US1424998A - Process of and apparatus for distilling - Google Patents

Description

J. T. FENTON. A PROCESS OF AND APPARATUS FOR DISTILLING.

APPLICATION FILED MAR,29.192I. 1 A24, 998. t d Aug- 8, 1922.

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PROCESS OF AND APPARATUS FOR DISTILLING.

APPLICATION FILED MAR. 29. 1921.

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J. T. FENTON.

PROCESS OF AND APPARATUS FOR DISTILLING.

APPLICATION FILED MAR. 29, 1921.

Patented Aug. & 1922.

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Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Aug. 8, 11222.

Application filed March 29, 1921. Serial No. 455,581.

To all wia om it may concern Be it known that 1, JAMES T. FEN'roN, a citizen of the United States, residing at Salt Lake City, in the county of Salt Lake and State of Utah, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Processes of and Apparatus for Distilling, of whichthe following is a specification.

The present invention particularly relates to a topping still, that is to say, a still adapted for distilling the very light oil fraction, such as gasoline, from mineral oil withoutproducing any cracking, or at least any substantial amount of cracking, of the oil. The objects of the invention are to completely remove the most volatile ingredients from the mineral oil all in one operation, and to do this without depositin any carbon or like material in the still and to so regulate the inflow and outflow as to make the separation complete, while avoiding any. overheating, and to accomplish these results in a regular. steady, safe and economical manner.

For the accomplishment of the above objects, the apparatus shown in the annexed drawing is found to give excellent results. In said drawing Figure 1 represents avertical side elevation, partly in section, of an approved apparatus. Figure 2 represents a view on the line 2-2 looking in the direction ofthe arrow. Figure 3 represents a front view of a weir and an adjustablegate which co-operates therewith. Figure 4 represents a section taken approximately on the line 4-4 of Figure 3. Figure 5 represents a fragmentary section on the line 5-5 looking downwardly. Figure 6 shows a modified form of construction in vertical section of one of the steps in the distilling process. Figure 7 represents a further modification of the steps of the still.

The operation of the apparatus is as follows: Oil, for example crude mineral oil or preferably crude mineral oil after the sediment has been suitably removed, is introduced through the pipe 10 into a preheater 11. this consisting of a box provided with one or more coils 12, the oil passing downwardly through the coils 12, and steam flowing upwardly through the spaces l l'and the exhaust steam flowing out at (or vice The oil flows through the pipe 16, provided with an expansion curve 17, and preferably through a by-pass 18 in which is located a butterfly valve 19, regulated as described below, entering through the nipple 20 into the space 21, below'baflie B back of weir 22. The oil overflowing the weir passes downwardly over a series of steps consisting of risers 23 and treads 24 into the well 25. The said well contains a float 26 carried by the rod 27, which rod is rigidly connected to a shaft 28 passingthrough a stufling box 29 to a point outside the still. Attached rigidly to the shaft 28 is an arm 30 which in turn is connected to a rod 31, rocker arm 32 (pivoted at 83), rod 34, rocker arm 35 (pivoted at 36) and rod 37 to another rod 38 which operates the butterfly valve 19. The oil outlet from Well 25 consists of a pipe 39 which leads the treated oil to a storage tank or to a lace for further treatment thereof.

he vapors liberated in the still pass through a reflux vapor outlet pipe 40 past a thermostat 41 located at the upper end thereof, into a series of condenser coils 42 and 43 and the .uncondensed gases are drawn oif at '44 to be collected for use for any desired process. The condensate is drawn off through the trapped outlets 45 and 46.

The heating of the oil is efiected by means of steam enterin through pipe and preferably flowing tirough a by-pass 51 past a valve 52, which valve is controlled by the thermostat' ll through a train of connections 41 in such a way that the top boiling point of the distillate is maintained constant. The steam enters the space between the steps 23 and 24 and the bottom 53, flowing upwardly therethrough, and the weir 22 is preferably made hollow so that this likewise will be kept full of steam. The steam leaving the upper end of the steam space of the still flows out by-the pipe 54 provided with an expansion curve 55, and enters the steam space 14 of the preheater, finally being drawn off at 15. It is understood that suitable drawing-off outlets 56 and 57 for water of condensation will be provided. I a

In distillin the gasoline fraction from crude petroleum the top 58 of the still may be shaped as illustrated in full lines. However. it is preferable. in some cases, to make the left hand end -(in Figure 1) square at the top as shown in dotted lines at 59 and 60 (see Fig. 4). I

Placed above the weir 22 there is preferably provided an adjustable gate 61 as shown in Figure 3, this being vertically adjustable at each end, by means of the screws 62 and 63; the said screws co-operating with blocks M'carried by the said gate.

It is advisable that the opening, or slot, between the gate 61 and the weir 22 be of uniform width or height and also that this opening be exactly level. The idea of this opening is to cause the oil being fed into the distilling chamber to spread out uniformly over the steps 23 and 24:. The gate is raised or lowered by the screws as above indicated, suitable slides 66 and 67 being provided for this gate.

For the purpose of bringing the top of the weir 22 into a properly horizontal position the still is provided with legs 69, 70, 71 and 72,- each of which is provided with a leveling. screw. The screws carried by these legs are also capable of regulating the amount of incline of the still itself, and the treads 24 may be thereby caused to slope slightly either forwards or backwards, if desired, or they may be made exactly level.

The lower edge of the gate, as shown in Figure 4, is preferably made beveled to more readily adjust the flow of the oil. The weir 22 may be made hollow as above described for being filled with steam or, in some instances, it is advisable to make this solid, for example of cast iron or the like.

There may be provided in the well 25 a second thermostat device as illustrated at 80, this being connected by a train of connections 80* to a valve 81 in the oil inlet and placed to the right of the valve 19.

In case the steam supply should, for any reason, be decreased or cut 01f this thermostat will close the valve 81 and thereby stop the feed of oil to the device. When the steam is again turned .on and the temperature in the well is raised to the. proper amount the valve 81 will again open, rendering the process continuous.- In this manner any irregularities in the steam supplyare readily compensated for in an automatic I i it is desired to do so the automatic regulation of the flow of oil and steam may be dispensed with, the oil flowing through the valve 86 in pipe 87, and the steam flowing through valve 88 in pipe 89, these valves being suitably regulated by hand.

The entire heated portions of the apparatus may be provided with a suitable heat insulating coverin if desired to prevent loss of heat by ra iation.

It will be observed that the film of oil is continuous, and that the same flows over a cascade system or cataract system, the same comprising essentially a highly heated surface, the heating agent being on one side of the metal or other suitable plates forming this heating surface and the oil being on level position.

aeeaeee to the oil which has already been heated to a high degree.

I have above referred to superheated steam as the preferred heating agent. This steam may be at any temperature even up to 1000 F, and may be supplied at any suitable pressures say 5 to 100 pounds more or less. While I have particularly described superheated steam as the preferred heating agent I do not desire to be considered as restricting the invention to the use of this agent since hot gases orv vapors (superheated elastic vapors) can be employed in like manner.

I call attention to the fact that when metal plates or sheet metal articles are heated there is always considerable likelihoodof some torsion eifects produced by the expansion. This may in some instances cause theweir 22 to expand and reduce the space between this weir and the gate 61.

This is readily compensated for by raisingthe process of distillation by passing the oil through a continuously flowing cataract still, the heating agent, preferably steam, being supplied and brought into heat-conduct ing relationship with the oil on the counterflow rinciple as above more fully described.

I c aim:

1. An apparatus adapted for use as an oil topping still, having a stepped bottom, an oil inlet, an overflow weir adjacent said inlet, and a vertically movable gate over said weir, each end of said gate being vertically adj ustable.- 4

2. An oil still comprising a distilling chamber, an oil inlet to said chamber, a transverse weir located near said inlet, a vertically movable gate over said weir, means for adjusting each end ofsaid ate independently, supports for said cham er, and leveling screws cooperating with said supports to bring the top of said weir to a- 3. An oil still comprising a distilling chamber having a stepped bottom surface over which the oil flows in a film of substantially uniform depth in one direction, an oil inlet at one end .of said chamber, an oil well at the other end of the chamber, means foradmitting a heating agent to the e -teases opposite side of said stepped bottom surface so that itwill flow in a direction opposite to the flow of oil, and means for controlling the admission of oil to the chamber by the temperature of oil in said well.

4. An oil still comprising a distilling chamber having a stepped bottom surface over which the oil flows in a film of substantially uniform depth in one direction, an oil in'let at one end of said chamber, an oil well at the other end of the chamber, means for admitting a heating agent to the opposite side of said stepped bottom surface so that it will flow in a direction opposite to the flow of oil, and means for controlling the admission of oil to the chamber by the depth of oil in said well.

5. An oil still comprising a distilling chamber having a stepped bottom surface over which the oil fiows in a film of substantially uniform depth in one direction. an oil inlet at one end of said chamber, an oil Well at the other end of the chamber. means for admitting a heating agent to the opposite side of said stepped bottom surface so that it will flow in a direction opposite to the flow of oil, means for controlling the admission of oil to the chambervby the temperature of the oil in said Well, and separate means for controlling the admission of oil to the chamber by the depth of the oil in said well.

6. An oil still comprising a distilling chamber, an oil inlet pipe at one end of said chamber and an oil well at the other end thereof, two valves in said inlet pipe. means governed by the depth of the oil in said well for controlling one of said valves, and means governed b the temperature of the oil in said well or controlling the other valve.

7. An oil still comprising a distilling chamber, an oil inlet pipe at one end of said chamber and an oil Well at the other end thereof, an irregular surface over one side of which the oil flows in a film of substantially uniform depth from the inlet to the Well, means for admitting a heating agent to the opposite side of said irregular surface, means for conducting said heating agent in a direction opposite to the flow of the oil, and means for controlling the heating agent by the temperature of the distilled vapors. j

8. An oil still comprising a distilling chamber, an oil inlet pipe at one end of said chamber and an oil well at the other end thereof, an irregular surface over one side of which the oil flows in a film of substantially uniform depth from the inlet to the Well, means for admitting a heating agent to the opposite side of said irregular surface, means for conducting said heating agent in a direction opposite to the flow of the oil, means for controlling the heating agent by the temperature of the distilled vapoi-s, and means for controlling the admis sion of oil to the chamber by the temperature of the oil.

9. An oil still comprising a distilling chamber, an oil inlet pipe at one end of said chamber and an oil Well at the other end thereof, an irregular surface over one side of which the oil flows in a film of substantially uniform depth from the inlet to the well, means-for admitting a heating agent to the opposite side of said irregular surface. means for conducting said heating agent in a direction opposite to the flow of the oil, means for controlling the heating agent by thev temperature of the distilled vapors, means for controlling the admission of oil to the chamber by the temperature of the oil, and separate means for controlling admission of oil by the amount of oil in said chamber.

10. A process of distilling hydrocarbon oil which comprises passing a film of the oil over a steam heated irregular surface while maintaining substantially uniformity of depth throughout, regulating the admission of oil to said surface by the depth of oil at the outlet, and also by the temperature of the oil at said outlet, and regulating the admission of steam to said surface by the temperature of the distilled vapors.

11. A process of distilling hydrocarbon oil which comprises passing a film of the oil over an irregular surface. passing steam over the opposite side of said surface, regulating the admission of oil to said surface by the depth of oil at the outlet and also by the temperature of oil at said outlet, and regulating the admission of steam to said surface by the temperature of the distilled vapors.

12. A process of distilling hydrocarbon oil which comprises passing a film of oil over one side of an irregular surface in one direction, passing a heating agent over the opposite side of said surface in the opposite direction, regulating the admission of oil to said surface by the temperature of the oil, and regulating the admission of the heating agent to said surface by the temperature of the distilled vapors.

13. A process of distilling hydrocarbon oil which comprises passing a film of oil over one side of an irregular surface in one direction, passing a heating agent over the opposite side of said surface in the opposite direction, regulating the admission of oil to said surface by the temperature of the oil, regulating the admission of the heating agent to said surface by the temperature of the distilled vapors, and preheating said oil before admission to said surface.

In testimony whereof, I have hereunto subscribed my name.

JAMES T. FENTON.

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