1. An industrial apparatus or facility that uses hydrogen and heat under pressure to break down heavy crude oil or other hydrocarbons into lighter, more useful products such as gasoline and diesel.
Usage: technical; petroleum industry

Examples

• The refinery installed a new hydrocracker to process heavier crude oils more efficiently.
• Hydrocrackers are essential equipment in modern petroleum refineries.
• The hydrocracker operates at high temperatures and pressures to convert heavy fractions into lighter products.
• Investment in hydrocracker technology has improved the refinery's output of premium fuels.