GB480676A - Improvements in and relating to apparatus for the refining and purification of mineral oils or tar oils - Google Patents

Abstract

Apparatus for refining mineral or tar oil or for regenerating waste oil by heating to drive off volatile impurities, treating with purifying agents and filtering, comprises a heating device A, Fig. 1, a mixing device F to which a purifying agent is supplied in a quantity proportional to the flow of the oil, a decanting device G, a second mixing device J to which an adsorbing agent is automatically supplied, a second decanting device K and a filter M. The oil is drawn by suction through a coil 9 into the heater A, the coil 9 being situated in a steam jacket formed by the double walls of the heater. The vapours of volatile impurities driven off in the heater pass through pipes 10 and 12 to a condenser D. <PICT:0480676/III/1> <PICT:0480676/III/2> oil overflows into a tank 3 from which it is withdrawn by a pump B and delivered through a vessel C into the mixer F, to which a purifying agent, e.g. sulphuric acid, is supplied from a tank E. The quantity of purifying agent is controlled in proportion to the flow of the oil by a valve 16 operated by a float 13 in the vessel C, the valve being fully open when the oil is flowing freely through the vessel C but closing when the float rises due to the flow through the vessel being checked, e.g. by the slowing down of the flow through the filter. The flow of the oil from the heater A to the mixer F is controlled by a relay which is operated by the float 13 and acts upon an electric motor driving the suction pump connected to the heater A, the rise of the float causing less oil to be sucked into the heater. The mixer F is provided with three agitators 20, 21, 25, a ventilating fan 28 and ventilating pipes 27. From the mixer the oil passes through the decanting device G which comprises a series of tubes 31 each depending into a tube 32 provided at the bottom with an outlet 33 for sludge. The tubes 32 may be surrounded by steam heating jackets. The clarified oil from the decanting device passes through a vessel H into the second mixer J, which is provided with agitators 49, 50, 54, and to which an adsorbent or neutralizing agent, e.g. fuller's earth, animal charcoal or lime, is supplied from a hopper I. The hopper I may be divided into two chambers the outlets of which are provided with valves 41, 42, which may be mechanically rotated to act as agitators, and are controlled by a rotary worm 43. The worm 43 is driven through a friction disc 39 the position of which is adjusted by a float 36 in the vessel H, the supply of adsorbent being thus proportional to the flow of the oil. In a modification, the rotary worm 43 is replaced by a spring-loaded slide valve reciprocating by a cam on a disc driven by the friction disc 39. The oil then passes through the second decanting device K and filter M. The filter M comprises a series of frames 67, Fig. 4, and plates 62 between which the filtering elements are interposed. The plates 62 are provided with interior chambers 64 and the frames and plates are connected at the top and bottom by plugs 66 and tubes 65 to form a tortuous path for a heating medium circulated through the chambers of the plates. Longitudinal bores for the entry and exit of the oil are provided at diagonally opposite corners of the frames and plates, these bores opening into the interior of the filter through apertures 70, 71.