US1758898A - Process of preparing motor fuels - Google Patents

Description

May 13, 1930. F. A. HOWARD PROCESS OF PREPARING MOTOR FUELS Filed-July 21, 1922 I gnvemtoz Fran/(OT/You ara Patented May 13, 1930 UNITED STATES PATENT- OFFICE FRANK A. HOWARD, OF ELIZABETH, NEW JERSEY, ASSIGNOR TO STANDARD OIL DEVELOPMENT COMPANY, A CORPORATION OF DELAWARE PROCESS OE PREPARING MOT OR FUELS Application filed July 21, 1922. Serial No. 576,578.

price is necessarily characterized by the presence of heavier fractions and constituents which modify certain features of engine efficiency; in particular a common result being detonation or knocking on compressions above a relatively medium ratio; "Various proposals have been made to modify such detonative combustion by addition of chemical agents, but these where effective not only add to the expense but introduce other complications. By my invention however, I pro-- duce an improved motor gasoline while avoiding the addition of such foreign substances.

Instead, the hydrocarbons themselves are so altered, by suitable measures, as to reduce the knocking propensities referred to.

In proceeding according to my invention, I segregate the heavier fractions of gasoline and conduct them in vapor state together with air or oxygen through a heated passage giving a working temperature of 450 to (300 F., at a pressure not materially exceeding atmospheric. The amount of air is controlled in such limits as to avoid material oxidation on the hydrocarbon molecules, and will not exceed four atomsof oxygen figured to the average molecular weight of the hydrocarbon. In general I prefer an air feed within the limits of 5 to 20 cubic feet per pound of hydrocarbon. The products-are then recovered in a condenser, treated to remove gumming constituents, for example by being washed in water or subjected to steam or preferably steam-distillation, and being treated with a dilute alkali solution, such as to 2% sodium hydroxid solution, and after Washing with water are mixedcback with the lighter fractions of the gasoline from which they were primarily separated.

As an illustrative example, taking a commercial gasoline having an initial boiling point of 110 F., 20%otf at 202 F., 50)? off at 275 F., and 90% ott' at. 370 F., and an acid absorption of 8%, I separated off the light fractions boiling up to 260 F., by distillation, and setting this distillate aside I passed the heavy fractions in vapor form together with air through a heated passage at substantially atmospheric pressure and an effective temperature of 550 F., the air proportion being on the order of 11.5 cu. ft. of air per pound of hydrocarbon. The products proceeded through a water-cooled condenser, and the condensate obtained was subsequently distilled with superheated steam, then treated with a 1%-"sodium-hydroxidsolution and washed with water, and was finally mixed back with the light fractions separated out from the original gasoline. The product showed an initial boiling point of 116 1*., 20% oil at 198 F., 50% off at 257 F. and

lVherc blended gasolines are being made, the heavy component therefor may be subjected to the oxygen and heat treatment, etc. and then be mixed with the lighter components to make up the finished gasoline.

In the accompanying drawing a suitable apparatus is shown for carrying out my process, although other forms may be equally satisfactory. The reference character 1 refers to a still of the type commonly called a rerun still. The feed oil containing boththe light fractions, which are not to be subjected to the oxygen heat treatment, and the heavier, knock producing fractions, which are to be subjected to the above noted treatment, is admitted by line 2. The vapors leave the still by line 3 to the rectifying column 4, in which the separation between the heavier and lightor fractions occurs, the latter being condensed in the condenser 5 while the former, now in the liquid state, is forced by pump 6 to the heating coil 7. The heavy fractions are vaporized in coil 7 and flow to the heated zone 8 into which air is admitted by line 9. The

90% off at 36Q9fF .and an acid absorption of steam still 12 Which is fitted with a tower 13 and steam spray 14, as is customary. The bulk of the oil is distilled by the aid of steam and is condensed and cooled in a condenser 15 from which it is discharged to a small work tank 16. A pump 17 then forces the distillate through mixers 18 and 19 into which soda solution and water are fed for treating and washing the oil, as is well understood. Continuous mixers are shown but other types may be employed. Each mixer is supplied with a separator 18 and 19 respectively, which permits the separation of the mixture discharged from the mixers into aqueous and oily layers. The aqueous layers are drawn off by pipes for that purpose. I

The oily layer flowsfrom separator 18 to mixer 19 and from-separator 19 to a blending tank 20. The lighter untreated fractions of the gasoline, which are removed by distillation from tower 4 and are condensed in the condenser 5, are also conducted to blending tank 20 and the resulting mixture comprising a superior motor fuel may be withdrawn to storage (not shown).

Products prepared according" to the present invention show a superior performance in en ine usage.

I he expression knocking constituents, where occuring in the claims hereinaftegis which occasion detonation or knocking in carburetor-fed engines where running on compressions exceeding a relatively medium ratio.

While in describing my invention I have referred to certain specific examples of procedure, uses,*etc. it will be understood that these are illustrative and not limitativc, and

the invention is to be regarded as limited only as defined in the following claims, in which it is my intention to claim all inherent novelty as broadly as the prior art permits. WVhat I claim is:

1. The process of preparing motor fuel, which comprises separating the light fractions of gasoline from the heavy fractions and reserving the light fractions, vaporizing the heavy fractions and passing the vapor at substantially atmospheric pressure, together with air through a temperature zone of450 to 600 F., the proportion of air being about 11 to 12 cubic feet per pound of hydrocarbon, collecting cond8IlSlbl8'Pl'0dl1CtS, distilling said products with superheated steam, treating with'dilute alkali solution, washing with water, and mixing the washed product with the reserved light fractions originally separated from the gasoline.

2. The process of preparing motor fuel, which comprises vaporizing heavy hydroto be understood as referringto'constituents f carbon fractions intended for a blended gasoline, passing the vapor at substantially atmospheric pressure, together with air through a temperature zone of 450 to 600 F., the proportion of air being about 11 to 12 cubic feet per pound of hydrocarbon, collecting condensible products, distilling said products with superheated steam,'treating with dilute alkali solution, washing with water, and mixing the washed product with light fractions to make up a gasoline.

3. The process of preparing motor fuel, which comprises separating the light fractions of gasoline from the heavy fractions and reserving the light fractions, vaporizing the heavy fractions and passing the vapor at substantially asmospheric pressure, together.

with air through a temperature zone of 450 to 600 F., the proportion of air being between 5 and 20 cubic feet per pound of hydrocarbon,

collecting condensible products, distilling said products with steam, treating with dilute alkali solution, washing with water, and mixing the washed product with the reserved light fractions originally separated from the gasoline.

4. The process of preparing motor fuel, which comprises vaporizing heavy hydrocarbon fractions intended for a blendedgasoline, passing the vapor at substantially atmospheric pressure together with. air through a temperature zone of 450 to 600 F., the

proportion of air being between 5 and 20 cubic eet per pound of hydrocarbon, collecting condensible products, distilling said products with steam, treating with dilute alkali solution, washing with water, and mixing the washed product with light fractions to make up a gasoline.

5. The process-of preparing mot'or fuel, which comprises separating the light fractions of gasoline from the heavy fractions and reserving the light fractions, vaporizing 'the heavy fractions and passing the vapor at substantially atmospheric pressure, together with oxygen through a temperature zone of 450 deg. to 600 deg. F., treating the products to remove gumming constituents, and mixing the product with reserved light fractions originally separated from the gasoline.

6. The process of preparing a motor fuel, which comprises separating the light fractions of gasoline from the heavy fractions and reserving the light fractions, vaporizing the heavy fractions and passing the vapor at substantially atmospheric pressure, together with oxygen, through a temperature zone of 450 to 600 F., and mixing theproduct with the reserved light fractions originally separated from the gasoline.

7. The process according toclaim 6 in which the fraction treated with'oxygen boils substantially entirely above 260 F.

FRANK A. HOWARD.

Images