Hydrocracking process

A process for hydrocracking a hydrocarbonaceous feedstock which process comprises:

• (a) passing a hydrocarbonaceous feedstock, a liquid recycle stream and hydrogen to a hydrocracking zone containing a hydrocracking catalyst and recovering a hydrocracking zone effluent therefrom;
• (b) partially condensing the hydrocracking zone effluent to produce a hydrogen-rich gaseous stream and a first liquid hydrocarbonaceous stream;
• (c) passing the first liquid hydrocarbonaceous stream to a flashing zone having a reduced pressure to produce a first gaseous stream comprising hydrogen and normally gaseous hydrocarbons and a second liquid hydrocarbonaceous stream;
• (d) stripping the second liquid hydrocarbonaceous stream to produce a second gaseous stream comprising normally gaseous hydrocarbons and a third liquid hydrocarbonaceous stream comprising hydrocarbons boiling at a temperature below the boiling range of the hydrocarbonaceous feedstock, hydrocarbons boiling at a temperature in the boiling range of the hydrocarbonaceous feedstock and heavy polynuclear aromatic compounds;
• (e) fractionating the third liquid hydrocarbonaceous stream in a first zone of a divided-wall fractionation zone to produce at least one liquid hydrocarbonaceous product stream and a fourth liquid hydrocarbonaceous stream comprising hydrocarbons boiling at a temperature in the boiling range of the hydrocarbonaceous feedstock and heavy polynuclear aromatic compounds;
• (f) reintroducing at least a portion of the fourth liquid hydrocarbonaceous stream into a second zone located in the bottom end of the divided-wall fractionation zone to produce a fifth hydrocarbonaceous stream rich in polynuclear aromatic compounds;
• (g) recycling at least another portion of the fourth liquid hydrocarbonaceous stream to the hydrocracking zone to provide at least a portion of the liquid recycle stream;
• and
• (h) recovering the liquid hydrocarbonaceous product stream.