Patent ID: 7374664

Claim:
A method which comprises: (a) separating a heated whole crude oil feedstock into vaporous and liquid hydrocarbons in a unit that provides a vaporization function; (b) transferring at least a portion of said vaporous hydrocarbons to a radiant heating section of a furnace to induce severe thermal cracking; (c) retaining at least part of said liquid hydrocarbons in said unit; (d) contacting said retained liquid hydrocarbons with at least one heated gas to form additional vaporous hydrocarbons for transfer to said radiant heating section of a furnace; (e) introducing near the bottom of said unit at least one quenching oil to form an oil-liquid hydrocarbon mixture, said quenching oil being at a temperature sufficient to cool remaining liquid hydrocarbons to minimize coke-forming reactions; and (f) removing at least a portion of said oil-liquid hydrocarbon mixture from said unit; whereby the operation of said unit is driven toward said vaporization function.