US1806284A - Process of and apparatus for converting heavy into lighter hydrocarbons - Google Patents

Description

:May 19,. 1931. c. P. DUBBS' V PROCESS OF AND APPARATUS FOR CONVERTING HEAVY INTO LIGHTER HYDROCARBONS Original Filed 55c. 12, 1918 3 Sheets-Sheet 1 c. P. DUBBS May 19, 1931.

PROCESS OF AND APPARATUS FOR CONVERTING HEAVY INTO LIGHTER HYDROGARBONS 3 Sheets-Sheet 2 Patented May 19, 1931 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE CARBON 1P. DUBBS, OF WILMETTE, ILLINOIS, ASSIGNOR TO UNIVERSAL OIL PRODUCTS COMPANY, OF CHICAGO, ILLINOIS, A CORPORATION OF SOUTH DAKOTA PROCESS OF AND APPARATUS FOR CONVERTING HEAVY INTO LIGHTER HYDROCARIBONS Continuation of application Serial No'.'266,897, filed December 12, 1918. This application filed Kay 2, 1823,

- Serial No. 636,103. Renewed May 28, 1928.

This application is a continuation of an earlier application filed-b me, under date of December 12, 1918, Serial 0. 266,397.

' This invention relates to improvements in converting heavy into lighter hydrocarbons and refers more particularly to a continuous process in which the oil is fed through a heatin zone into a vapor zone, the vapors taken otl and the heavier ones condensed and returned to the heating zone. In this connection, one of the objects of the invention is to provide a process in which gas pockets are prevented from formin in the heating zone and in general to provi e an improved process of the character referred to.

In the drawings:

Fig. 1 is a fragmentary side elevation of the apparatus.

Fig. 2 is an endv elevation of the same.

29 Fig. 3 is a sectional plan view.

Referring in detail to the drawings, in a furnace construction 1, are mounted two sets of coils 2 and 3, the coil 2 beingthe heating coil and in the heating zone, and the coil 3 forming the vapor chamber or in other words, being in the vapor zone. The oil is delivered by means of delivery pipe 4 to the heating coil 2 and entering the pipe as shown at 5. The oil passes through the heating coil and m then out through connecting pipe 8 to the vapor coil 3. The unconverted residue is drawn off from the larger coil by means of line 7 to a residuum tank. This line 7 is controlled by valve 8. The vapors pass up from the ends of the coil 3 through risers 9 and 10 which are connected to the respective ends of the coils through manifolds 11 and 12.

The upper ends of the risers are connected by horizontal pipes 13 and 14: to downwardly inclined pipes 15,16, 17 and 18. The delivery end of these pipes 15, 16, 1.7 and 18 are connected to a tank 19 and are controlled by valves 20. The tank 19 is connected at its upper side with ipes 21 forming an aerial condenser 2111, w ich in turn is connected to a water condenser through pipe 22. The water condenser (not shown) has its outlet side equipped with a throttle valve for maintaining a no]: pressure of the va. rs on the entire sytsem but inasmuch as-t e idea of having a valve on the outlet side of the condenser to control the pressure on both the still and the condenser is well known in the art, it need not be here shown or described.

The heavy vapors which condense and collect in tank 19 are returned to the heatin zone for re-treatment through pipe 23 an in which is interposed. a pump 23a. The pipe 23 is connected to the inlet coil as shown at 236. Gas is supplied to the burners by means of line 24 and ranch lines 25.

The oil is subjected to treatment at a temperature in excess of 500 degs. F.,in the heating zone and a pressure of pounds or more is preferably maintained in the entire system.

As an important feature of the invention, the process is so operated as to prevent pocketmg of gas in the heating zone. To this end, in the line 6 is interposed a pressure valve 26 which is set to open at a predetermined pressure which is slightl less than the ope-rating pressure used. If the pressure in the vapor lines falls, vapor cannot back up into the heating zone. In this way, vapor is prevented from returning from the vapor chamber or zone to the heating zone.

I claim as my invention:

1. A continuous process for cracking hydrocarbon oil, consisting in passin the oil in a confined stream through a heatmg zone 80 whereinthe oil is subjected to a conversion temperature, in discharging the heated oil into an elongated vaporizing zone, in dis charging vapors progressively from said vaporizing zone as the oil passes therethrough, in com ining) the p 'vely withdrawn vapors, in su jecting them to a dephlegmating action, in returning the reflux condensate under a mechanical pressure to the heating zone for re-treatment, in continuously withdrawing unvaporized residual oil from said vaporizing zone to be isolated from. the systern, in normally maintaining a uniform regnlated superatmospheric pressure on the 011 throughout the process and in maintaining constant the pressure on the oil in the heating zone in the event of a temporary d i in pressure on the oil in the remaining zones of the process.

2. An apparatus for cracki g ydrocarbon oil, com rising an elongated heatin coil disposed wlthin a furnace, an elongate horizontally disposed vaporizing zone, a communication from said heating coil to said vaporizing 5 zone, means for wit drawing vapors from said vaporizing zone at points progressivelyarranged from the li uid inlet to said zone to the li uid'outlet t roof, means for dephl egmatlng the vapors withdrawn from said.

' 1 vaporizing zone, means for returni the reflux condensate resulting from said ephlegmation of the vapors to the heating c011,

means for condensing the depinfllggmated vafore, means for collecting the ting distil- 1; ate, means for normally maintaining a umform superatmospheric pressure throughout the apparatus, and means positioned in the communication from said heating coil to said elongated vaporizing zone for preventing a 20 decrease in pressure occurring in the vaporizing zone from being communicated to the heating coil, and means for withdrawing unvaporized oil from the liquid outlet of said vaporizing zone to be isolated from the sys a tem, I

: CARBON P. DUBBS.

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