US1088692A - Process for the manufacture of asphalt from crude mineral oil or residuum thereof. - Google Patents

Description

C. B.. FORWARD. PROCESS FOR THE MANUFAOTUBB 0F ASPHALT FROM ORUDE MINERAL OIL OR BESIDUUM THEBEOF.

' APPLICATION FILED JUNE 7, 1913.

,088,692, l Patented Mar. 3 1914.

'UNITED STATES PATEN T OFFIOE.

CHAUNCEY B; FORWARD, OF'URBANA, OHIO.

PROCESS FOR THE MANUFACTURE OF ASPHALT FROM CRUDE MINERAL OIL 0E RESIDUUM THEREOF.

To all whom 'it may concern Be it known that I, CHAUNGEX B. FonwAnD, a citizen of the United States, residing at Urbana, in the county of Cham- ,paignand State of Ohio, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Processes for the Manufacture of As halt from Crude Mineral Oil or Resi uum Thereof, of which the following is aspecification.

My invention relates to a process for the manufacture of asphalt fromr crude mineral oil or residuum thereof as hereinafter shown and described and more particularly pointed out in the claims.

From my experimental work with oils from practically all the known oil fields of the world I have found asphalt to be the base of each and every one and have therefore worked to secure an economical way to separate the oils from the base and make the same into a quality of asphalt equal to the natural product for all purposes for which asphalt is used.

In the accompanying drawings, Figure 1 is a sectional view of a retort and a diagrammatic view of a series of condensing pipes and traps which are arbitrarily shown as being all in the same vertical plane t0 avoid confusion in tracing the flow of the liquid and to better understand the operation. Fig. 2 is a cross section of the condensing pipes and traps showing their proper work ing relations with the branches or sections horizontally arranged and the traps vertically placed, that is,.at right angles to carry off the asphalt product at different points by gravity into the vessel. Fig. 3 is a similar view to Fig. 1, but showing a different course of the uid through the pipes as indicated by arrows.

The retort as shown comprises a series of inclined pipes P arranged in parallel relation and connected at their ends to provide ar circuitous travel of the oil therethrough. Pipes P are confined in a jacket J mounted at its ends upon the furnace walls F, and steam pipes S connect with said jacket. This provides a steam jacket about the pipes to maintain the temperature 1n the pipes uniformly their full length and which can be done better in that Way than if the pipes are exposed direct to the flame from the gas burner B. Pipes P may be 22 feet Specification of Letters Patent.

Application. led June 7, 1513.

Patented Mar. 3, 1914i.

serial No. 772,269.

in length, more or less, according to the character of the crude oil being treated and the,quality of asphalt I wish to obtain. The ends of the said pipes P are united by suitable connections located on the outside of the jacket J and removable screw plugs t there- 1n permit cleaning of the pipes when desired, and as connected said pipes P make a continuous coil which is fully exposed to the super-heated steam in the jacket J, the superheating being sufficient to maintain a temperature of 650 F. within the pipes as shown by a thermometer or pyrometer at the front end of the retort as indicated by T.

The oil is forced by pump O into the intake end a of the first pipe l of the coil, and this intake end is also connected to an air or steam supply tank or compressor C by a pipe c. The flow of liquid is continuous and renders a sustained pressure of about forty pounds. The air or steam is also continuously supplied to pipe P at about the same pressure and a suitable nozzle is used at the mouth or intake a to thoroughly atomize the oil. The temperature of 650o F. which is constantly maintained in the retort, I have found to be satisfactory for reducing the atomized -oil to a gaseous or vaporized state without. undue coking, but I do not wish to be arbitrarily confined to this temperature as different oils require somewhat ditierent tem peratures according to the quantity of asphalt base contained therein. The essential thing is to keep the temperature below a point that would cause cokingr of the product in the retort. The asphalt which forms the base of all mineral oils is not vaporized under this temperature, but is in such a liquid condition as to be as lilnpid as heavy paraffin oil at a temperature of 175o F., so that the pressure together with the downward inclination of the pipe in the re tort, keeps it flowing. The object is to keep the asphalt base in movement topreventcoking or solidifying thereof while subjecting it to such temperatures as may be required to vaporize the lighter constituents of the oil. The atomizing of the oil under pressure and its forced passage through coil P permits the volatilization of the various grades or gravities of oil contained in the original product at the start and these various grades may be condensed separately by the valves 11, 12, 13 and 14 for the other the useof a series of condensers as shown in my application 772,270 for Letters Patent filed coincidently with this, or they may be all condensed in a worm condenser of the ordinary construction, substantially' as shown. N 0W I have found that the heavier portions of the vaporized oil as it comes from the retort will condense at a very high temperature and such condensation coinmences to take place immediately after its leaving the retort. Therefore, I immediately trap the asphalt base just at the point of its leaving the retort if I desire to secure a hard asphalt for a base for paints, but if I desire to get a product similar to maltha (which is a liquid asphalt) tobe used as a flux for softening the natural asphalt or any other purpose for which such a flux is used, I trap the productat the end of a4 pipe 6 ten to twenty-five feet more orless long according to how soft or liquid an asphalt is desired and the quality of the oil I started with., The heavier portions of the oil which condense in this pipe at once combine with the asphalt base and .are discharged with the asphalt as Iit comes from the trap. I have also arranged'this pipe with lateral branches or sections K, L, M and N, see Fig. 2 in Which L represents one of said branches or sections, so that a variable asphalt product can be trapped ofl" at different desired points therein by opening or closing the various valves as shown in the diagrammatic Figs. 1 and 3. By so doing I can secure an asphalt base at any degree of hardness desired from that of hard and brittle to the soft liquid state according to the demand of the market at the time. The branches or sections K to N are horizontally placed and at right angles to the traps, but in Figs. 1 and 3, all the branch pipes K, L, M and N are shown as vertical. This is a mere diagrammatic showing in order that the course of the oil may be traced Without confusion or mistake in a single figure. To illustrate, if I wish tosecure a hard asphalt as a base for paints I open the valve 10 in the pipe connection for trap 1 which is located immediately outside of the retort, closing at the saine time all of traps 2, 3, '4 and 5 which are likewise connected to the straight discharge :pipe '6 leading to Worm 7 of the still 8. The discharge from the traps is by pipe 9 to the open vessel W, therefore the various valves 15, 16, 17 and 18 in pipe 9 are left open, as is also the case with valves 19, 20, 21, 22 and 23 in pipe 6. Valves 24 to 31 inclusive for the condensing sections of pipe K, L, M and N, are all closed when trap 1 is open to permit the substantially pure asphalt base to be discharged into vessel W. At the commencement of the operation I temporarily I close the valve 32 on the outlet side oftrap 1l until the trap is filled with the asphalt base and then open it, thus prevent-ing the vapors from passing downward through the said trap and pipe 9 and compelling their outward flow throu h pipe 6 to condenser 8. The operation of separating the asphalt base in its purest and unmodied state is continuous. Now assuming that I Wish to obtain an asphalt product of different character and consistency, say a liquid asphalt base for a flux or any purpose for Which suchl a flux is used, I can do so without any change or modification of steps at the. retort by returning constituent parts of the vaporized product to the asphalt base in a greater or less degree, a step which is illustrated in Fig. 3, wherein the asphalt base and vapors are jointly caused to pass through all the sections K,'L, M and N before being separated by trap 5. Thus, in this view the valve 10 is closed and traps 1, 2, 3 and 4 are cut ofi', whereas trap 5 is opened to pipe 6 by opening valve 14. Valves 11, '12 and 13 are also closed, and so is valve 18 beneath the trap 5 in pipe 9. Valves 19, 20, 21 and 22 in pipe 6 are also closed to cause the asphalt base and vapors to vpass through said pipe sections when their respective valves 24 to 31 are opened,

lValve 23 in pipe 6 is left open. The Lresult.

is that the product from the retort must pass through all the sections before the vapors and the asphalt base are directed over different channels,the asphalt base passing through trap 5 being modified to the extent of the condensations occurring in all said sections. The flow of vapors through Asections K. L, M and N and pipe 6 and of the modified asphalt product through trap 5 and pipe 9 is continuous, and when these sections are used only the heavier portions of the oil' which condense at a high temperature are mixed again with the asphalt base. The remaining vaporized portions of the oil pass on and are condensed in the Worm still S.

Before starting continuous operations valve 33 of trap 5 is closed toprevent the vapors from passing through to pipe 9, but when.

the trap 5 is illed with the liquid asphalt base said valve 33 is opened. Valve 18 beneath trap 5 being also closed, the liquid asphalt base is prevented from backing up and fouling the other traps connected with pipe 9.v Valve 23 is only necessary when it is desired to force super-heated steam or air through the various coils or traps When they may become clogged or fouled. Valve 23 would then be closed and the other valves opened or closed according to the point desired to bel cleaned out. If I wished to secure a medium grade of asphalt base between the hard a'nd liquid asphalt base I would open up trap 3 and use sections K and L, cutting out all the other sections and traps, and it Will readily be seen from this description how a similar operation With sections K or K, L, and M and traps 2 and 4 will produce a different asphaltic product from any of the foregoing steps.

In order to operate more eco-nomically I may use two open vessels W, each of sufficient capacity to receive the asphalt base from say a 36 hour more or less run of the retort so that While one is being filled with the asphalt base from the retort the other could be nished off with the after treatment in the open vessel and so keep the retort in continuous operation. This after treatment is as follows: As the asphalt base is trapped ofIp it immediately iiows into an open vessel lV in which it is maintained at a temperature of approximately one hundred degrees F. less than it Was in the retort for a period of from eight to twenty four hours according to the grade of asphalt I am seeking to secure and also according to the character of the oil I originally started with. There can manifestly be no hard or fast rule as to how long it is to be subjected to the lower temperature in the open vessel as it Will depend entirely on the grade of oil started with and the quality of the asphalt desired to be obtained. The result of the treatment at this lower telnperature in the open vessel is to oxidize the asphalt base and it thereby acquires the adhesive and cohesive qualities Which it lacked as it came from the retort. Experience in the art, alone, can be the only teacher as to how long to continue the .treatment in the open vessel as that depends entirely on con'- ditions as previously stated above.

There will be no material loss in Weight in the quantity of asphalt by the treatment in the open vessel as all the light portions of the oils contained in the oil originally started will have passed ofi' in vapor from the retort into the condenser beyond where the asphaltbase has been trapped off and only fixed gases of no consequence in Weight will pass from the product in the open vessel. The asphalt so secured will be asphalt pure and simple and have all the qualities necessary for a base for paints, roofing, paving, insulating or any purpose for which the natural product can be used.

What I claim is:

1. The process herein described of removing an asphalt base from crude oil or any of its constituents consisting in atomizing the oil to be treated and forcing the atomized product. under a sustained pressure through a retort heated tc a temperature below the coking point of the asphalt base as it passes through the retort.

2. A process for the manufacture of asphalt. from crude oil or any of its constituents consisting in atomizing the productto be treated and forcing il through a retort heated to a temperature below the coking point of the asphalt base contained in the product, and in drawing ofi" the asphalt base and subsequently subjecting the same in an open vessel to a n'laterially lower temperature than the temperature in the retort for a period of eight to twenty-four hours, more or less.

3. A process of manufacturing an asphalt product from crude oil, consisting in separating all the volatile parts of the crude oil from its asphalt base by subjecting the crude oil to a high temperature in a retort, and while discharging the hot. volatile and base products returning a part of the heavier portions of the former to the latter.

4. A process of manufacturing an asphalt product from crude oil, consisting in heating the oil in a retort until all the constituent parts thereof are separated; discharging the volatile and base parts jointly through condensing pi es of different lengths; and trapping o the asphalt base together with a portion of the heavier oils at predetermined different points in the said pipes to obtain either a hard, soft or intermediate asphalt product. y

5. A process of manufacturing asphalt from crude oil, consisting in subjecting the crude oil to a high temperature in a retort unt-il all the volatile parts thereof are separated from the asphalt base and in con- (lensingthe heavier portions of the volatile parts in variable degree immediately after the product is discharged from said retort and mixing the said heavier portions with the said base as it is discharged, and subsequently heating the discharged product in an open vessel until a predetermined adhesivc and cohesive condition thereof is obtained.

G. The process herein described consisting in atomizing a crude oil; in producing a continuous forced travel of the atomized oil and a gravity flow of the heavier precipitates thereof through a set of horizonto a high temperature in a retort until the the condensing pipes; and in subsequently asphalt base thereof alone remains in a, heating said product in anopen vessel. 1o liquid state; in discharging the volatilized In testimony whereof I aHiX my signature and the liquid base part-s' together through in presence of two Witnesses.

5 condensing pipes for a greater or less ex- CHUNCEY B. FORWARD.

tended exposure thereto dependent upon the lVitnesses: grade of asphalt product desired; in trap` E. M. FISHER,

ping the asphalt product at selected parts in H. T. FISHER.

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