US1418876A - Apparatus for recovery of gasoline from casing-head gas - Google Patents

Description

Patented June 6, 1922.

Z SHEETSSHEET I- w. R. McGINNIS.

APPLICAHON FILED AUG,23| I919.

APPARATUS FOR RECOVERY OF GASOLINE FROM CASING HEAD GAS.

M M M MIM W IMI I M N MINIM v W. R. McGINNIS. APPARATUS FOR RECOVERY OF GASOLINE FROM CASING HEAD GAS.

APPLICATiON FILED AUG23. I919.

Patented June 6, 1922.

2 SHEETS SHEET 2- I ra/5W5 WALTER R. MGGINNIS, OF ST. LOUIS, MISSOURI, ASSIGNOR TO PILSBRYABEGKER ENGINEERING & SUPPLY COMPANY, OF ST. LOUIS, MISSOURI, A CORPORATION OF MISSOURI.

APPARATUS FOR RECOVERY. OF GASOLINE FROM OASING-H EAD GAS.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented June 6,1922.

Application filed August 23, 1919. Serial No. 319,510.

To all whom it may concern Be it known that I, WALTER R. 'MoGINNIs, a citizen of the United States, residing at St. Louis and State of Missouri, have invented certain new and useful Improvement in Apparatus for Recovery of Gasoline from Uasing-Head Gas,'of which the following is a specification, reference being had therein to the accompanying drawing.

My invention relates to improvements in apparatus for recovery of gasoline from casing-head gas. In the extraction of gasoline from casing head or natural gas by the compression method a .considerable increase in gasoline obtained can be secured by low-,

' ering the temperature-below that possible to secure-by ordinary water cooling. It has been found in practice advantageous to cool as low in some cases as 15 degrees below zero Fahrenheit. As nearly all gas contains a considerable amount of water vapor, this vapor is condensed by the lowering in'temperature and deposits-in the form of ice in various parts of the apparatus employed, finally-this ice so obstructs the apparatus that it becomes necessary to allow the temperature to rise in order to melt this ice.

This rise in temperature results in retardation ofthe operation and-a considerable loss of gasoline. My apparatus is designed to melt that ice without interrupting the operation of gasoline recovery, by employing two scrubbing units so connected that the warm in-flowing gas is introduced to that scrubber which is congested by ice, to thaw the same without interrupting the operation of the apparatus.

In the drawings r Fig. 1 is a front elevation of an apparatus embodying my invention; the left-hand unit being shown invertical section.

Fig. 2 is a plan view of the same.

As illustrated in the drawings the apparatus embodying my invention comprises two columns or scrubbers, numbered. 1 and 2 respectively, identical in construction.

Gasis fed to the gas inlet pipe 3 fromthegas-compressor 31, whose inlet31 is connected with-a source of gas 'supp1y,-fn ot shown. The pipe 3 connects With the crosspipe 32 in which-valves 4 and 15 are seated as shown. The terminals of the cross-pipe 32 are connected with the gas-outlet pipe 9 by means of a. pipe 33 (wherein valve 8 is seated), and the pipe (wherein the valve pump 10 and to each other, the scrubbing liquid being fed through the feed pipe 37 (wherein valve 38 is seated) to the sprinkling head 39, in the interior ofscrubber 2; a scrubbing liquid being fed through the feed pipe 40 (wherein valve 41 is seated),

to the sprinkling head 42 in the interior of column 1. Each of the scrubbers '1 and 2 s provided at its bottom with a refrigeratmg coil 12, above which is a distributing plate 11. The coils 12 are fed with ammonia from the compressor 43 through the pipes 48 and 50. The compressor 43 is provided with a receiver 46 which discharges into the ammonia feedpipe, 47, the pipe 47 being connected to the coil 12 in the scrubber 2 by means of the pipe 48 (wherein the expansion valve 49 is seated) and to the coil 12 in the scrubber 1 by the pipe 50 (wherein the ex pansion valve 51 is seated). An ammonia condenser 60 receives its supply from the compressor 43 through the feed-pipe 61, and discharges into the receiver 46throughthe' pipe 62. The return pipes 44 and 45 convey the ammonia from the coils 12 to the compressor .43.

The columns 1 In operation, the gas from the compressor 31 or other source of supply enters the pipe 3 under a suitable pressure, passing through the valve 4 and connecting pipe 5 to the top and 2 are each provided with a drain-pipe 52 and a gasoline discharge pipe 53. The interior of each of the scrubof the scrubber 1; the valves 14 and 15 be ing closed. So being inducted to the interior of the scrubber 1 the gas passes downwardly,

being subjected to theaction of the scrub.- bing liquid sprayed into the interior of the scrubber 1 through the sprinkler head 42,

and passing through the baiiies 54 contacts with the distributing plates 11 and coil 12 in the bottom of said scrubber 1. A portion of the gas will pass over from scrubber 1 to the scrubber 2 through the cross-over pipe 6. The portion of gas so entering-the scrubber 2 ascends throughthe bafiies 54 and out of bottoms of both scrubbers 1 and 2 through' the pipe 36, and discharges it through the described pipe connections and through the sprinkling heads 39 and 42 whence it flows over the baflles 54 coming in direct contact with the gas passing through said baflles, cooling the gas by this contact and condensing therefrom the valuable gasoline vapors. The cooling liquid then falling upon the distributor 11, and thence upon thecooling coils 12, has its temperature again reduced by the coils 12 to the point desired for renewed circulation to the top of the scrubber. The gasoline condensed at the bottoms of scrubbers l and 2 flows off through the outlet pipes 53 to suitable places of storage.

As the apparatus continues in operation the moisture frozen from the gas will accumulate upon the bafiles 54, distributor 11 and coil 12 of the scrubber 2. WVhen this accu flow of the gas will be reversed from scrubber 1 to scrubber 2 by opening the valves 14 and '15 and closing the valves 4 and 8.

Thereupon the warm gas will enter the top of. the scrubber 2 at a temperature above 32 degrees, and in its downward passage will thaw the ice accumulated in said scrubber 2, with the effect of reducing the temperature of the gas rapidly, and reducing by melting the ice accumulated in the scrubber 2. The reversal of the movement of the gas is to be effected as often as the accumulation of ice may require. i

The cooling coils 12 are mounted at a point above the surface of the cooling liquid,v as they accomplish the desired cooling better when so located than when submerged.

The gasoline is withdrawn from the apparatus as follows: During the operation of the scrubber, the gasoline is allowed to col-' lect in the scrubber to a point somewhat above the level of the pipe 53, and is intermittently drawn off to this level. The pipe 53 is located above the level of the pipe 36,

thus maintaining a supply of liquid to the as the gasoline is only drawn down p p; tothe level of the plpe 53.

When it becomes necessary to thaw the frozen moisture, the water from this ice be ing of greater weight than the gasoline, will fall to the bottom of the scrubbers ;'and when the drain 52 is opened to withdraw the water, it will only be kept open until the water is drawn off, this being indicated by the escape of the cooling liquid or gasoline, at which time the pipe 52 will be closed, until it again becomes necessary to remove the water.

The cooling liquid to be used is gasoline; being the gasoline which is made from the gas being handled.

WVhen the apparatus is first placed in operation it may be charged with any convenient liquid such as brine or gasoline which will not freezev at a temperature higher than five or six degrees above zero, Fahr. If gasoline is used, it will be diluted by the addition of the gasoline condensed from the gas, and as the gasoline is withdrawn, .the charge will finally become the gasoline con dense'd from. the gas, at which time the apparatus reaches its maximum efficiency. If brine is used, as gasoline is condensed from the gas. the brine will be'gradually withdrawn until only gasoline remains.

Having thus describedmy invention, what I claim as new and desire to have secured to me by the grant of Letters Patent. is

1. In combination, two scrubbers each provided with bafiies.'refrigeration apparatus,

and a sprinkling head; means for guiding gas under treatment continuously downwardly in one scrubber. then upwardly 1n the other scrubber; and means for reversing said gas movement in the respective scrubbers.

2. In combination, in an apparatus for the recovery of gasoline from casing-head gas, two scrubbers each containing a sprinkling head. a series of baffi es arranged beneath said sprinkling head. distributing plates beneath said baffles, a refrigerating coil beneath said distributing plates, and an outlet pipe: means for guiding "as under treatment downwardly in one scrubber, then upwardly in the other scrubbers-and means for reversing said gasmovement iii the respective scrubbers.

In testimony whereof I hereunto afiix my signature.

lVALTER R. MCGINNIS.

Images