Abstract:
The process comprises introducing a first portion of a feedstock containing at least 20 parts per million of nitrogen into a feedpreparation zone to reduce the nitrogen and sulfur contents thereof; treating the effluent from the feed-preparation zone to separate a hydrogen-containing light gas and a heavy bottoms fraction from the effluent; introducing the treated effluent into a hydrocracking zone; and introducing a second portion of the feedstock containing at least 20 parts per million of nitrogen into the hydrocracking zone at a plurality of points spaced along the length of the hydrocracking zone to provide an increasing amount of nitrogen along the length of the hydrocracking zone in the direction of flow through the hydrocracking zone. The nitrogen-containing feedstock is introduced into the hydrocracking zone at a plurality of points along its length to control effectively the rate of reaction in the hydrocracking zone. The heat of the controlled hydrocracking reaction is used effectively to reduce external heat supplied to the hydrocarbons prior to their entry into the hydrocracking zone.