Patent ID: 7510689

Claim:
An injection valve for introducing a high-density hydrocarbon liquid into a hydrocracking reactor, the injection valve comprising: an atomizer coupled to receive the high-density hydrocarbon liquid, the atomizer comprising a nozzle connectable to the hydrocracking reactor and configured to atomize the high-density hydrocarbon liquid and inject the high-density hydrocarbon liquid into the hydrocracking reactor; and, a mixer coupled to receive hydrogen and the high-density hydrocarbon liquid, the mixer configured to mix the hydrogen and the high-density hydrocarbon liquid and deliver a mixture of hydrogen and high-density hydrocarbon to the atomizer, wherein the mixer comprises at least one swirl device, the at least one swirl device comprising a plurality of chambers arranged around a longitudinal axis of the injection valve, each of the chambers comprising a nozzle configured to expel fluid therefrom into an annular space to create the mixture of hydrogen and high-density hydrocarbon such that the mixture of hydrogen and high-density hydrocarbon flows downwardly through the annular space in a generally swirling motion with respect to the longitudinal axis of the injection valve.