Houdry Catalytic Cracking HCC

Eugene Houdry, working for Sun Oil, patents Houdry Catalytic Cracking (HCC). 

Eugene Houdry patented the Houdry Catalytic Cracking (HCC) process in 1934. HCC was commercialized in 1937. With amazing foresight, Houdry also invented the catalytic converter, which started appearing on automobiles in the 1970s. 

The Houdry Catalytic Cracking (HCC) process was a precursor to FCC. Houdry catalyst particles are pellets, which are carried to a storage hopper by a conveyor belt or pneumatic lift tubes. The pellets flow down from the hopper through the reactor, and from the reactor to a regenerator. The HCC product slate is similar to that for FCC, but FCC conversions and gasoline yields are significantly higher. 

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