US1903810A - Apparatus for refining oil - Google Patents

Description

April 18,1933 c. lB. FORWARD l I APPARATUS FOR REFINING .OIL

Original Fil'ed Oct. l5, 1919 MUZNUUB uZSoWQU l M No2;

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f UNITED STATES PATNT OFFICE CHAUNCEY FORWARD, OF URBANA, OHIO, ABBIGNOB,BY mn ABBIGNIENTS, TO FORWARD PROCESS OOKPANY, OF DOVER, DELAWARE, A CORPORATION O l' IDELA- WARE AIPABATUS IOB- BEIINING OIL Application iled October 13, 1919, Serial No. 880,490. vRenewed November 1987.

My invention relates to an apparatus for refining petroleum, and in general my object is to provide a set of instrumentalities adapted to work together with the maximum etliciency in separating a high percentage of light volatile oils from a heavy mineral oil without impairing the qualities or values of the various hydrocarbons composing the oil. This general object is largely attained by forcing a stream of mineral oil continuously through a series of coils of small pipe contemporaneously with the constant forced delivery of a stream of water through other coils of pipes in a ilash boiler where the flowing water is rapidly converted into superheated steam which is applied immediately in full volume and continuously to the coils of pipe through which the stream of oil and vapors are flowing, thereby heating and vaporizing the oil in a high degree and further superheating the vapors with a minimum consumption of fuel. f

In the sheet of drawing accompanying this application I show a diagram of an apparatus constructed according to my inven tion, which 'apparatus comprises a steam pump 2 adapted to force a stream of mineral oil from any given source of suppl continuously through a line of pipe 3 ofy relatively small diameter but of great length and compactly formed into a series of coils 4 and 5 separately confined in closed cylinders 6 and 7, respectively, hereinafter referred to as the irst and second oil preheaters. A second steam pump 8 is adapted to force Water into a tank 9 and maintain the requisite pressure to deliver a constant stream of Water through a coil of pipe 10 removably supported in sections within the combustion chamber and flue spaces ofa yfurnace 11, which in its entirety 'may he Y termed a flash boiler. A valve 12 and a waand the steam generated in the upper sections o'f the coil is superheated in the lower sections and continuously' discharged there vfrom at extremely high temperature;z and where occasion requires above 1000 The superheated steam is utilized in full volume as ra idly as it is produced, that is, it is conveye directly by insulated pi es 16 to the second oil preheating cylin er 7 thence by pipe 17 to the first oil preheating cylinder 6, and thence by pipe 18 to a drum -19 where the steam, less the superheat, is

available in large volume for use in the pumps, in heating the buildings, and in operating other apparatus in t e plant. A

. higher temperature is maintained constantly in the second 4oil heater 7 than in the iirst oil heater 6, because the flow of steam is inverse to the dow of oil, and the pressure in the drum, when the steam is not being used rapidly enough for other purposes about the plant, is regulated by a relief valve to not exceed 100 to 125 pounds in order that the superheated steam originally introduced into preheaters 6 and 7 at a much higher pressure may flow freely through the heat-'- ing cylinders and their pipe connections, and the How of steam from preheaters 6 and 7 may also be under valve control.

rLihe oil flowing through coils 4 and 5 is thus gradually heated to a high degree without detriment to its hydrocarbon constituents and is jetted in a continuous stream with nozzle 20 into a closed vessel 21 together with superheated steam derived from Hash boiler 11 and conveyed to nozzle 20 by way of usv its volatilized portions or vapors through a a branch pipe 22 and other channels as hereinaiter more fully described. Both the oil and steam are under pressure traceable back to the two pumps and the flash boiler, a high pressure is constantly maintained in the closed vessel 2l, the high heated oil and vapors are atomized bytheintroduction of the steam'through nozzle 20, andthe steam so introduced maintains ahi h temperature' and pressure within this vesse thereby effecting a high percentage of separation of the volatile portions of any given mineral oil, varying of course with the kind or grade of oilv being treated.A The liquid derivative ows unaltered 1n composition from the bottom oi vessel 2l into a well 23 having a sight gauge and thence passes under restricted pressure from closed vessel 2l and Well 23 through a pipe line to a tenir 2li located at a distant point. As the 'dow of oil from the pump is always the same and the temperature and pressure constant, the unvaporized. portion of the oil is always constant at this point so that the valve may readily be adjusted to maintain a steady level oi the unvaporized oil in `Well 23 and the operation is thus automatic in this respect as Well as in other respects.

The volatilized product in vessel 2l, together with superheated steam, is forced through a pipe 25 into and through one or more heating coils 26, 27 and 28 confined in separate insulated cylinders 29, 30 and 3l, respectively, and a high temperature is maintained in each cylinder by super-heated steam obtained through separate valved pipe connections 32 with the discharge pipe 16 of flash boiler il. The steam in the vapor heaters 30 and 31 is conveyed under high pressure and temperature through a set of connected pipes 33 direct to the rst oil preheat er 6, and this steam from the vapor heaters possesses a higher temperature than the steam derived from the second oil preheater 7 because it is only used to raise the temperature of the hot volatilized product discharged from the separation vessel 21. Consequently the said arrangement is oi decided advantage in maintaining a high temperature in the rst oil preheater and a more rapid heating ci? the oil from its cold state. I also utilize a portion oi this steam at high temperatures in eiecting the separations in vessel 2l, that is, the branch pipe 22 is connected with from two or tue vapor heaters to the iirst oil preheater 6. The steam in the .iirst vapor heater 29 may be discharged into the first oil preheater 6 before being discharged to drum- 19, but is preferably conveyed directly to said drum by Way o a separate pipe 3d.

By the instrumentalities described a large portion of the oil will be volatilized or reduced to a vapor, and the volatilized product separated from the unvolatilized product in the separating vessel 21. This heated volatilized product is then heated to a Ahigher temperature, or superheated in the vapor heaters, thereby converting it into a more volatile product so that when it is condensed subsequently a very high percentage of gasoline or motor fuel content can be separated therefrom. There are other advantages derived by superheating the vapors, among- Vwhich is the self-removal of thefree carbon from the vapors, and which residue is trapped in a clean-out receptacle 35 through which the volatile product must pam by way pipe 33 which conveys the steam recaen of the coil-connecting ipe 36 before discharging through pipe 3( into the lower end oi a condensmg cylmder 33. A second cleanout receptacle 39 has a. valved pipe-connection 40 with the bottom or" receptacle 35 and the contents of these receptacles can be drained into a storage tank il Without interrupting operations.

rihe rapidity with which. the oil and vapors are forced through the relatively small pipes of the coils does not permit the carbon swhich is freed to adhere 'to the inner side of the coils or coke and foul the pipes; and because the residue trom separator 2l is not subjected to the high temperatures used in and for the vapor heaters, the residue is in better condition for further refining than it can possibly be gotten Where a similar quan tity of volatile separations have been eected by distillation by direct heat from a lire, or i by other steps lmovvn to me. No cooking or carbonization of the oil occurs because no direct Haine or re is applied to the oil or vapor conveying pipes and vessels, thus avoiding the so-calied local heat spots, and only the pipe sections through which the Water flows in the Hash boiler is subjected to the direct action of tire or dames.

The volatile productfrom clean-out receptacle 35 passes upward through condensing cylinder 38 in which a constar* spray of Water is deliveredy in measured amounts through a spray pipe 4;-2, and the volatilized product which is not condensed is carried under the sustained pressure in the system through an outlet pipe 43 into a vvorm condenser ad. The Water spray reduces the tempeinture of the vapors and by regulating the amount of water the heavier end of the resultant gasoline or motor fuel oil may be cut out by condensation, and the gravity or end point by distillation controlled to suit the operator. The product coming from the Worm condenser is a, water-White motor fuel oil or gasoline which is discharged vvitb. the condensed steam into a separator 45, the Water outlet at'the bottom being controlled by an automatic ioat valve and the oil overiovvs from above into a vlarge receiver 46 before it is discharged into a storage tank 47 by the automatic operation of a pump 48 controlled by a steam valve V and a float 49 in receiver 46. The gasoline or motor fuel is at this point ready for the market, that is, it requires no further treatment.

rlihe unvaporized products and the water sprayed into the cylinder 38 pass out of a bottom connectioninto a sight Well 50, and o. valvedpi 51 connects this well with a -vvater-coole coil 52 which is adapted to discharge the mixed liquid into an automatic separator 53 havin a doet controlled valve at the bottom for t e Water and an oil overow connection with a receiver 54. When a predetermined quantity of the oil fractions fio are trapped cally conveyed therefrom by) a pump '56 to a distant int where it can e either stored, used, or urther treated. v v

The most economical sized a unit for commercial use will re imately 150barrels of oil per day and where a series of say live or more such units' are used in one plant the superheated steam subsequent to its use' may be reheated by acoil paratus or in a small furnace and used again in succes,`

sive units re atedly. However, b v the use of a flash boiler as herein disclose I effect reat economy in operations as very little if any additional fire is required to create the steam as well as superheat it to the desired temperature. rlhus in order tosuperheat the steam to the desired temperature it is only necessary to have the superheating or final pipe sections of the coil relatively near the lire, while the more remote sections of the coil convert the ilowin water into steam as rapidly as it is force through the coil. My prior practice has been toA use a boiler in which a large body of water was heated and a lar e volume of steam stored and superheated, ut while the maintenanceof a large body of steam in a boiler maybe necessary .Where fluctuating demands require an excess of steain, l find that the'production and storing of` steam in that mannerv is not an economical mode or best adapted for the purposes of refining oil b the use of superheated steam. This is envious when comparison is made with the resent ap paratus in which a flash boiler is used and the owing Water is immediately converted into a tenuous stream of superheated steam which is not permitted to accumulate in large volume with a large body of water requiring intensive dring, but is immediately conveys under pressure to the oil and vapor heating cylinders where conduction of the su rheat to the oil is quick and responsive. n this connection it is im ortant to note that the oil and water are hetunder constant pressure until both reach a common destination in a modified lor-ni as edected by the dash holler and oil heaters operating together to that single end. ln the operation of a large. .reiinery Where tanks oi boilers are required to provide steam for the various operations in the plant, the economy in the use of this apparatus is ohvious as the steam has been created cheaply to start with and is practically all availa le for other purposes after it has served its purpose in treating the oil by this apparatus.

In an installation involving a series ofv apparatus as described l would also include a reserve flash boiler which could be used wheneverthe pipes'or coils in any one of the regular series of flash boilers' required replacement or repair, and in this way continue the operation in each. apparatus unintere approx-- Inor a in receiver 55 it is automatiruptedly and without shutting down the inthe von y placesat which there is an -wear and tear, and these pipescan be quic y replaced at a nominal cost. The remainder of the apparatus is not subjected to direct fire,

ected materially by constant use in practicin the process, which process is further disc osed and also claimed in my a plicaton, filed Aug. 19, 1919, Ser. o.\`

In an installation using plural a paratus of the kind herein described I woull conduct the vapors from all of them to a single car-` bon remover, single water and single worm condenser, the operation and reducing the cost of construction. l

v The apparatus will operate continuously and automatically for indefinite periods as there is no sto ping to cool down and remove carbon or co e as in all other apparatus known to me. f

What I claim is:`

1. Anap aratus for reining oil, comprising a flash oiler having a water and steam pipe adapted to generate super-heated steam continuously, in combination with an oil heater in open connection with said boiler, a steam drum in open receiving communication with said heater, a pump adapted to force water continuously through said boiler, means adapted to regulate the steam pressure vWithin said drum, and means adapted slpray condenser t to maintain. a common pressure in said drum and said water and steam pipe hack through the boiler to promote a constant dow of wa# ter through said boiler and a continuous supply of superheated steam within seid heater under high pressure and temperature.

2. An appara-tus for reningoil', comprising a number of cil pre-heaters and a va or and liquid separating-vessel and a num r of va or heaters connected in series, and a ashiler having superheating steam coils connected with both sets et heaters, and said vapor heaters having a steam discharge connection opening into the first oi saidoil preheaters.

3. An apparatus for refining oil, compris- -ing a steam cylinder and an oil-heating coil therein, an oil and vapor separating vessel connected with said coil, a steam cylinder having a vapor heating coil in receiving connection with said separating vessel, a flashboiler having steam superheating coils in discharging connectionwith said vapor heating cylinder, and a steam discharge connection for said vapor heating cylinder having a return connection leading to said separating vessel.

4. In an apparatus for cracking hydrocarbon oils, the improvement comprlsing a continuous elongated heating coil consisting of us simplifying' lll) lli

a plurality of coil sections mounted in separate heating chambers and connected in series, means for supplying oil to one end of seid coil, a second continuous elongated heating coil consisting of s plurality of coil sections mounted in seperate heating chambers and connected in series to form s single coil, means for supplying vvapors from the rst seid hosting coil to the second heating' coil, Ineens adopted to now e heating medium in aeriform condition from e, common source in heet exchanging relation directly with e plurslity of the coil sections of the second said heating coil along paths arranged in multiple, ond means adapted to flow e heating medium in se ilorm condition serially over the plurality of the coil sections oi' the lfirst said heat-ing coil.

5. ln an apparatus for cracking hydrocarbon oils, the improvement comprising e continuous elongated heating coil consisting of a plurslit of coil sections mounted in seperate hosting chambers and connected in series, means for supplying oil to one end of seid coil, e second continuous elongated heeting coil consisting'o .s plurality of coil sections mounted in seperate heating chemhers and connected in series to forni s, single coil, ineens connected 'with the first seid heetinscoil adopted to sepan-ste vapors end liqui connections adapted to supply vapors from scid im, or end liquid separating means to the secondseid heating coil, means adepted to flow s heating medium in eeriiorm condition irom e common source in heet eirchenging relation directly with e plurality oi the coil sections of the second seid hecting coil along psths nrrsned in multiple, snel ineens sdspted to new e nesting medium in seriiorin condition serially over the plurnlity oi the coil sections of the rst seid heating coil. l

C5. ln en cppcretus for cracking hydrocarhon oils, the improvement com rising s, continuous elongated. hosting; coil, consisting of e, plurality of coil sections mounted in seperate heating chambers snol connected in series, ineens for `su plyinsr oil to one end or" seid coil, c secon continuous elongated heating coil consisting of s plurslity ol coil sections mounted in seperate heating chemhers end connected in series to orfn s sinsle coil, ineens for sup lying vapors from the rst seid heating coil to the second seid heeting coil, menus `adapted to now sheeting medium in seriforin condition lroin s common source in heet exchanging relation di= rectly with a plurality of the coil sections of the second seid heating coil along paths arranged in multiple and thereafter over at least a portion of the irstheeting coil.

7. In an a puretus forY cracking hydrocarbon oils, t e improvement comprisin s continuous clon ted heating coil consisting of e` plurality ooil sections mounted in sepcrate heating chambers and connected in series, ineens for supplying oil to one end of said coil, e. second continuous eloneeted heating coil consisting of e plurality o? coil sections mounted in separate heating chembers and connected in. series to form n single coil, means connected with the first scid heatinfr coil adapted to separate vapors and liquid, connections adapted to supply mpors 'from seid 'vapor-end liquid sesrsting means to the second said heating coi Ineens adapted to flow n heating medium in seriorni condition irom e, common source heat exchanging relation directly with e plurality oi the coil sections oi the second scid heeting coil along paths arranged in multiple end thereafterover at leest e portion of the iirst seid heatinocoil.

Signed et rliana, in the county oi? Champsigne, and State of Unio, this 9th doy of CtOber, l9l9.

CHAUNCEY B.

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