US1506877A - Process sob - Google Patents

Description

J. H. ADAMS PROCESS FOR THE CONVERSION AND TRANSFORMATION OF LIQUIDS, FLUIDS, AND OILS Se t. 2 1924,

filed March 3; 919 4 Shanta-Sheet 1 mawmmw u WITNESSES J. H. ADAMS rnocsss FOR THE convznsmu AND TRANSFORMATION OF LIQUIDS.

Sept. 2 1924.

FLUIDS, AND OILS 4 Shy 5/ 52 9 m 7 1 5 a 2 n H M n 4 IN M 2' 5 7 4 4 m z w E 2 m w mvgu ran Sept. 2 1924.

J. H. ADAMS IRQCESS FOR THE CONVERSION AND TBANSFORMATIDN 0F LIQUIDS FLUXDS AND OILS Filed March 3. 1919 4 Sheets-Sheet 3 v v m s INVEN TOR -I P on WITNESSES Sept. 2 1924.

J. H. ADAMS PROCESS FOR THE CONVERSION AND TRANSFORMATION OF LIQUIDS, FLUIDS AND OILS Filed March 3, 1919 INVEN TOR of the form of apparatus shown in the drawings, the cor elated parts and their relation one to the other may he described so that those skilled in the an may readily understand the process carried on in this form of apparatus, which is well adapted to carrying out my invention.

Referring now to the drawing Fig. 1. A represents a suitable supply tan], as a source of the oil to be treated. Fluid oil may be admitted to this tank through pipe l controlled by valve 2, and the displaced air, at the time of filling, 11151:, escape through pipe 3 controlled by 'alve 4. This tanl; only be rovided with glass fit gauges 5, so that Sis height of Ollll'll'fltlii may he known at all times.

Oil is Withdrawn from the tank A, through pipe 6 and sediment trap T. by pump 8, and forced through pipe 9. pre cision valve 10 and pipe 11, into a pre-lieuter B, oomposed of a refractory brick or asbes- 1703 and magnesia lined shell containing a heating means and u pipe coil 12, so that the inllowiug oil to the courerter may be rapidly heated it lows through the coils and out through pipe 13 and trap ll, into the body of the converter C--D- This form of converter is composed of a vaporizing section C, provided with u glass sight gauge 15, to record the height of oil in the section and a thick flint glass sight 16, so that the color of the heater nut he observed.

Mounted above the vaporizing section C, and made last thereto by interposed flange members All, a section D, is arranged for rrucliiug the vapors of oil urising from the vuporiziug section (1 This section is provided with :12. glass sight gauge 17 and 11 thi k lint gloss sight 18. so that the color of the ru mr cracking heater may be obs rved.

Leading out from this section D, a pipe 19, connects into the top of a gauge column :50, on which zl-uss sight gauges 21 are arranged enulile the operator to more curer'uil g re the height of o l in the c nicri r ,l. The llOllOlll of this column in em. Lsll? into iilie lop of trup 14 so that il'u r ill be a complete circuluiiou of oil our oil; vapors through the column and 211E121 glasses.

is ilinu" out from the opposite side ueur imp ol' the sci-lion I). u vapor pipe 2;.

u iii-sled into the upper purl of u lrup F, 5; u'iliill :1 lnillle pile 32" is arranged in three own :|u pin-Hull's :,r wholly uni-oar vrrtwfi pus inn out through lillu' Al to ilu mu iQ-l Ulllli'ilwll (l.

f ucli luuvv \uporwhi h lull in liquid ,coiuli-usule are led iuu'l-i lo llu c -lion I". through pipe 5, while rm lightw- M -Hull cl'iureilcil u u'u \iliivli puss ilmvn uioulul the hottvm ol' the Emilie plane 21 hui \vliirli do not rise and flow out through pipe 24 to the condenser but full to the bottom of the trap F, llow through pipe 27 to the liquid collecting tank J, to be returned to the tuuk A, for retreatment.

The vapors and gases passing through the condenser G, How through pipe :28, into the distillate and gas collecting tank H, provided with at sight gauge glass 29 and a pressure guuge 30. From this tank the liquid oil is Withdrawn through pipe 31 controlled by valve 32, and the noncondensuhle fixed gases are let oil through pipe Ill) controlled by needle valve 34.

As it is dillicult to regulate the speed of a pump so as to deliver constantly a given lixed quantity of oil to the system, it pipe 36 und an enclosed pop valve 36, are or ranged in the oil deliver system from pump 5:, and by regulating the tension in the enclosed I'eleuse valve 36 to a higher pressure than that maintained in the system, the pump 8, can he operated to deliver through precision valves 10, the required amount of oil to the heater and converter, and the surplus oil can he released through this valve and returned to the tank A, for remirculw tion. The gauge 37, will record the pressure of oil in. the delivery system While gauges 3:58 at the head of the converter and 30 on the running tank II, will record the back pressure in the system against which the oil must be forced by pump 8 into the converter C-D. v

The lower section L, of the converter is provided with u draw-oil pipe 39 and valve 1 leading into tank J, so that this section only be emptied and cleared of any heavy oil and scdime u which muy have accumulated therein and the gauge Fl will indicate the height of oil in ti o tank.

tion D, is secured to the lower retort or seclion C, by flange members ll, which are securely bolted together against :1 ga'islict of high heat enduring muteriul. Since the vapors rising into the crown sect ion D, from the body of liquid oil contained in the retort section C, exert 2i high s\iper-ounos iiheric vapor pressure. I have arranged a steel (up 4?, at the top of this section and made it fast against u gasket by means of strong steel bolts.

As :1 means of af ty in lliis high pressure system. should no ,uuuvoiiluhlv excessive pressure occur. u Sizlli'l) valve in is provided uud urrunged in the vupoiwliluit. uliove the voudensi-r so tlml any sudden expansion in the system can he released without uil ectingr Elie operation of the sevcrul ('fi]'l"ltlll,ll parts of the uppurutus.

The liquid contents of l'uuk J. can he relurnml lo supply tool; A. ll nu-uus of :1. pump 15 in connection with pipe ll. provided to withdraw the oil and force it llO through pipe 46 into the supply tank so that with new oil it may be retreated as before.

The heaters contained within the converting retort CD, and which will be more fully described hereafter, are arranged on conductor rod 47-48, to which electric cur rent is supplied through cables +49 and -50, from a source of low voltage and high amperage, so that the maximum of heat current can be supplied at a comparatively low electro-motive force.

In Fig. 2, a vertical section of the converter shows the interior construction of the vaporizer C and the vapor. converter or. chamber D. Located within this retort, the two heaters 53 and 54 are held in position by'means of the conductor rod 47,-47'48, through which current flows to maintain each heater at the required temperature for their respective operations. It will be noticed that a. tube or sheath 55 extends down into the vaporizing chamber G from the flange plate 41, the object being to cause a the oil flowing in through pipe 13, to approach the heater 53 from below, as shown y the arrows, and rapidly heat and vaporize. As this sheath 1s in close proximity to the heater 53, some of the radiated heat therefrom will have the efi'ect of additionally beating the incoming oil contained in the well outside. the sheath so that by the time it enters the sheath and surrounds the heator it is raised alinost to the point of volatilization.

The vapors rising from the surface of the oil above the heater 53, enters the converting tube or section D, and come in contact with or in close proximity to the heater 54, which is maintained at higher temperature than the vaporizing heater 53. The vapor, in ts upwardly passage through the chamher i), is affected within the heated zone and is, in a considerable measure, changed from its higher boiling nature to desirable low boiling products.

These roducts can be separated out from the con ensate by fractional distillation after the converted vapors have assed through v i e 22, the condenser G an into trap tanli ,from which they are with drawn after having been reduced to liquid form.

A feature of importance in an apparatus of this nature is the means for internally applying heat to the oil and oily vapors con tained in the retort under high superhtinos pheric pressures for the purpose of bring:- ing about the conversion of the high boiling original untreated oil to lower boiling products. Preferably in the apparatus illustrated,'this' means is electrically operated and comprises one or more resistance rods which are adapted to be maintained at heats designed to bring about the desired results 7 expansion dome E.

and which heats must vary Witllthc oils of diiferent gravitics and boiling points subjccted to transformation by this process.

This electric heater is made up in the form of a grid from a series of resistance rods arranged in pinion like fashion end so connected that the current may flow through them to the best advaniagc. and while the precise manner of connecting these resistance rods may llt' varied to conform to dili'erent currents of electricity which may be commercially available or generated in connection with this apparatus, the forms shown in Figs. 2 and 4, will be found very suitable for converting many grades of semi-refined and crude oils.

This electric heater is especially adapted for working under an electric current having a relatively' low voltage or electrouuotive force and a correspondingly high amperage or flow of current which is the heat generating element I propose to employ.

The current is brought in by means of cable or conductor wire +49 and conductor rod 4?.wvl1irrh passes through the cap 42 at the top of chamber D and in order to prevent grounding or short circuit with the metsllic parts of the system, an insulator bushing 51, of suitable nonconducting material will be interposed in a tight fitting relation between the cap and smiling box or gland .52, provided for the leading in conductor rod 47, so that vapor leakage under high pressure may be avoided.

So also the leading out end of the conductor rod 48, through the bottom of the chamber C. may be provided with an insulator bushing and a gland. The conductor rod 47-48 divided into three parts, that above the heater 54a and extending out through cap 42, that part connecting heater 54 with 53, and that part extending below heater :13 and out through the bottom of the chamber C. The upper and lower parts of this conductor terniinalc withinthe retort C D, in electrical connection with corresponding terminals of suitably constructed heaters and 54. which comprise one or more heating elements 60, 60, 60". 60; etc., (Fig. 5

These heaters provide means for interuaily heating the oil and oily vapors so as to 'ery effectively convert the same and assist in perforn'iing the steps of primary imortancc'to my process. that the vaporizing of oil and then transforming the vapors therefrom.

In Fig. 3, a similar sectional View of a retort is shown comprising in addition an This dome is made fast to the chamber D. by means of a reducing flange 5,'and at the upper end of the dome a crowned can 5?. provided for the attachment of the cup 12. through which the upper part of the cendnctor rod it extends.

hrough pipe Within this dome E. one or more arched perforated balllc plates 58. may be arranged to intercept the vapors before they escape .22 to the condenser G The central part of these plates is cut out so as to permit the rod 47 48 supportingthc hea.t crs 7:2. and being removed from the top of tludoinc when required. a

The pieces 59. cut from the central part of the plates 58. are attached to the rod ti-48. in such a posit'on as to close the opening in the large plates 58, when the rod properly located. but in the drawing tlltnt? small plates are shown mounted above the larger ones for illustration purposes only. as. in practice. they 'are so positioned as to form one continuous arched plate for the interception ofjthe heavier vapors. I.

The object of these plates to collect an y partly or wholly unconverted oily vapor and cause it to flow down alorg the inside of the dome E and reducing fladge 56. where it will come into close proximity to the cracking zone' or continue down the sides of chamber D, and fall into the chamber C, where it will again he volatilized by heater 53, and eventually become changed when in vaporous form by the heater 54.

In Fig. 4, the relative positon of the heater rods 60. insulating core 69. .heath 55 and the walls of the chamber 0. are shown as well as the inlet pipe 13 and\ one of the outlet pipes 39. p

In the erection and operation of the con; verters, for commercial ractice, it is necesa sary to combine a num er of units into a battery so that the supply and discharge to and from them can be handled by one set of supply PL ups and the converted vapors by one condensing apparatus, for economy of operation. Such a battery of units is shown in Fig. 5, where three oi-the converters of the type shown inFig. 3, are combined with a uniform feed and discharge.

The number of units may be increased to six or even twelve for convenience and economy, and each supply is compensated with the supply to. the other converters. by such a pipe as 68. so that a uniform height of oil may be maintained in all of the vaporizing chambers C, C'. C, and any additional ones comprising the battery. In like manner the outlets 22, from the domes E, 11 E lead up through pipes O and down through pipes 71. into one inclined vapor )ipc 24. leading to the condenser G, from which they pass into collecting tank H. as described in connection with the apparatus shown in Fig. 1.

I am not herein claiming this liquid or vapor compensation method. however. as that has already been shown and described in my co-pending application Ser. No. 530, 852, tiled Dec. 1, 1909, now Patent 1,320,354,

" again describe this simple form of Oct. 28 '1919, nor am I claiming the two of hea r shown in this application for that appears in my patent 976,975, Nov. 29, 191i). and is fully described in my co-pending up 7 li'cation. 530,852 already referred to; but or the avoidance of cross reference I will heater so that the description may be embodied in this specification.

It is, of course, a well known fact that if certain resistant mediums are employed through which all electric current will pass. heat will be generated, and if the material is of a nature to constantly withstand high temperature without breaking down or disintegrating then a constancy of heat can be depended upon for commercial operation. Such material can be found inc. form of gra hitic-carbon made in the electric furnace an such carbon can easily be out, threaded, tapped and shaped into the forms required for this purpose.

The most convenient form for the electrodes will be the round pencils of various thicknesses and lengths threaded at both ends so that attachments can be madej as shown in the drawing Fig. 5. in this form of grid the heating elements are joined at the top b links as 63 and 65, having nuts of the grap of them: while at. the bottom the rods or electrodes are screwed into links as 62 64, tapped to receive the screw threaded end of the electrode. a

In order to intercept the current passing in through rod 47 at the to of the unit and cause it to flow through t e grid, a core 69, of soapstone, porcelain or other insulate in? material capable of withstanding tempe atures above 1000 F. is provided with met ends 72, as shown m Fig. 6, and the grid t heating elements is wrapped around this core having the link end 61, at the top, inude'fest to the part 72 lay-means of a nut 73, and at he bottom the link 67, is made fast in a simi nianner to a corresponding metal part. In this manner the current coming down through 1116147, passes through metal end 72, the link 61, down the rod 60, across the link 62, up the rod 60 across the link 63, down the rod 60", across the link 64, up the rod 60, across the link U5 and continues up and down the successive rods and out at the last rod 66 and link 67 to the lower metal part attached to the insa- V lating core 69, and so on to the next heater The complete heater composed of the core and grid with the metal ends 72, the core 69 and the heating elements 60, is shown at Fig. 7 and in Fig. 8, a top view of the heater is shown while in Fig. .9, a cross section through cc-w of Fig. 7. shows the relative position of the core 69 and heating elements 60. Fig. 10, is a view looking down below the 'line XX of Fig. 7, and shows iitic-carbon located at both sides the'lower link 67, in a tition one rod removed from that to whicli at the top of the heaters;

This form of grid heater can have one or more circles of heatingelenients and in commercial practise a greater volume of hsst is radiated from several circles of smaller ill ameter heating elements than from s s n i circle of larger diameter heating rleniei It would be impossible to state the erra't diameter, the number or the length of rods necessary for the construction of such electric heaters: that being governed entireh. by the nature of the resistant. medium. the volume of current and electrmmotive fort-r. the quality and nature of oil to he converted and the temporature at whi h the heater is to be maintained. It is suflicient to state. however. that those skilled in the srt of elertric heater construction can. with the resistant medium available soon figure out the required parts or near enough so that after a few experiments are made with rods of various sizes and lengths the right electrodes can he coinl'iined to form the neces sary heaters.

Mode of operation.

Having described one form of upparatus adapted to carry out. my process it will be apparent to those having any knowledge of the art that while Working under high super-atmospheric vapor pressures J here are several things which must he observed in order to ohtn'm the ohjncts sought and to out. as a result of this process. the desired low boiling products Without rendering them of inferior nature.

It will he understood from the foregoing desrription that original oil is contained H1 tank A, that the pump 8 withdraws the oil from the supply tank and delivers it against a hack vapor pressure into the (fluvmtiuL' and vondensinq system composel of parts B. C l l lil. F. G and H. and that. the surplus oil not forced into the con erter is tielivercri into the tank A. through pipe fit; and enclosed release valve 3f. for re-rirculatinn by the pump. 8. That. the oil so admitted into the system through precision valves 10. is preheated in the heater ll. then admitted into the vaporizer (l. where heat from the Pier-trio heater 53, volatilizes the oil. and that such vapors arising from the surface of oil in this rontaincr pass up through chumhcr l). and in loss proximity to the heat r 4.. Will-PP tho greater purl of surh vapors are silt-ted ivy the (rushing heat radiated from the resistors and while held under the high suprr'atmospheric vapor pressures are transformed from high hoiling oils into products having lower boiling points and specific gravities.

The vapors so transformed pass out through pipe 222, trap F and into the conlink 61 is attached grade i-ondeusate.

denser and collecting sy tem G and H. from which latter the liquid prtulurt is withdrawn through pipe 3-H routroliccl hy valve 32 and the tired gases llir'uitgll pipe 33 controllcd by valve 34. Any mmlensate not light enough to go over into the i-onrienscr, when in vnporous form. is LQiltl'llrtl to the chsinhsr C or trapped in tsnlr from wizieh it is returned to the supply tsult A. hyineans of pump and pipes 11 and it).

In this continuous prt the addition of new oil' into tent; A. is necessary to compensate for the Withdrawal oi distillates from the running tank H. and so long as the apparatus is operating under tarorahle conditions with the heaters maintained at uniformheats and the supply and discharge regulated to render the greatest volume of transformed pro-dust the process may be continued for days without ressntion or disturhance.

While this process has a wide rrm, 5o in its adaptability forrerious pur x oses urrl for the rests-lent of other liquid than hydrocarbons. its mission in this [use is to futfill the need for 2: method of transforming many of the heavy and inexpensive residue oils into those of greater commerriai demand and value to meet the fast growing market necessities, particularly for petroleum spirits such gasolene and naphtha.

In the foregoing explant'ition and in the following claims. mention. smile oi high superstmuspherir vapor pressures in (onnertion with wilntilizing and smoking heats in carrying on the process. From ronsiderahle experimenting on an extensive scale s'nd from the practical operation of a large unit producing large quantities of distillutes in the operation of this process and where kerosene, gas and. solar oils have heen employed as the raw materials subjected to transformatioiu very good results have been had while optrating under s Vapor pressure above pounds sud under too pounds t the superiiriul inch. Pressures which seem to give this host results isrgr-. "'elds of gusolene and naphtha hearing iiistillates have ranged from to 90 pounds to the square inch and very satisfartory runs of distillate of light color carrying from S0 to 95% of gasolene have been produced while o miratinp under Til to so lhs, pressure to the squqro inch in the converter and condenser, the light converted vapors rising rapidly from the souverter and flowing freely into the condenser where. under the uniform vupor pressure in the converter and condenser the ery light or gaseous parts of the vapors are combined with the heavier parts when condensed under ressure, thus obtaining large yields of hlgher The pressure is not necessarily limited to 100 pounds to the square inch for in some cases it may be inu creased to three hundred pounds. so that while mentioning satisfactory heats under which cracking has taken place it is not to be taken as limiting the pressures which 1 may employ in carrying on the process either for hydro-carbon or other liquids which may be treated by employing this process in its-broadest possibilities.

The terms cra king heats anll."cra"king temperatures" may be understood and in terpreted as temperatures in excess of the necessary heats employed in the processes of fractional distillation of oilsrrr the more separation of the component parts of a crude or semi-refined oil. Cracking temperatures as applied to petroleum oils may vary from 600 to 1000 F. or even higher. but t'or commercial purposes in the'lmndling: of ordinary residues and the lower gravity oils available for conversion I have found that beats ranging from TOO to 900? 1 and vapor pressures of 70 to 90 pounds to the square inch over the surfaces of oils and in the vapors undergoing transformation and condensation give very satisfactory results without. however, using these illustrations in a limited sense.

,In the commercial operation of this and all of my former liquid converting processes of record. inapparatus adapted for the sow eral methods. it is the aim. so for as possible, to obtain the greatest yields of that particular product desired at the least cost for fuel and :it the. lowest pressure. for economical reasons. The heats necessary in oil conversion when ranging above 700 to 806 F.. together with pressures from 75 to 100 pounds to the square inch, require apparatus and parts constructed along the mes ot' boilers and apparatus to pounds steam pressure. within commercial bounds and the possibilities of moderate cost but when large upparatus is constructed to withstand prossures from 100 to 300 pounds to the square inch, that means a strengthening of all parts of the system and which necessarily doubles the cost of an equipment. In addition to that also is the fuel cost to maintain the higher temperatures and while such heats and pressures may be interesting in the experimentation upon the several hydrocarion oils and other liquids adapted to trans- This is always withstand 150 formation the actual large yield operation is conducted at temperatures under 1000 and pressures below 150 pounds to the supertirinl' inch in the system comprising the preheuter. \uporiner. converter, condenserend running tank. as the average gravity of oil available in large quantities will range in gravity from 30 to Beum.

1. A, process of cracking hydrocarbon oils that consists in applying heat lot-ally to a body of liquid in a combined cracking and vaporizing chamber, applying a cracking :empm-ature locally to the vapors in said chamber. separating the vapors ol' the heavier and medium products from the. lighter products. condensing the lighter products. returning: the'heavier products to the body of liquid in the cracking chamber. and returning the medium products to the source of supply.

2. process of cracking hydrocarbon Oil which comprises maintaining a body of liquid oil in :1 combined vaporizing and elm-hing chamber. continin n lotslized portion of said body and e outing its vu porizntion. subjecting the evolved vapors above said body to a cracking temp ture. umiutnining superatmospheric pres e on the oil under treatment, and withdrawing the evolved cracked vapors.

3. A process of cracking hydrocarbon oil which comprises continuously passing the oil successively through a plurality of series connected vaporizing and cracking Chills" hers, heating the oil in transit through chzuuhers to etfect its vaporization. locally subjecting the evolved vapors above the oii infire several chambers to sulficient heat to crap-l; the vapors while maintaining s. superatmospheric pressure thereon, equalizing the vapor pressure in, the several chambers by maintaining a freeand open conuounicir tion between their vapor spaces and withdrawing! from the several clmuibers the vs porn com-urrently cracked therein.

in testimony whereof I atiix my signature in the presence of two witnesses.

JOSEPH H. ADAMS.

W i tnesses A. CAPSTIOIL J. S. or. Sruuuo.

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