Apparatus for separating pitch from slurry hydrocracked vacuum gas oil

An apparatus for converting heavy hydrocarbon feed into lighter hydrocarbon products comprising:

• a slurry hydrocracking reactor for contacting said heavy hydrocarbon feed with hydrogen and a particulate solid material;
• a first vacuum column in communication with said slurry hydrocracking reactor;
• a second vacuum column in communication with said first vacuum column;
• and
• a machine for forming pitch into manageable solid particles in communication with a said second vacuum column.

An apparatus for converting heavy hydrocarbon feed into lighter hydrocarbon products comprising:

• a slurry hydrocracking reactor for contacting said heavy hydrocarbon feed with hydrogen and a particulate solid material;
• a first vacuum column in communication with said slurry hydrocracking reactor;
• and
• a second vacuum column in communication with said first vacuum column, said second vacuum column including trays with interior cavities in communication with a heating fluid.