocarbons such as in fluidized catalytic cracking (FCC) comprises an attrition-resistant particulate having at least 30% of an intermediate pore zeolite, kaolin, a phosphorous compound, and a high density unreactive component. An example of an unreactive component is alpha-alumina. The catalyst can also contain a reactive alumina of high surface area.

Abstract: Metal additives to hydrocarbon feed streams give improved hydrocarbon liquid yield during thermal cracking thereof. Suitable additives include metal overbases and metal dispersions and the metals suitable include, but are not necessarily limited to, magnesium, calcium, aluminum, zinc, silicon, barium, cerium, and strontium overbases and dispersions. Particularly useful metals include magnesium alone or magnesium together with calcium, barium, strontium, boron, zinc, silicon, cerium, titanium, zirconium, chromium, molybdenum, tungsten, and/or platinum. In one non-limiting embodiment, no added hydrogen is employed. Coker feedstocks are a particular hydrocarbon feed stream to which the method can be advantageously applied, but the technique may be used on any hydrocarbon feed that is thermally cracked.

Abstract: Process for the work-up of naphtha, wherein a) naphtha or a stream produced from naphtha in a pretreatment step is separated in a membrane unit into a stream A which is depleted in aromatics and a stream B which is enriched in aromatics, with the aromatics concentration in stream A being from 2 to 12% by weight (step a), b) at least part of the substream A is fed to a steam cracker (step b), c) at least part of the substream B is fed to a unit in which it is separated by means of a thermal process into a stream C which has a lower aromatics content than stream B or a plurality of streams C?, C?, C?? . . . which each have lower aromatics contents than stream B and a stream D which has a higher aromatics content than stream B or a plurality of streams D?, D?, D?? . . .

Abstract: Metal additives to hydrocarbon feed streams give improved hydrocarbon liquid yield during thermal cracking thereof. Suitable additives include metal overbases and metal dispersions and the metals suitable include, but are not necessarily limited to, magnesium, calcium, aluminum, zinc, silicon, barium, cerium, and strontium overbases and dispersions. Coker feedstocks are a particular hydrocarbon feed stream to which the method can be advantageously applied, but the technique may be used on any hydrocarbon feed that is thermally cracked.

Abstract: A process is provided for cracking hydrocarbon feedstock containing resid comprising: heating the feedstock, mixing the heated feedstock with a fluid and/or a primary dilution steam stream to form a mixture, optionally further heating the mixture, flashing the mixture within a flash/separation vessel to form a vapor phase and a liquid phase, partially condensing the vapor phase by contacting with a condenser within the vessel, to condense at least some coke precursors within the vapor while providing condensates which add to the liquid phase, removing the vapor phase of reduced coke precursors content as overhead and the liquid phase as bottoms, heating the vapor phase, cracking the vapor phase in a radiant section of a pyrolysis furnace to produce an effluent comprising olefins, and quenching the effluent and recovering cracked product therefrom. An apparatus for carrying out the process is also provided.

Abstract: Metal additives to hydrocarbon feed streams give improved hydrocarbon liquid yield during thermal cracking thereof. Suitable additives include metal overbases and metal dispersions and the metals suitable include, but are not necessarily limited to, magnesium, calcium, barium, strontium, aluminum, boron, zinc, silicon, cerium, titanium, zirconium, chromium, molybdenum, tungsten, and/or platinum, overbases and dispersions. Coker feedstocks and visbreaker feeds are particular hydrocarbon feed streams to which the method can be advantageously applied, but the technique may be used on any hydrocarbon feed that is thermally cracked.