US1399792A

US1399792A - Method of treating asphaltic oils

Info

Publication number: US1399792A
Application number: US193420A
Authority: US
Inventors: Prutzman Paul; Guy L Goodwin
Original assignee: GEN PETROLEUM CORP
Current assignee: GEN PETROLEUM CORP; GENERAL PETROLEUM Corp
Priority date: 1917-09-27
Filing date: 1917-09-27
Publication date: 1921-12-13
Anticipated expiration: 1938-12-13

Description

'P. PHuTzMAN AND AG. L. GOODWIN.

METHOD 0F TREATING ASPHALVTIC OILS.

APPLICATION FILED SEPT. 27, 191.?.

Patented Dec. 13, 1921.

- 1N V ENTORS.

BY "9. d@ '5ML/Vb WITNESS:

A TTOR NE YS.

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

PAUL PRUTZMAN AND GUY L. GOODWIN, OF SANTA MARIA, CALIFORNIA, .ASSIGNORS BY MESNE ASSIGNMENTS, TO GENERAL PETROLEUM CORPORATION, A CORPORA- TION OF CALIFORNIA.

METHOD OF TREATING ASPHALTIC OILS.

vSpecification of Letters Patent.

Patented Dec. 13, 1921.

Application led September 27,1917. Serial No. 193,420.

To all whom t may concern Be it known that We, PAUL PnUTzMAN and GUY L. GOODWIN, citizens of the United States, residing at Santa 'Marizu in the county of Santa Barbara and State of California, have invented certainvnew and uscful Improvements in Methods of Treating Asphaltic Oils, of which the following is a specification.

The hereinafter described invention relates to a method adapted more particularly for the treatment of the California asphaltic liquids, such as petroleum. although, its use is not restricted or limited to the treatment of asphaltic oils obtained in the State of California, and the same is a method of producing a single fractionation without without heat decomposition, which decomposition usually results from the present methods employed for the treatment of such asphaltic oils, and the commercial products which suffer most depreciation in value from' such decomposition` are lubricating oils, road oils and asphalts; the present invention being more particularly applicable for the manufacture or production of the three mentioned products of the asphaltic oils, although the invention is not limited to the roduction of such materials, but provi es a cheap and desirable means for accomplishing a reduction or a single fractionation of any mixture of hydrocarbons, excluding only such as have an appreciable vapor pressure at normal temperatures, although, the invention may of course be applied to such materials as contain a moderate proportion of volatiles, by first removing such, by other means of distillation.

The basic or underlying principle of the present invention, is, the treatment of the hydrocarbon liquids by the passage or flow of hot combustion products over the exposed surface of a sheet, film or mass of the asphaltic material to be fractionated, Whereby the following important desiderata are gained, viz: a high degree of fuel economy, due to the exceptionally favorable heat cycle; avoidance of decomposition, due to the low temperature and time factors fol-A lowing from the use of a large relative vol- Amaintain the flow of liquid, and, in this case,

the process is single fractioning, as the vapor is removed in one. cut and cannot be fractionally condensed, althou h, the process may be adapted to step distillation, Which is multiple fractionating. Where the invention is applied for the treatment of a mass of asphaltic liquid at rest, the process becomes an intermittent distillation, and as such, is multiple fractionating. In carrying out the invention, it must be understood, that all fire gases are not applicable for such purpose, but only such asf-show a-proper analysis suitable to the Work. to be done. Incase the required resultant product is air blown asphalt, then fire gases showing from 5% to 10% of excess oxygen may be used to advantage, and which produces an asphalt having a large demand for special purposes but the distillates resulting from the treatment are Worthless, except for fuel, due to oxidation of the vapor which takes place.

Where the invention is employed for the manufacture of lubricating distillates or any other products which are to be treated or iltered,then the tire gases should be approximately free from oxygen, although, it is possible to carry a trace of carbon monoxid, though if any large amount appears the re is likely to be yellow or smoky and will contaminate the products with soot.

While no particular fuel nor form of generator are required, still Whatever type 1s ,used must be capable of close regulation generator employed, but 1000 degrees F. at

the evaporator inlet may be taken as a safe maximum.

To obtain the necessary reduction 1n temperature we ma proceed in three ways, viz:

radiation, dilution or absorption.

Radiation into the air of the excess heat reduces the fuel eiiiciency to that of a cylindrical still; and cannot be considered from an operating standpoint.

Dilution is simple, easy to c0ntrol,.reason ably eiiicient, and has the great advantage of increasing the volume of dry gas atmosphere. Either cooled gas from the discharge of an apparatus, or wet steam, may be used. The latter shows a lower fuel eiiiciency, when the heat required for evaporation of the water is included. Dilution by means of either steam or gas is the plan Vbest adapted to small installations.

Absorption of the excess heat in doing useful work raises the fuel eiiiciency to a very high point, and either alone or in combina tion with dilution is the plan best adapted to large installations. A. portion of the heat may be transferred to the entering oil, which may safely and advantageously be preheated to a temperature suificient to evaporate any water, thus avoiding frothing or spattering in the evaporator. But approximately only to of the temperature drop may be so utilized,'and the balance must be absorbed in steam generation, or taken care of by dilution.

The vapors from whatever type of evaporator (continuous or intermittent) isuised should pass first to a scrubber. This may be a shell of roughly Si the cubic .capacity of the evaporator, in which the gas-vapor mixture is sufficiently slowed down to allow theseparation of any coarse particles of raw material which may have been accidentally carried over, and the scrubber must be insulated toprevent loss of heat by radiation, as any distillate condensed here has to be redis tilled.

The gas-vapor mixture should be cooled to condense the vapor, and the condensate removed from the gas. Cooling is simple, and may be accomplished in any type of condenser, air or water cooled. Itis highly essential, however, to cool to the lowest possible temperature, if any volatile elements exist in the raw material, as because of the partial pressure of the gas, losses will result if the cooling stops at a temperature where any of the constituents of the condensate have an vapor pressure.

moval of the condensate from the gas is a more difficult matter, but we have discovered a satisfactory method for accomplishing such removal, this being to centrifugel at a high velocity. A straight, or better, a curved vane centrifugal fan is highly suited vto this use, and may be so connected as to provide for aspiration, and for returning the spent gas required formoderating fire gas temperature.

The point and manner of application of the centrifugal effect are of importance. If the distillates to be removed are relatively nonviscous, then the fan should be put at the end of the system, beyond thecondenser, as thus it handles a smaller volume, and cold gas only. But so located, if any very viscous distillates are run, they are quite likely to emulsify in the condenser, and in that condition separate the water of combustion very slowly. F or such oils the fan should be placed between the scrubber and the condenser, and sufiicient air cooling provided between the scrubber and condenser to condensel the distillate but not the water, leaving this to be taken care of by the condenser.

In either situation the effectiveness of the fan as 'a centrifuge is much increased by reducing the velocity of the gases just prior to entry into the fan. This is accomplished by an enlargement of the vapor line, which also provides the necessary air condensing surface. rlhe reduction in velocity appears to allow time for the finer particles'to coalesce,

thus increasing their tendency to gravitate out of the gas.

rlhe essential .object of the present invention is, the treatment of the asphaltic liquid for the production of a single fractionation and this without a previous cracking of the oil being resorted to in the treatment of petroleum for the fractionation thereof and without the splitting of the oil to be treated and the spraying of the same into a vaporizing chamber.

Any suitable form of apparatus may be employed for carrying out the method of treatment, but in the accompanying drawing, we have 'shown a simple'.y apparatus for use in connection with the invention.

Referring to the drawings, wherein is illustrated a longitudinal sectionalview of an apparatus designed for the carrying out of the present invention, the method will be readily understood by a description thereof.

Gas or oil fuel under pressure, enters the burner 1, from the fuel supply pipe 2, and the air under pressure or aspirated, as preferred, is admitted by the pipe 3, to the said burner, the fire flame from the burner entering and filling the fireclay tube 4, which is controlled valve 7, and after taking up such' heat as may be conducted through the fireclay wall enters the tube 4, at the bottom thereof, through the vents 8, the quantity of gas so admitted, into the tube 4, being regulated or controlled by the valve 7, according to the temperature desired at the top of the tube 4.

The fire gases ejected from the tube 4 are conveyed by the pipe 9 into the evaporator at a point adjacent the bottom thereof, while the raw oil or liquid hydrocarbon to be treated is admitted .under pumping pressure into the upper end of the evaporator through the oil supply pipe 11, the oil or liquid to be treated discharging therefrom, onto the upper or top oil receiving plate or pan 12, there being a series of such plates or pans horizontally disposed within the evaporator 10. When the oil delivered onto the upper plate 12, completely fills the same, the excess oil overflows, and gravitates onto the next plate of the series of plates and from this plate onto the one arranged there-below and so on throughout the series of plates, it being understood that the plates are arranged in staggered and vertically disposed relation. The oil reaching and filling the bottom plate of the series of plates 12, overflows to the bottom of the evaporator 10 whence it passes out through the trapped outlet pipe 13. During the downfiow through the evaporator of the hydrocarbon liquid to be treated, the same encounters an upflowing stream of hot products of combustion, which is discharged from the tube 4, into the evaporator adjacent the bottom portion thereof through the discharge pipe 9, and passes upwardly through the evaporator to the upper end thereof and during the said upward How of the hot products of combustion, the same pass around and over the plates 12, arranged therein, heating the oil within the plates or pans and flowing over the said exposed surface thereof absorbing the vapors therefrom. The oil or liquid hydrocarbon as it flows downwardly over the plates 12, within the evaporator is progressively heated and evaporated and by properly regulating the tempe'rature and quantity of the fire gas ad-V mitted into the evaporator and the rate of oil feed of the oil or liquid hydrocarbon discharging into the evaporator, any desired degree of distillation and reduction may be produced. I

In the type of evaporator disclosed in the drawings, the oil supporting plates 12 are affixed to a vertical rod 14, which at its llower end rests on and is supported by a bracket 15 within the evaporator 10, and the staggered arrangement of the plates 12 is such that they do not touch or come in contact with the inner Wall surface of said evaporator. The rod 14, is removable from within the evaporator on the opening or re moval of the cover plate 16, of the evaporator, so that when the plates 12 have accumulated sufficient mineral sedimentto interfere with the free flow of the oil or liquid hydrocarbon to be treated, the said plates may be wlthdrawn by a removal of the rod 14, to which they are held and a clean set of plates substituted therefor.

The mixture of gas and vapor produced within the evaporating chamber pass directly therefrom into the outlet pipe 17', leading from the discharge outlet of the chamber and are conveyed thereby into the scrubber 18, flowing beneath the vertically disposedbaffle platev 19, located within the said scrubber and then flowing upwardly and escaping from within the scrubber through the outlet 19 into the uppermost of a series of connected pipes 20. At its bottom the-scrubber is provided with a trapped outlet, through which the residue and dirty oil deposited is withdrawn, and which oil so withdrawn may be returned to the feed pipe for the crude oil for redistillation. The velocity of the gases escaping from the scrubber into the first of the series of pipes 20 is suitably reduced, due to the fact, that these pipes are of a greater diameter than that of the pipes 9 and 17, so that the temperature drops by expansion to a sufficient de ee to reduce the vapor to the form of a mlst, the water vapors however, not being condensed. This mist passes through, and in fact, is drawn through the series of pipes. 20, by means of a centrifugal22, where the oil particles arek centrifuged out and flow in a stream under pressure together with the gas and water v tering the chamber 24, through the inlet 25 and escaping therefrom through the outlet 26, the condenser 23 being thus water jacketed. In this condenser, the ,water vapor is condensed `and any remaining traces of oil are also liquefied, and the total distillate and water flowing' from the condenser through the trapped outlet pipe 27, while the cold gases rise within the outlet pipe 28, provided for such gases, and escapes through the valve'controlled pipe 29, the outlet being regulated by the valve 30, situated within said pipe.

It will be understood that the centrifugal fan 22 maintains a slight vacuum on the entire system back to the fireclay tube 4, the extent of said vacuum being regulated by the valve 31, interposed within the connection between the lowermost tube 2O and the centrifugal chamber 22', the said fan also holding a slight pressure on the condenser 23, and the

pipes

28 and 32, and whatever of the spent gas may be required for controlling the temperature in the pipe 9 is taken from the pipe 32, the fiow of the same being regulated by the vvalve 7, interposed within the pipe 32, at or near the top of the annular chamber 6, surrounding the shell 5 of the fireclay tube 4. The excess spent gas escapes through the valve controlled outlet 29.

As before stated, any suitable type of ap paratus may be employed for carrying out the invention, but preference is given to such a construction as will permit of a continuous down flowing stream of liquid hydrocarbon being subjected to the action of an ascending stream ffow of hot products of combustion, which products of combustion Iare brought in intimate contact with the fiowing mass of the liquid hydrocarbon so as to thoroughly heat the same and absorb the vapors therefrom. An apparatus may be employed whereby the liquid hydrocarbon to -be treated is held and maintained at rest within a suitable receptacle, and the hot combustion products brought into direct contact with the exposed surfaceof the said liquid and by such flow action heating the mass of liquid oil and absorbing therefrom the vapors, and for this purpose, if so desired, the hot products of combustion may be forced upwardly through said mass of crude material.

' rl`he invention set forth resides in a single fractionation of the liquid hydrocarbon and this irrespective of the means employed, so long as the liquid hydrocarbon to be fractioned is not confined within metallic walls, through which walls the heat of the hot products of combustion is transferred, and the invention is more specifically designed for the production of lubricating oils, road oils and asphalts and has no particular concern with'what subsequent treatment the sepa# rated volatile ed to.

By the use of the described invention, many advantages are realized over the methods nowv employed for the fractionation of liquid hydrocarbons, and which may be termed, heat interchanging systems, for instance: deposition of carbon on metallic transferring surfaces, and therefore over-heating and rapid depreciation is entirely obviated, deposits of soot, sediment or carbon due to the accidental over-heating may be confined to removable surfaces, thus reducing time and labor of cleaning to a nominal figure; decomposition due to over-heating of even the tenderest sulfur crudes may be entirely overcome, and the portion of the apparatus employed containing the actual fire is much reduced in volume, making effective insulation or regenerative jacketing possible, and it is possible by the use of the present procportions of the oil is subjectess to obtain products which are not obtainable from the same material by the processes at present employed, and this applies to distillates and residues.

It will be noted that by the use of our.

process the raw material to be treated is not discharged into 'a vaporizing chamber in the form of spray, but the raw material is acted upon, as a mass or sheet of oil, and as a matter of fact, every precaution is taken to prevent any portion of this sheet or mass from being accidentally detached and converted into a spray, inasmuch as the formation of a spray or an atomization of the-raw material would defeat theobject of the present process.

Having thus described the invention, 'what is claimed as new and desired to be protected by Letters' Patent of the United States, is A 1. rlhe method of producing a single fractionation of liquid hydro-carbon without tie-composition, which consists in subjecting the exposed surface of masses of liquid hydro-carbon to the direct action of hotproducts of combustion free from oxygen, reducing the temperature of the hot products of combustion and causing the same to flow over the liquid hydro-carbon in a counter direction to the fiow of said masses for the heating thereof and absorbing the vapors therefrom.

2. The method of producing a single fractionation of liquid hydro-carbon. without heat decomposition which consists in generating fire gases freefrom oxygen, reducing the temperature of these gases, subjecting the exposed surface of a conned flowing body of liquid hydrocarbon to the direct action of a counter-flowing stream of said gases for the heating of the traveling flow of liquid hydrocarbon and absorbing the vapors therefrom.

3. rThe method of producing a single fractionation of liquid hydrocarbon without heat decomposition, which consists in causing a stream of hot products of combustion freed from oxygen and reduced in temperature to ow counter 'to a confined flowing body of liquid hydrocarbon to heat the same and absorb th'e vapors therefrom, thence withdrawing the vapors and forcing the same throughi a condenser whereby the water and the oil contained within the vapors are liquefied and separated.

4C. Illhe continuous method of producing a single fractionation of liquid hydrocarbon without heat decomposition which consists in reducing the temperature of hot products of combustion freed from oxygen, subjecting the exposed surface of a confined mass of liquid hydrocarbon to the direct action. of a stream of said products of combustion caused to flow equally over the mass of liquid hydrocarbon for the heating of assures the liquid mam and absorbing the vapors therefrom, withdrawing the said vapors and forcing the same through a condenser for the separation of the water and the liquifying of any oil which may be contained within the vapors.

5. rlhe continuous method of producing a single fractionation of liquid hydrocarbon which consists in subjecting an exposed surface of a mass of'liquid hydrocarbon to the direct action of hot products of combustion caused to flow thereover for the heating of the liquid hydrocarbon and absorbing the vapors therefrom, thence causing the vapors to be passed through a scrubber, thence withdrawing the vapor from the scrubbers and subjecting the same in the form of a mist to a centrifugal for the centrifuging of the oil particles therefrom, and thence forcing the same, together with the gas and water conta-ined therein in and through a condenser.

6. The method of producing a single fractionation of liquid hydrocarbon, which consists in subjecting the exposed surface of an undivided body of liquid hydrocarbon to the l direct action of a flowing body of hot products of combustion free from oxygen and re duced in temperature for absorbing and removing the vapors therefrom.

7. rlhe continuous method of producing a single fractionation of liquid hydrocarbon, which consists in generating hot products of combustion free from oxygen, reducing the temperature of these gases, subjecting all portions of an undivided confined body of liquid hydrocarbon equally to the direct action of a flowing body of said temperature regulated hot products of combustion for removing from all portions of said liquid an equal and substantially predetermined proportion of volatile elements; forcing the. removed vapors through a condenser for a separation of the water therefrom, and liquefying any oil which may be contained therein.

8. The method of producing a single fractionation of liquid hydrocarbon which consists in generating lire gases free Vfrom oxygen, reducing the temperature of these gases, applying the gases to the exposed liquid to be' treated whereby to heat all portions of the liquid substantially equally thereby removing from all portions a substantially equal proportion of volatile elements and whereby to avoid carrying over with the generated vapors any material portions of non-volatile elements, cooling the mixture of spent gas and vapor to a temperature at which the vapors will be liquefied, and separating the condensed vapors from the accompanying non-condensable gases. Y

9. The continuous method of producing a single fractionation of liquid hydrocarbon which consists in generating hot gases free from oxygen, reducing the temperature of these gases, applying the gases so reduced in temperature to the exposed surface of a mass of liquid hydrocarbon whereby to heat all portions of the liquid substantially equally and thereby removing from all portions a substantially equal proportion of volatile elements, causing the vapors to pass through a scrubber, removing the vapors from the scrubber, and separating the condensed vapors from the accompanying noncondensable gases.

10. rlhe continuous method of producing a single fractionation of liquid hydrocarbon which consists in subjecting an exposed surface of a mass of liquid hydrocarbon to the direct action of heated products of combustion caused to flow thereover for the heating of the liquid hydrocarbon and absorbing the vapors therefrom, subjecting the vapors to a cooling medium and subjecting the same in the form of a mist to a centrifugal for the centrifuging of the oil particles therefrom, and thence forcing the same, together with the gas and water. contained therein in and through a condenser.

1l. The continuous method of producing a single fractionation of liquid hydrocarbon, which consists in subjecting an exposed surface of a mass of liquid hydrocarbon to the direct action of hot products of combustion freed from oxygen and reduced in temperature, said products being caused to flow over said liquid hydrocarbon for the heating of the same and absorbing the vapors therefrom, thence causing the vapors to be 'passed through a scrubber, thence withdrawing the vapors from the scrubber and 'subjecting the same in the form of a mist to a centrifugal for the centrifuging of the oil particles therefrom.

'12. 'llhe continuous method of producing a single fractionation of liquid hydrocarbon, which consists in generating fire gases free from oxygen, reducing the temperature of these gases, subjecting an exposed surface of a mass of liquid hydrocarbon to the direct action of said gases, the temperature of which has been reduced but is still hot, said gases being caused to flow over said exposed surface for the hea-ting of the liquid hydrocarbon and absorbing the vapors 4 PAUL PRUTZMAN. GUY L. GOODW'lN.