GB285199A - Improvements relating to processes for producing lighter hydrocarbons - Google Patents

Abstract

285,199. Andrews, E. S., (Ormont Associates Inc., B.). Dec. 11, 1926. Hydrocarbons, cracking; rectifiers. -In distilling hydrocarbon oils to produce lighter oils, such as gasoline, the oil after partial vaporization is brought into a region where steam is being generated, whereby the heavier ends of the oil are vaporized. and cracked. Oil from tanks 6, 7 is forced by water admitted below the oil from a pipe 8 through the upper row of pipes 19 of a tube furnace 17 and water is passed through the lower row 23. The streams of oil and water unite in a tee-piece 31 which allows unvaporized oil to pass downwards in the tubes 23 where the water is being vaporized. The mixture of oil vapours and steam passes through the remaining rows 20, 21, 22 of the furnace 17 and through the tubes of a furnace 36 and is discharged by a pipe 45, into a condenser 46, having a series of inlets 47, 48, 49. The condenser is fitted with a series of connected flat spiral pipes 51, 55 serving for the passage of heating or cooling medium, and with perforated baffle plates. Uncondensed vapours pass by a pipe 65 through a series of similar condensers and condensate passes by a pipe 84 into a collecting tank 81. The temperatures of the condensers are regulated to obtain various fractions by passing steam or water through the coils 51, 55, and by varying the height at which the oil vapours are admitted by means of the cocks 47, 48, 49. The temperature of the vapours in the furnaces 17, 36 is about 750‹ F., and the pressure, due to generation of vapours may rise to about 75 lb. The tubes in the furnace 17, 36 may be formed of alloys, containing silicon, iron and, in some cases, calcium, which act as catalysts to promote the formation of lighter hydrocarbons.