US1552980A - Apparatus for the continuous distillation of crude petroleums and the like - Google Patents

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sept 8, 1925. l 1,552,980

E. BLAISE J. APPARATUS FOR THE CONTINUOUS DISTILLATION 0F CRUDE PETROLEUMS AND THE LIKE Filed March 25, 1924 Patented Sept. 8, 1925.

i UNITED STATES iazso PATENT OFFICE.

JOSEPH EMILE BLAISE, 0F BLAYE, FRANCE, ASSIGNOR TO THE SOCIETE DESMARAIS FRERES, 0F PARIS, FRANCE, A CORPORATION OF FRANCE.

APPARATUS FOR THE CONTINUOUS DISTILLATION 'OF CRUDE PETROLEUMS AND THE LIKE.

Application :filed March 25, 1924. Serial N0..701,803.

To czZZ whom t may concern:

Be it known that I, JOSEPH EMILE BLAISE, subject of the King of Belgiumj, residing at Blaye, Gironde, France, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Apparatus for the Continuous Distillation of Crude Petroleums and the like, of which the following is a specification.

The present invention has for object an apparatus allowing the continuous distillation of crude petroleums, coal tars and all other complex mixtures of hydrocarbons to be carried out with simultaneous rectification of the constituents and recovery of the waste heat and also allowing of obtaining economically in a single operation as extended as desired a range of homogeneous cuts or frac-` tions, suitable for delivery to the consumer, the number of these fractions, their quantity and their composition being capable of regulation at any moment.

The apparatus according to the invention, comprises a series of distillation retorts of any desired number less than the lnumber of fractions to be collected. These retorts are heated both by the recovery of the heat carried away after condensation by the products of distillation, and as regards those having the higher temperatures, by means of external furnaces.

The recovery of the heat from the condensed products can be effected either in the retorts themselves by causing the condensed products to pass through these retorts, or in suitable temperature exchangers connected between the retorts in the line of circulation of the products to be distilled.

The retorts, installed in rows or batteries for continuous working, distill products corresponding respectivelyto the temperatures to which they are raised and deliver their contents from one to another after the liquid has been deprived of the corresponding fraction by being distilled 0H.

The products of the distillation pass into condenser-rectifier groups, which may be of any desired number but at least equal to the number of cuts or fractions which it is desired to obtain. Each of these groups consists of a rectifying elementof the bubbling, trickling or other type, surmounted by a condenser element with a nest' of tubes, coils or other refrigeration device with circulation of water or air, the cooling being variable according to the volume tobe dealt with.

The annexed drawing represents diagrammatically by way of example a form of apparatus in accordance with the invention. For the clearness of the drawing, the pipes leading the cooling water to and from the condensers have been omitted.

The operation is as follows z" Theprimary material to be distilled is introduced into the head retort A1, in which it is inaintainedvat constant level, and from which it passes successively through a series of suitable pipes into the retorts A2 A3 A, of which the temperature increases from A1 to A4. Each retort distills products corresponding to the temperature to which it is raised, and the vapours evolved are directed through the pipes a to the corresponding condenser-rectifier group, which also receives through -pipes such as b the vapours derived from the elements to the left thereof.

Each condensing element B, according to the variable cooling to which it is subjected, condenses a part of the vapours which pass into it, commencing with those of which the vaporizing'point is the highest, but also carrymg with them a certain art of the vapours of a lower vaporizatlon point. The whole fraction' condensed flows through the pipe c to the top of the corresponding rectifier C, to the lower part of which there also' pass through the pipe al the uncondensed l vapours from the top of the condenser. By

the intimate contact of the vapours and the condensed liquid, which travel in opposite directions, rectification is effected and the distillate collected at the bottom furnishes a homogeneous product which flows through a pipe e, delivering the cut'- or fraction, the volume of which can be regulated by a valve. An overflow orifice f returns the excess to the top of the rectifier to the left thereof.

Distillation thus takes place at the same time as rectification as far as theflast retort and the' last condenser-rectifier group.

The cuts or fractions which escape from the different condenser-rectifers are directed either into coils passing through the re'- torts of which the temperature is lower` than their own', or through temperature exchangers, so as to allow of recovering the greater part of theiry heat. On leaving the head retort which is the coldest, they pass into refrigerators D which bringthem to the temperature suitable for final collection.

The vapours which escape from the last element C1 may be such aseannot be condensed at the temperature atwhich it discharges its cut or fraction and they escape at g and pass to the refrigerator which furnishes by condensation a last supplementary fraction.

Under theseconditions it will bcunderstood that it is possible to lregulate the rate of working in such an apparatus so as to olitain all the fractions whichk are desired. The supply to the head retort being maintained constant and corresponding to a fixed output, and the heating of' the retorts being itself regulated to supply the heating necessary for the total distillation, it is only' necessary to regulate the outputs'of the cut pipes e, inorder that each of them shall allow to flow in a given time the correspondin g quantity of each fraction contained in the material submitted to the distillation. The cooling of each condenser-rectifier group will regulate itself so as to supply sufficient condensation to ensure the flow of its cut and a slight retro-gradation' or return flow towards the element to its left.

It-will be noted that it is possible -in full working` and at any4 moment whatever, to

rmodify the proportions of the fractions in relation to one another by controlling simultaneously and as required the valves regulating the flow of the cuts and the means or regulating the corresponding-refrigeration. Any particular fraction can be increased or reduced in quantity by reducing or increasing one or more of the other fractions by the same total amount. l

It is evident that if the number of the fractions to be collected is less than the num'- ber ofcondenser-rectifier groupsv it will be possible to completely shut down the cut at duplicate or trlplicate, as the casemay be,

the retort in which this cracking process isl belng carried out, so as to allow of it being` placed out of circuit for cleaning by means 00 of a by-pass device upon thepipe in which the products to be distilled are circulated.l

lVhat I claim is:

1. In an apparatus for continuous distillation of crude petroleums and the like, in

combination, a series of retorts, a series of condeuser-rectifiers independent in number, of the number of retorts, pipe connections between said retorts` betweeneach retort and the lower part of one of the condensers,

between the top of each condenser and the lower part of the corresponding rectifier, and between the topof each rectifier exce t the first rectifier and the lower part of t le preceding condenser and preceding rectifier, a fraction pipe leading away from each rectifier, and means for controlling flow through the fraction pipes.

2. An apparatus for continuous distillation of crude prising, a series of retorts,`a series of condenser-rectifiers independent in number of the number of retorts, pipe connections between said retorts, between each retort and the lower part of one of the` condensers, .between the top of each condenser and the lower part of the corresponding rectifier, and between the top of each rectifier, except the first rectifier, and the lower part of the preceding condenser and precedlngrectilier, a fraction pipe leading away from each rectifier and means for cuttin out of operationany desired number o? the fraction pipes, for the purposadescribed.

3. An ap aratus forcontinuous distillax- 9 tion of cru e petroleums and the like, comprising, a series of retorts, a series of condenser-rectifiers in number equal at least to the number of retorts, pipe connections between said retorts, between each retort and the lower part of one of the condensers, between the top of each condenser and the lower part ofthe Icorresponding rectifier, and between the top of each rectifier, ex-

.cept the first 4rectifier and the lower parts 105 of the preceding condenser and the receding rectifier, a fraction pipe lea ing away from each rectifier, and mea-ns'for controlling flow in each of said fraction pipes, for the purpose described.

In testimony whereof I have signed my name to this specification.

JOSEPH EMILE BLAISE.

petroleum's andthe like, com- '80

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