GB249871A - Improved process and apparatus for distilling or cracking hydrocarbons and purifying the vapours - Google Patents

Abstract

249,871. Gray Processes Corporation, (Assignees of Gray, T. T.). March 24, 1925, [Convention date]. Mineral oils, purifying.- In purifying hydrocarbon vapours by passage through a heated catalyst such as fuller's earth, bone-black, bauxite, kieselguhr, infusorial or other adsorbent earths, as described in Specification 222,481, a solvent, which may be a condensate from the process, is passed through the catalyst simultaneously with the vapours to remove polymerized products. The catalyst is heated by passing the vapours round the vessel containing it, or by providing the vessel with a steam or a heat-insulating jacket. The catalyst is supported in an inner vessel 15 on a perforated floor formed of wire gauze 17 held between perforated and slotted plates 16, 18. Hot vapours from an oil still enter by an inlet 12, preferably tangentially, the annular space between the vessel 15 and the outer vessel 14 and pass downwards through the catalyst to an outlet 36. A solvent liquid is distributed over the catalyst from a perforated pipe 25. The liquid collecting in the base of the vessel 14 may be passed into the still through a pipe 24 or through a trap 39. The catalyst may be discharged through a gate valve 31. If the vapour is passed directly into the catalyst, sufficient condensate to serve as solvent for the polymerized products is formed therein. The vapour supply pipe may be fitted with a valve to maintain the still under pressure, and to allow expansion of the vapours into the catalyst to regulate the temperature. Steam at temperatures up to 400‹ F. may be admitted to the catalyst chamber. A cooling coil may be placed above the catalyst to condense part of the vapours to form a liquid which acts as a solvent. A liquid seal may be formed between the base of the catalyst chamber 15 and the outer chamber 14. The vapours may pass upwards through the catalyst, which may be contained in a chamber mounted directly on the oil still.