Abstract: In a thermal cracking process employing inert hot solids as a heat source, the cracker effluent solids are passed to a burner for combustion of deposited and entrained coke. The liquid product of the thermal cracking process is distilled and the liquid residue comprises a low value solids-containing slurry which is used as a torch oil in the coke burner. The liquid residue from a catalytic cracking process also comprises a low value slurry since it contains particles of cracking catalyst and in the present process is used as auxiliary torch oil in the solids burner. The catalyst particles are rendered inert at the high temperature of the burner, thereby enhancing the quantity of inert solids circulating in the thermal cracking process. The use of a second slurry as torch oil reduces the quantity of thermally cracked liquid residue required as torch oil and enhances the quantity of more valuable solids-free distillate liquid recoverable from the thermal cracking process.

Abstract: A process for thermal cracking of petroleum light gas oil to produce a product including ethylene comprising passing said oil, a diluent gas and entrained hot solids through a cracking zone at a temperature between 1,300.degree. and 2,500.degree. F. at a relatively high cracking severity corresponding to a methane yield of at least 12 weight percent based on hydrocarbon feed oil and with a weight ratio of diluent gas to feed oil of at least 0.3. A naphtha feedstock can be separately cracked at a lower severity using a lower weight ratio of diluent gas to feed oil, with the inert solids from both cracking zones being sent to a common burner whose fuel comprises heavy oil product from both cracking zones.

Abstract: A process for the non-catalytic riser cracking of shale oil to produce ethylene in the presence of entrained hot, inert solids.

Abstract: A process for the production of ethylene by the non-catalytic riser cracking of hydrodesulfurized residual petroleum oils in the presence of entrained hot, inert solids.

Abstract: In the thermal cracking of a hydrocarbon feed oil to produce a product including ethylene, the feed oil is passed together with entrained hot solids through a high temperature cracking zone. Coke-laden hot solids are recovered and passed to a burner zone together with crushed oil shale as supplementary fuel. An acidic material, such as HF catalyst from an alkylation unit, can also be employed as supplementary fuel. The acidic material will react with alkaline components in the oil shale to form stable neutral salts which circulate as heat carrier solids.