US1260584A - Method of and apparatus for distilling petroleum and the like. - Google Patents

Description

L.0.SHERMAN. METHOD. OF AND APPARATUS FOR DISTILLING PETROLEUM AND THE LIKE;

APPLICATION FILED APR. 24, I9I6. Z I I Patentefi Mar. 26,1918.

LG M.

INW

s I R.

LAYTON O. SHERMAN, OF EAST CHICAGO, INDIANA, ASSIGNOR TO THE CLEVELAND TRUST COMP, OF CLEVELAND, OHIO, TRUSTEE.

METHOD OF AND APPARATUS FOR DISTILLING PETROLEUM AND THE LIKE.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Mar. 2%, 1918.

Application filed April 24, 1916. Serial No. 93,180.

To all whom it may concern:

. Be it known that I, LAYTON 0. SHERMAN, a citizen of the United States, residing at East Chicago, in the county of Lake and State of Indiana, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Methods of and Apparatus for Distilling Petroleum and the like, of which the following is a specification.

This invention relates to a method of and apparatus for distilling crude oil and the like under pressure, thereby obtaining an increased yield of lighter boiling products such as gasolene over that obtained by the usual process. It is known that the li hter the component of crude oil or petro eum the more difficult it is to crack, requiring for this purpose a correspondingly higher pressure. Therefore in the processes commonly employed heretofore for obtaining gasolene from crude petroleum, the latter ing fraction of oils of intermediate gravi ties, alcertain fraction or proportion of the residue containing the heaviest of the hydrocarbons is distilled under high pressure and temperature for the purpose of cracking it into lighter hydrocarbons. Bymy process and apparatus I am able to convert into gasolene the entire range of hydrocarbons below gasolene itself and to continuously distil directly from the whole crude petroleum without separate redistillation a greaseless gasolene.

In my improved process which is performed in a single still and condenser, after the natural light hydrocarbons or the bulk of them have been driven ofi, preferably at atmospheric pressure, the still is put under pressure for the purpose of cracking the Eresidue. After the cracking temperature is ;'reached the lightest portions of the distillate are continuously led away and condensed to form gasolene, while the balance of the distillate is continuousl condensed and subjected under maintaine pressure to a higher temperature than that of the crude petroleum in the still whereby it is cracked, the cracked portions being mingled with the other cracked product comingdirectly from the body of crude petroleum in the still and led to the condenser and condensed for use as gasolene.

The apparatus used is an improvement on that disclosed in my U. S. Patent No. 968,088, dated August 23, 1910.

In the accompanying drawing,-

Figure 1 is a vertical longitudinal section of the oil still, and separator tower;

Fig. 2 is a vertical transverse section of the still on the line 1111 of Fig. 1, showing the lead false bottom, and the oil heating pipes within the false bottom; and

Fig. 3 is a detail showing the check valve.

The still 1, which is of the same general construction as that described in my earlier patent, is provided with a suitable supply inlet 2, and discharge 3, the upper portion of the still communicating, through pipe 12 and perforated head 13, with a separating tower 4, shown partly broken. This tower is divided into compartments by a series of partitions arranged to provide a long and tortuous vapor path, the compartment being filled with a preferably chemically inert into the'still and connects with a coil 7 adjacent the bottom, the other end 8of the coil projecting into the space in the still above the level 9 of the crude oil. A check valve 25 in pipe 6 prevents back-flow from the coil 7. Upon the bottom of the still is a mass 10 of fusible metal such as lead, covering the coil 7, and serving as a false bottom. The still is suitably mounted in a furnace 11 and is arranged to be heated to 900 F. and above. From the tower 4c, the uncondensed vapors passby pipe 14 to a condenser 15 arranged to permit condensation of the vapors under maintained pressure, in the manner described in Patent No. 419,931, to Dewar and Redwood, patented January 21, 1890. Any suitable arrangement may be used for this purpose. I have shown one comprising the receptacle 17, for the condensate, having in its up er portion or gas space, an adjustable relief valve 18. The condensate is removed from receptacle. 17 by the valved pipe 19. A gas pipe 20 provided with a hand valve 21 is used for the purpose of drawing 0% the fixed gas from the apparatus and so controlling the flow of gasolene.

In the operation of the still a quantity of crude oil is run in to the proper level shown by dotted lines 9, and the furnace started. The natural light gasolene components are mostly distilled off at atmospheric pressure and condensed in the condenser 15. The

still is then closed by valve 23 provided in pipe let for this purpose, and the temperature and pressure in the still raised, the former reaching 650 to 850 degrees Fahrenheit, or higher, depending upon the crude oil used, and the latter varying from 25 pounds to 140 pounds per square inch according to the crude oil treated, and increasing as the distillation proceeds. As the temperature rises following the closing of the still there is at first simple distillation of the components of least gravity which condense in tower 4: and are led back through the pipes 5, and heat the same to a considerable temperature. As the cracking temperature is reached, however, the cracked products being the lightest of those given olf by the still, and comprising a certain proportion of gas, occupy the upper part of the tower and the upper pipes 5 to the exclusion of the uncracked products, the apparatus thus becoming to an extent gas bound, which causes the upper part of the tower 4 and the upper pipes 5 to become relatively cool, which af-.

fords'a convenient method of determining by contact with said pipes when the operation of cracking has commenced. There upon the communication is opened to the condenser. The products of the distillation pass into the tower 4 through the pipe 12 and are condensed therein'according to their specific gravities or condensation points, the

heavier components of the distillate condensing in the lower portion of the tower and the lighter components in the upper portion of the tower; but the cracked portions of the distillate which are light enough for gasolene pass over into the condenser 15 and receiver 17. The portions of the distillate which are too heavy to form gasolene and cannot be cracked under the conditions which are most suitable for cracking the heavier Portion of the crude petroleum, but require higher temperature,

are condensed in the tower 4 as stated and pass into the pipes 5 and to the header 6, and thence into the coil 7 submerged in the lead bottom 10. Here they are immediately vaporized since the coil is maintained at a temperature.in excess of that of the body of crude petroleum and sufficient to crack these lighter hydrocarbons. Observation indicates that the flow through the header 6 and into the pipe 7 is notcontinuous, but that the valve 25 is normally maintained closed by the excess of pressure in the coil 7 over that upon the columns of oil in the ,the still and mingles with the distillate therefrom, again entering the tower 4 where the gasolene and heavier components are again separated as described. Thus it will be seen that the entire process is a continuous one, the heavier components of the crude petroleum being continuously cracked by distillation over the lead bottom and at a suitable temperature, and the lighter components being continuously distilled and cracked in the submerged pipe beneath the surface of the lead at a suitably higher temperature, the cracked products of both distillations being commingled and the gasolene separated therefrom and condensed. The lead false bottom prevents contact of the petroleum with the bottom of the still where the latter is impinged upon by the hottest part of the flame, and said false bottom so distributes the heat to the petroleum that burning by excess temperature and therefore unnecessary separation of carbon is avoided. Furthermore the carbon which separates falls upon the surface of the molten metal and is thus prevented from accumulating on the bottom of the still receiving the more direct impact of the heat from the furnace, thereby avoiding overheating in spots and removing danger from explosions due to the h gh pressure.

Examples of the process are as follows:

A crude oil of 33 to 34$ gravity B. was distilled in the ordinary manner to remove the light oils, until the distillate reached a gravity of between 39 to 40. The residue or still bottom was now gradually raised to a temperature of about 800 F. At about 718? F. it began to crack, making a fine light product, the pressure then being be tween 30 and 40 pounds.

With a'crude oil from a different source (Cushing' crude) the results were as follows:

The oil had a gravity of 383 13., and was distilled without pressure until the gravity of its distillate was 44. Pressure was then applied until it reached 120 pounds, yet the temperature had reached but 715 F., fine light products being obtained.

I claim 1. The method of obtaining gasolene and the like from crude petroleum which comprises heating petroleum under high pressure to a cracking temperature, condensing the higher boiling portions of the distillate under pressure, heating said condensed higher boiling portions to a temperature and at a pressure above those of the initial distillation of the crude petroleum and then passing the resulting products from said separately heated portions to the condenser.

2. The method of obtaining gasolene and the like from crude petroleum, which comprises heating the petroleum under high pressure to a cracking temperature in contact with a molten difiicultly-volatile false bottom, condensing the higher boiling portions of the distillate under pressure, heating said condensed higher boiling portions to a temperature above that of the crude petroleum without diminution of pressure, and then passing the resulting products from said separately heated portions to the condenser.

3. The method of obtaining gasolene and the like from crude petroleum, which comprises heating the petroleum under high pressure to a cracking temperature in contact with a molten metal false bottom, condensing the higher boiling portions of the distillate under pressure, separately heating said condensed higher boiling portions in a receptacle within the molten metal false bottom without diminution of pressure, to

a higher temperature than that of the crude petroleum in the still, and passing the products from said separately heated portion to the condenser.

4. The method of obtaining gasolene and the likefrom crude petroleum which comprises heating petroleum in a closed vessel to a cracking temperature, condensin the higher boiling portions of the distillate under pressure, heating said condensed higher boiling portions to a temperature and at a pressure above those of the initial distillation of the crude petroleum, returning the thusproduced vapors to the vapor space in the still, and condensing the resulting products from said separately heated portions.

5. The method of obtaining gasolene and the like from crude petroleum which comprises heating petroleum ina closed vessel to a cracking temperature, condensing the higher boiling portions of the distillate under pressure, heating said condensed higher boiling portions in a conduit passing through molten material in the bottom portion of the still, and returning the thus produced vapors to the vapor space in the still, and condensing under maintained pressure the resulting products from said separately heated portions.

6. The method of distilling oil which} consists in heating theoil in a still having a false bottom of molten material, condensing the higher boiling portions, reheating I the thus condensed higher boiling portions in a conduit passing through the molten material and opening into the vapor space of the still.

7. The method of distilling oil which 'con- Y prises heating the same under high pressure to a temperature of between 650 F. and 850 F., passing the vapors therefrom through a. granular inert mass, thereby condensing the higher boiling portions of the distillate and heating said condensed higher boiling portions to a temperature above that of the crude petroleum, and then passing under maintained pressure the resulting products from said separately heated portions to the condenser.

9. A method of obtaining gasolene and the like from crude petroleum which comprises heating the same under a high pressure to a temperature between 650 F. and 850 F., passing the vapors therefrom through a granular inert mass, thereby condensing the higher boiling portions of the distillate and heating said condensed higher boiling portions to a temperature above that of the crude petroleum and then passing the vapors resulting from the. heating of the higher boiling portions of the distillate under maintained pressure separately, heating the condensate of higher boiling point to a temperature and at a pressure above those of the initial distillation of the crude petroleum and returning the vapors so produced and mingling them with the vapors directly produced from the crude petroleum.

11. An apparatus for the distillation of petroleum consisting of a still, a fusible false bottom therein, a pipe submerged in said false bottom, a return condenser, one end of said pipe connected to the return pipe of the return condenser, and the other end of said pipe opening into the vapor space of said still.

12. An apparatus for the distillation of petroleum consisting of a still, a false bottom of lead therein, a pipe submerged in the lead bottom, a return condenser, one end of said pipe connected to the return pipe of the return condenser, the other end of said pipe unobstructed and opening into the vapor space of said still.

13. An apparatus for the distillation of petroleum consisting of a still, a false bottom of lead therein, a pipe submerged in the lead bottom, a return condenser, one end of said pipe connected to the-return pipe of the return condenser, the other end of said' pipe unobstructed and opening into the vapor space of said still, a second condenser, and a conduit leading from the return condenser to the second condenser.

14:. An apparatus for producing gasolene from crude petroleum comprising a still, a fused material of higher boiling point than the petroleum in the bottom of the still, a pipe submerged in said material and extending at one end into the upper portion of the still, a return condenser, a connection between the return condenser and the other end of said pipe, and a check valve in said connection opening toward said pipe.

15. The method of obtaining gasolene and the like from crude petroleum which comprises maintaining a quiescent body of molten material in a still, heating the petroleum in contact with said body to a temperature between 650 degrees F. and 850 degrees F., heating the higher boiling portion by means of said molten mass to a temperature above that of the crude petroleum under maintained pressure, and passing the resulting products to a condenser.

16. The method of obtaining gasolene and the like fromcrude petroleum which comprises maintaining a quiescent body of molten material-in a still, heating the petroleum in contact with said body to a temperature between 650 degrees F. and 850 degrees F., condensing the higher boiling portions of the distillate under pressure and heating the higher boiling portion by means of said molten mass to a temperature above that of the crude etroleum under maintained pressure, an passing the resulting products to a condenser.

17. The method of obtaining gasolene and the like from crude petroleum which comprises heating the material under a high pressure to a temperature between 650 degrees and 850 degrees F, separating the higher'anol the lower boiling portions of the distillate, separately condensing such portaeopaa tions under pressure, re-heating the condensed higher boiling portion to a temperature above that of the crude petroleum, sepa rating the products resulting from said reheating into a higher and a lower boiling portion, separately condensing the higher boiling portion and re-heating it at a temperature above that of the crude petroleum.

18. The method of obtaining gasolene and the like from crude petroleum which comprises heating the material under high pressure to a cracking temperature, condensing the higher boiling portions of the distillate, returning the resulting condensate to the same still, heating it therein to a higher temperature than that of the liquid body of petroleum in the still and thereby vaporizing and further cracking said condensate and passing the light products from the crude petroleum and from the condensate together to a condenser.

19. The method of obtaining gasolene and the like from crude petroleum which comprises heating the material in a liquid body to a cracking temperature under high pressure, passing the vapors therefrom through a condenser which condenses the heavier hydrocarbons in the distillate, passing the lighter hydrocarbons in the distillate to a second condenser, returning the heavier portions of the distillate to the still, heating them in said still while separate from the crude petroleum to a higher temperature than-that of the latter, thereby vaporizing and partially cracking the same, and mixing the vapors with the vapors from the crude petroleum.

20. Apparatus for distilling petroleum, comprising a still, a superheating-coil of considerable heating-surface in said still beneath the surface of the oil and having one end open to the vapor-space in the still, a return-condenser, means for conveying the vapors from saidstill to said return-condenser, a condenser connected to the upper part of the return-condenser, conduits connecting said return-condenser at various heights thereof to the other end of said superheatingcoil and means for preventing back-flow toward the return-condenser.

- LAYTON O. SHERMAN.

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