US339545A - Ajstd allaly masojst - Google Patents

Description

(No Model.) 4

J. B. GRANT 8v A` MASON.

PROGBSS 0F REPINNG P MM m @wia/ Patented Apr. 6, 1886,

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NEV YORK, AND

PnTnnT Ormea ALLAN MASON, OF BROOKLYN, N. Y.

PROCESS OF REFlNll\iG PTROLEU-lvl.

.-PECEICATIGN forming part oi Letters Patent No, 339,515, dated April 6, 1886.

.Application tiled June 30, 1885. Serial No. 170,252. (No specimens.)

To @ZZ when?, it may concern.-

Be it known that we, .Linus B. GRANT, of the city, county, and State of `New York, and ALLAN MASON, of Brooklyn, in the county of Kings and State of New York, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Process of Refining Petroleum and other Oils, of which the following is a specification.

W'e have discovered that oils commonly known as petroleum,7 procured directly from borings connected with favorable strata in the earth, and also oils which are obtained from coal, shale, bituminous schists, or other analogous hydrocarbons usually classified as oils, i and to which ourinvention particularly refers, have somewhat of the nature or peculiarities ol' vegetable oils, and either in their crude forni or partially refined or separated by other processes may, by rapid and violent agitation in the presence ofthe vapor of wat-er with sufiicient heat uniformly applied and subsequent rapid condensation, be refined or manufactured into one practically uniform grade of oil of high dre-test, suitable for illuminatiug purposes.

"We will describe our invention as appliedA to the treatment of crude petroleum. XVe receive the petroleum into a vacuo m-retort, and meetit upon its reception therein with a stream of live steam under sufficient pressure to thoroughly mix the vapor of water with the oil and instantaneously force the whole mass into a vacuum-condenser arranged to receive it, from whence it pumped or allowed to flow into a tank.

XVe have discovered and demonstrated that the receiving of the petroleum into the vacuum-retort and striking` it with such force with the vapor of wat-er (thus rapidly atomizing and evaporating the entire mass) without separating into any of its elements, and subsequently condensing it and separating it from the water, the water retains the impurities and undesirable portions of the oil, leaving us the product described and desired. There may be chemical changes, and 4the operation of certain natural laws in producing these results which we cannot explain, but the effect is certain- It is well known that natural products are always superior to artilicial.

The dii'erence between our process andthe various processes now in vogue is very similar to the difference between distilli ng and liltering water. It is also well known that the various 5 5 products of distillation can never be again resolved into the natural product from which they were produced.

We dispense' with the ordinary destructive or fractional distillation.

"We obtain a much higher percentage than usual of the grade of oil most desired. In fact, when no accident occurs and everything works properly,we convert all the crude product, except the undesired portion washed out of it by the force andthe vapor of water, into illuminating-oil of a high lire-test.

We have made provision for accidents and irregularities, which will be described hereinafter.

The evaporation of the petroleum is effected by uniform steam-heating, and also by minglingsteamintimatelywith the petroleum, aecompanied by violent mechanical action. The steam is employed in its natural state, by which we mean not superheated. The ternperatu're will be from 212 to 300D Fahrenheit. The entire vaporous mass composed of water and petroleum is instantaneously forced into a surface-condenser, where it comes in contact with metallic surfaces kept at a low temperature by a liberal iow ot' water between the pipes or other elements of which the condenser is composed. Ne present the steam to the petroleum in the form of a jet, having such 35 force and being so presented to a properlyshaped nozzle that it will draw up the petroleum from a level a little below. Such devices have been long known for atomizing perfumery. Such have been applied in various 9C stages in the treatment of oils for producing vapors, but always for the purpose of destructive or more or less fractional distillation. W' e provide for making and maintaining a nearly-perfect vacuum in the retort or evaporating chamber. This greatly facilitates the vaporization and atomization without requiring so high a temperature as would produce destructive distillation or more or less fractional distillation. lVe have no deposit ofoil roo in the retort. f The only material that can be possibly found in the retort will be obtained from accidental condensation of particles of the oil which are intended to be forced over,

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but which, from said imperfect condensation, condense on the side of the retort, and are received into a pocket provided for the purpose. This would be one ofthe irregularities referred to, and for which provision has been made, as will appear further on.

The drawings show the novel parts with so much of the ordinary parts as is necessary to indicate their relation thereto.

The accompanying drawings form a part of this specification, andI represent what we consider the best means of carrying out our invention.

Figure l is a general longitudinal section of the entire apparatus, partly in section. Fig. 2 is a cross-section on the line .fr in Fig. 1. Fig. 3 is a plan View of a portion provided for accident or irregularity.

Referring to the drawings, and to the letters of reference marked thereon, A is a steamboiler, fromthe dome of which steam is led at high-pressure into a jacket or space be tween two shells, B B', of au evaporating and atomizing chamber or retort, b, which is surrounded by a body of sand, B3, serving to preserve and equally distribute the temperature.

Heat produced by tlreiu a furnace or chamber, Bi, below aids to maintain the temperature ofthe steam in the jacket, notwithstanding the great consumption thereof due to the rapid evaporation of the petroleum going on in its interior.

A steam-pipe, A', conducts ordinary-,saturated steam at a high pressure from theboiler Ato what we term a double injector, a device located within the evaporating chamber or retort b. The construction and arrangement of the double injector is such that a pipe, C', leading upward from a tank, C, filled with crude petroleum, will, by the ac- ,tion of the strong blast of steam escaping from the pipe A@ draw up the petroleum and mingle it intimately with the steam. The blast of steam atomizes and blows away the crude petroleum, and, aided by the heat received at a carefully-adjusted temperature from the inclosing-jacket, the high-pressure steam conipletely evaporates all the petroleum and earries it instantaneously to the neck D of the retort and into the condenser E, with the exception of any minute particles which may, through imperfect condensation or other irregularity, drip down the sides of the retort through the small orifices t t t t t into the pocket B5 are allowed to run at intervals through the pipe B into the small tank BT, from which, after being allowed to cool, it is allowed to run through the pipe B5 back into the tank O. Thenever this operation is performed before the cock Bf' is opened to allow the oil to run from the pocket B5 into a tank, B7, the cock b" is closed to prevent the vacnum being disturbed, and in any event, when it becomes necessary to remove the oil from the pocket B5 before the steam and oil are again allowed to enter the retort through the pipes A and C', as before set forth, the pump E2 is operated for some time in order to overcome any break in the vacuum that may have occurred. All the remainder of the petroleum is evaporated by the combined mechanical action and the uniform heat maintained, as hereinafter described, aided by a nearly complete vacuum in the retort,which is maintained by means to be presently described. The attenuated vapors of water and petroleum are conducted through the neck D to a surface-condenser, E, preferably what is known WVas the Lighthall Condenser,77 having vertical tubes, the vapors being conducted through the interiors of the tubes, and a liberal flow of Cold water being circulated in the intermediate spaces. The effect is to condense the vapors, and again to produce nearly the original liuids-water and petroleum-which How from the bottoms of the several pi pes and are drawn through a pipe, E', by an air-pump, El, operated by a steam-engine or other suitable power. (Not shown.) The liquid being thus forced from the vacuum-retort and condenser is dis charged into a trough or long tank, F, in which it is allowed to separate. The water is drawn out through a pipe, F, and need not be further referred to. The oil is drawn out from a proper level in the tank F through one of a series of pipes, r/ 7L i, into corresponding tanks or receptacles, G H I, the selection being controlled by an attendant who operates controlling-cocks g it i', according to the density of the liquid. Under the best conditions the liquid will contain, first, wat-er resulting from the condensation of the steam, which will easily separate at any subsequent stage by gravity on allowing the liquid to rest, and, second, a practically uniform grade of refined petroleum suitable for illuminating purposes. The condition in this respect is indicated by a IOO IOS

hydrometer, which is applied in the ordinary dense for a good illuminating-oil, the attend-A ant operates the cocks h g and discharges it through the pipe g into the tank G. Whenever the opposite condition obtains and the liquid is too light for a proper illuminatingoil, the attendant opens the cock t" and discharges it through the pipe 11 into the tank I, excluding it from the other pipes, g h, and tanks G- H; but if no accident or irregularity occurs in the process the oil will be all illuminating-oil of the required density and iiretest and will only be discharged into the tank H.

Tanks G I are a provision for irregularity or accident. W'hen an accident or irregular- IIO ity does occur to necessitate the oil being conment is ready 'for storage or use. This illuminating-*oil is what we would always obtain unless some accident or irregularity occurs. XVe prefer that the pressure in the boiler A and in the jacket B B shall be about two hun dred and titty pounds per square inch. A cock, A, in the pipe A,operated to control the discharge of steam into the chamber b, may considerably lower the pressure at the points oi" discharge, while still leaving a sufficient force to act with the violence required in impinging against the particles ofthe petroleum and mechanically disintegrating the latter and drivingthem instantaneously into the condenser E. The ilow of petroleum through the pipe G' is controlled by the cock C3. The fire in the fur nace B" may be maintained by coal, other ordinary fuel, or by crude petroleum applied by any desirable or ceonomicalmeans. The cold wa ter may be circulated in the condenser E by a pump or other ordinary or suitable means. (Not represented.) On the admission of steam through the injector it meets the crude oil in the retort described innocuo. The force of steam striking the globules of the crude oil, together with the peculiar effect due to its being 'in cacao breaks them up completely.- lt further intimately mixes the oil with the vapor ofwater. The form of this doubleinjector is such that the crude oil is impinged upon the steam passing through the upper injector, and the steam meeting it at that point under pressure incorporates itself in such a manner with the volatile portion of the oil as to wash and cleanseit without separating it in any way as when destructive distillation or superheated steam is used. It amalgamates the whole mass of vaporized oil and water. No separation of the component elements of either occurs. By the above means, together with the rapid condensation which follows, we produce one oil. Usually,and always when no accident occurs, an illuminating-oil is produced of a marketable ire-test, and a larger percentage thereof than is obtained by destructive or fractional distillation, or by the use ofsuperheated steam.

To do not use various degrees of temperature to obtain several products procured by the ordinary methods; but by the peculiar arrangement of the steanrjaeket and its sur rounding of sand (thus maintaining uniformly and perfectly any degree ot' heat desired) and atomizing with saturated steam and pressure fa nuez/.0 force over into the condenser the entire mass, and cleanse the globules of oil while in their primitireand virgin condition, without separating the oil into any of its elements, thus refining Without fraetionally distilling petroleum and obtaining one product, which we find is marketable illuminating-oil of the required fire-test.

By our method of refining and rapid condensation in cacao we prevent oxidation. The great rapidity with which the vapors are i condensed will not permit of the free oxygen i l cover, satisfactorily explained the reason or in the water being absorbed by the oil.

The inclosing of the retort b and the jacket B B together with the neck D of the retort in sand, as shown in the drawings, is a very important part of the means employed to carry out our invention. It maintains the heat in the retort b at the uniform temperature dei sired, and is intended to prevent the imperfect condensation which would canse some of the particles of oil to drip through the orifices ttt t into the pocket B5. An indicator on the end or side of the pocket Bindicates when there are sul'iicient drippings in the pocket to necessitate their removal as set forth. The tank C- eontains the crude petroleum or product to be refined, and the pipe C', when the crude oil is not so dirty as to require previous settling, could he inserted in any storage-tank fromiwhich the oil is flowing, or into any reeeptable into which the oil is received from the well, and thus the refining process could be carried on at the wells or in their im mediate vicinity.

In the practical operation of' our invention, Wei'irst thoroughly heat the sand surrounding the steam-jacket B B and retort b, operate the air'pumps` and allow steam to pass into the retort I) from the boiler A, through the pipe A', test the vacuum and uniformity of heat obtained throughout the retort b, neck D, and the efficiency of the condenser E, and when all is working satisfactorily operate the cock C and allow the oil to be drawn into the retort Ii from the tank G. As soon as the oil enters the retort b from the pipe C', it is impinged upon by the steam entering continuously through the pipe A, and by the combined action of the air-pump referred to in the specification and the force of the steam is instantaneously conveyed to the neck D of the retort b and into the condenser F. This ac ICO tion is so rapid, and the interinixing of the saturated steam (at a temperature of 212 Fahrenheit and not over 300) so thorough and complete that no decomposition of the oil nor separation into its elements or into different grades occurs, but the oil is taken from the condenser E, the same natural or virgin prod uct that it was when it entered the retort b from the tank G, except that it is cleaned and purified by the thorough intcrmingling of the vapor of water, and the apparent affinity of the Water for many of its impurities and undesirable portions. W'hy it proves to be illuminating-oil of such density and the required iirevtestwe need not explain, but such we find to be the result. Neither can we explain why petroleum, when being destructively distilled, must be submitted to a high degree of heat ere it will dissolve into any of its elements; but yet some of these elements when once eliminated from the parent body will remain a vaporous mass at a much lower temperature than that at which they were eliminated, even in some cases remaining a vapor or gas as low 32 Fahren h eit. Chemistry (While stati n gthe fact) has never, so far as we have been able to dis- TIO IIS

cause. Observe, we do not destructively or fractionally distil. We do not decompose the oil.

Modications may be made in the forms and proportions of the several parts of the appa- We can use other forms of condensers than Lighthalls.

The heat of the jacket B B may be maintained by an active circulation of the highpressure steam between it and a boiler, A, having sufficient heating-surface to maintain the temperature and pressure.

A single air-pump or set of air-pumpsproperly connected may maintain the vacuum throughout the retort b, neck D, and through a single condenser, E, as shown, or a series of condensers.

We can use hot air or superheated steam for the jacket B B when the evaporization in the retort b is suiiiciently rapid. In that case we would require to arrange a separate apparatus to superheat the steam, as the steam passing into the retort b must not be superheated.

XV e are aware that oil and steam have been introduced together in an atomized condition into a still, and thence led through a gooseneck into a condenser through the action of avacuum-pump, and this, therefore, we do not claim; but a considerable condensation of the oil in the still, and a separation of the lighter from the heavier has been contemplated and provided for in the process referred to.

The apparatus illustrated in this application is made subject-matter for a separate Aapplication led August 13, 1885, No. 174,270.

into a heated chamber and instantaneously re moving substantially the Whole of the combined vapor of oil and steam, by means of a vacuum-pump, into a condensing-chamber, as set forth.

In testimony whereof we have hereunto set our hands, at New York city, this 20th day of June, 1885, in the presence of two subscribing witnesses.

JAS. B. GRANT. ALLAN MASON. Witnesses:

E. BRooKEs,

CHARLES R. SEARLE.

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