US1455376A - Process of converting oils - Google Patents

Description

May 15, 1923.

. J. H. ADAMS PROCESS OF CONVERTING OILS Filed Dec. 29,

1917 4 SheetsSheet 1 Converfer Condenser Ga: Collecfor Liquid 60/Zedvr INVENTOR WITNESSES:

ATTORNEYS J. H. ADAMS PROCESS OF CONVERTING OILS May 15, 1923.

Filed Dec. 29,

INVENTOR WITNESSES May 15, 19 23. 1,455,376

J. H. ADAMS PROCESS OF CONVERTING OIL S Filed Dec. 29, 1917 4 Sheets-Sheet 3 May 15, 1923. 1,455,376

; J. H. ADAMS v PROCESS OF CONVERTING OILS Filed Dec. 29, 1917 4 Sheets$heti 4 o u.. \a

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IL n-. \fi j W \N -Y K m \w Q n 12 a a I d! co WlT/VE88E8: IIVVEIVTOR Patented Me '15; 1923.

Jo'snrn H. Anms, or FLATBUSH, NEW YORK, assrenon "120 THE Texas commit;

OF HOUSTON, TEXAS, A CORPORATION'OF TEXAS.

PROCESS OF CONVERTING OILS.

Application filed December 29, 1917. Serial No. 209,475.

To all whom it may concern:

vBe it known that I, JosnPH'H. ADAMS, a-citizen of the United States, residing at Flatbush, borough of Brooklyn, in the 5 county of Kings and State of New York,

' have invented certain new and useful Improvements in the Processes of Converting Oils, based on my disclosure in'a caveat filed inthe United States Patent Ollice in .10 June of 1910, and of which the'following is the sprays or vapors of more. or less refined minerahoils such as those of the semirefined kerosene distillates, non-viscous neutral and gas oil types as well as the coal tar oils into those of more volatile natures such as gasolenes," na-pthas, benzol and toluol, which are characterized by lower gravities and boiling points than the original untreated oils. One object of this invention is to formulate a process of a, commercially practical "nature for carrying out the above stated conversion, by means of a properly applied source of heat, which preferably is derived from an internal heater electrically maintained at oil cracking temperatures although externally-applied heats may be employed as well for carr ing out this process.

[To those skil ed in thefa rt it is known that crude petroleum and coal taroils, by a process of fractional distillation, may be separated into a multitude of com onent parts or oils difi'ering from one anot er in insensible gradations. v

Commercially, the distillation is not carried to extremelimits of refinement,'the aim being to produce the maximum yield of the' several principal product'sfor which there is the greatest demand.

' Owing to the somewhat unsettled state of the nomenclature of mineral oils, these products sometime go under modified names, par- The nature 'of the ticularly with respect to the gasolenes which today are extensively sold under Baum gravities considerably lower than had been customary some years ago.

The fact remains, however that these: products, whatever they may be named, are not usually distinctive oils, but as ordinarily found in commerce are, in reality,- unseparated mixtures, of higher and lower gravity oilshaving their .components so proportioned that. their average gravity and boiling points. conform to the gravity and g boiling points of'gasolene, -naptha, kerosene, gas oil and the like, and, an analysis by fractional distillation will show each of these commercial products to contain a multitude of fractions usually ranging through a -wide scale of. gravities and boiling points,

although those which form the greater proportion of any particular product will possess gravities and boiling points approximating and within the range of that prod- 'uct.

In order to commercially and economically convert one or more of these commercial 0118 as kerosene, non-viscous neutral, gas 011 or the oils of the coal tar and aro- 'matic series, it is necessary to apply cracking beats and super-atmospheric vapor pressure-s to the original oils or oily spray and vapors to crack them, split the molecules of and completely transform the original untreated oils into those of lower boiling products which are characterized by lower specific gravities.

This I do by subjectingspray or ors of oil driven into vaporous or gaseous ormv to the powerful influence of properly applied decomposing temperatures while maintaining these sprays or vapors under superatmospheric vapor pressures while the oily vaporsa-re undergoing transformation in the converter and-the converted vapors are bereduced to distillates' in a condenser, an I may also employ high-temperature super-heated steam in combination with the. oily vaporsboth of which are forced into the converter against a back vapor pressure maintained in excess of atmospheric pressure.' process is such that its full disclosure maybe greatly facilitated .by describing certain features of apparatus adapted to carry out the same in conjunction with the statement detailin .-the manner in-which the oil willcourse t rough and undergo essential change in quality in the O Fig. 2, is an elevation vlew of an appa ratus as constructed for commercially carrying out the process. 1

Fig. 3', is a cross sectional view showing the electric heater of the apparatus depicted in Fig. 2. v

Fig. e, is an apparatus modified for the application of external heat showing a crowned plate above a furnace, and:

Fig. -5, is the front elevation view of a battery of oil converting. units showing the manner of constructing series of units for continuous commercial operation. a

Turning now to Fig. 1, A, represents a suitable supply tankwhich serves as a source of the oil to be converted. Oil may be admitted into this containingv vessel-by means of supply pipe 1, controlled byvalve 2, and withdrawn through pipe-5, and forced by compressed air into the converter 0,. being controlled in its flow by precision valves 6.

The height offoil in thesupply tank A, can be seen in glass gauge 7, and should an air pressure be maintained over the surface of oil in the supply tankA, to force.

it into the converter C against a back or vapor pressure in excess of atmospheric pressure, then the pressure gauge 8, at the top of tank A, will indicate such pressure.

An air pipe 3, can be connected into the tank A, and controlled by valve 4, whjch pipe may be connected with an air compressor or other means of air pressure for furnishing the required pressure over the surface of oil in the'tank A.

Inasmuch as it is desired to conserve heat energy as much as ssible in this appae ratus and bring the infiowing oil nearly to a vaporizing point the comparatively cold oil flowing through the pipe 5, is preferably caused to pass through an oil pre-heater B, and thus be raised in temperature before passing into the oil converting receptacle C.

This pre-heater B, may comprise any suitable type of liquid heater but preferably provides a continuously rising coil 9, connected with the outlet pipe 10, which pipe f is located at the top so that any air bubbles may readily escape and not form air locks.

in such pre-heating coil. The source of heat for said .pre-heater may be the unconverted hot oil returning from the converter and residue oil receiver Gr, or it may consist of any other heat supplying means.

The 'drawing. shows oneof the many dilower part of the converter and separator C-D, and. is connected to the upper part, or vapor dome D, by means of the neck 11.

Within the converter C, and located near the bottom, a grid of electric heating elements 12, is supported upon insulators :13,

and this id is inconnection with a source of electric current through suitable conductors +14 and '-15, which pass through the bottom 16, of the, converting chamber or retort C.

The oil admitted to the converter through" pipe 10, is broken into a spray 'or-mist through sprinkler nozzles 17, and sieve 18,-

before coming into contact with or in'close proximity to the electricallyheated grid 12; which grid, by its maintained intense cracking temperature, .co'nvert's and transforms the greater part or all of the oily mist or gasified oil into a'l-ighter vapor, which when condensed into liquid form, 'will be essen-' tially oil. r

The process of oil transformation by intense heats employed to break up the high different from the original untreated boiling oils into vapors of lower boiling" products results in the production of certain percentages offixed gas, according to the intensity of the heat. and the'nature of theoriginal oil as Well as the nature of the products sought.

From the top of the expansion and vapor dome D, the light converted vapors and any fixed gaseswhich may be generated during the process are led out through pipe 19 into a vertical duct 20, which in turn leads to a condenser E. The coils 21301 'the con.-'

denser are in free communication with the converter as well as with a running trap tank F, by means of pipe 22, located at'the foot of or beyond the condenser and in which tank fixed gases and condensed va-' pors in the form of distillates are collected.

From this collecting tank F, fixed gases are withdrawn through pipe 23, controlled by valve 24, and pressuresin the system are recorded on gauge 25, located at the top of this tank. Llqllld distillates are withdrawnfrom the bottom'of' the tank through pipe 26, controlled by valve 27 and the height of oil in this tankcan beobserved -by-m'eans of glass gauge 28, while the withdrawn gases'ma'y be collected in a gas hol'der'as H,

I such oils as pass below this grid will flow into the trap 30, located below the converter C, to which it is connected by means of neck 31. K

Particles of carbon formed during the process and any residues which might collect at the bottom of the converter, will naturally fall into the trap 30, and when oil rises therein to the height of the overflow pipe 32, it will flow into the hot oil' overflow tank G, freely connected with the trap 30, by means of the pipe 32.

During the process, any heavy unconverted oily vapors. mechanically carried over with lighter vapors through pipe 19, and into pipe 20, will fall in pipe 20, pass through pipes 20" and 32, and be trapped in the tank G. By means of glass gauges 33, located on tank G, the height of oil may be observed, and whenit is desired to remove this oil through pipe 34 controlled by valve 35, the pump 36, can be operated to withdraw it and return the same to tank A, through pipe 37, for re-treatment.

In practice, the applicationof heat to the oily spray, while undergoing conversion,-

expands it and causes vapor pressure in all parts of the system not containing liquid oil, from the source of supply through to the end of or beyond the condenser including converter C, vapor dome D, condenser E and gas and liquid tank F, as well also in the trap 30 and hot oil overflow tank G.

.The construction of the grid or electric heater can be quite clearly seen in Fig. 3, where the heating elements are alternately joined at their ends by heavy connecting links, "thus establishing a series connection between them which may be replaced by any suitable arrangement.v

' r This grid rests on insulators 13, of soapstone, porcelain or other suitable material and is somewhat elevated above'the bottom of the retort to prevent contact with any I spray which is in the immediatevicinity of parts. of the container or carbon fractions which may spllt off and drop from the electrodes.

From the iforegoing it will be seen that during the low of electric current, the electric heaterwill be maintained at cracking temperatures incl'ose relation. to the oily spray being delivered into the converter ,C.

The efi'ect'of this heat is to cause the oily the highly heated electrodes to be broken up or converted into vapors, which-when condensed, will have lowerflspecifie ravities and boiling points than the original/ un- "treated oils,v

It mayalso be mentioned-that owing-to the excessive quantity of'heat' and owin to the fact that much-0f the heat will radlate at a diminished temperature into surrounding portions of the converter and to the oily spraystherein, considerable oil may be' merely volatilized without undergoing conversion, just as burning or illuminating oils and naphthas are vaporized without essential conversion in the ordinary processes offractional distillat'aen. During the operation, the raw non c nverted oils will be relieved of a portion of carbon of which they I are in part composed. This, of course, al-' ters their chemical character and converts them from oneor more of the products of the hydro-carbon series into others of an essentially different character The carbon which is removed in'this manner will be in part deposited upon the hot resistance elements. 12, and in part precipitated in the form of fine coke to the bottom of the conreason that the conduction-of the heat is sufficient to evaporate a certain somewhat remote portion of the oily spray at a lower temperature than is required for cracking purposes.

into the dome D, will be composed not only of the oily spray which has suffered a breaking up of it's molecules and a deposition of a portion of carbon bythe high converting Accordin ly the vapors passing heat, butalso will contain a certain propor-, 1

tion of unchanged original oil in the form of vapor. I

:Ihese mixed vapors are evolved very rapidly owing to the intense temperature of the heater, but as they rise in the expansion dome D, where the'heat is less intense,

some of the heavier vapors condense-and fall through the neck 11, and mingle with the oily spray dropping from the supply As the entire apparatus wo verted vapors are condensed under their self-maintained pressures the distillates will flow freely from the lower coils of'the condenser E, into the running trap tank F,

pipe and are, in consequeiice, re-subjected to the cracking influence.

I rks under selfgenerated vapor pressures and the conwithout interruption; and irr the-ordinary continuous process of conversion, and when the operation is properly balanced under a given super-atmospheric vapor pressure, the determined pressure is regulated by the gas .outlet valve 24 in the pipe 23, leading from the topof this trap tank F;

above the condensing coils 21, as shown in the This valve will releasefigure drawings. any sudden or excessive pressure above the predetermined degree necessary to help in bringing about the desired conversion.

In the form of apparatus shown in Fig. 2, A, represents the main supply tank from which oil is supplied to the apparatus. This. tank can be filled through pipe 1, controlled by valve 2, and the oil is withdrawn through pipe 5, and forced by compressed air or by means, of pump 38, through the preheater B, and into the converter C, being controlled in its flow by precision valves 6.

The height of oil in the supply tank can be seen in gauge glasses 7, and should air pressure be maintained over the surface of -1nstrumental 1n deliverlng the raw oil from oil in the supplytank A, to force it into the converter C--D, the pressure gauge 8, at the top of tank A, will. indicate such pressure; and an air pipe 3, controlled by valve 4, may be connected to the top of the supply tank A, which pipe may lead to a source of compressed air, otherwise the oil is withdrawn from the tank and forced into the converter C, through pre-heater B, by means of the pump 38.

This drawing shows another of the many diverse forms which the converter CD, may assume, and such converter here shown comprises a closed retort C, containing a heater 12, oil sprayer 17, protecting and confining sheath 39, sieve 18, and the necessary inlets and outlets for the continuous operation of the process.

Within this converter C D, and near. the bottom, a grid of heatlng elements 12,

is located and supported on insulators 13,

'while above it and within the sheath 39,

there'isplaced a sieve 18,-for the breaking up of oily spray into finer sprays or vapors. Above this sieve and near the top of the enclosed cpnverter a pipe 10, is provided with'a sprinkling system composed of spray jets'17, at its top inner end and located in such a position that oil sprayed from the jets will fall within thecone or sheath 39,

l proximitv to the electric heater 12.

to and-through the sieve 18, and. in close The oil is admitted and broken into a spray or mist through sprinklers 17, and any undivided particles of oil will be further broken up, as it passes through sieve 18,

before reaching'the, heater 12. The converted spray and some of the unconverted oil-driven into vaporous form by the in-f tense heat rises through neck 11, into ex pansion and vapor dome D, where the heavier vapors. in part, come in contact with the perforated baiile plates40, are condensed and drop backto the bottom ofthe dome duced to distillates.

When such distillate is removed from the tank F, pump 42, may be put into operation to deliver the distillate in any direction desired through pipe 43.

Apart from maintaining compressed air over the surface of the oil in tank A, for delivering. it into'the system and as a means tank A, into the converter ,C-D, through pre-heater B, the pump 38, is operated at any speed desired'to maintain a constant and steady flow, but as'it would not be possible to so rapidly pass all of the oil the pump will draw and force, it is necessary to return a certain portion of the oil to the tank A. This is accomplished by closing the valve 44, so that the oil may be drawn through pipe 5, by the pump 38, and forced into the converter through the precision valves 6, and any: oil not admitted into the converter flows up through pipe 5* 45, and passes through an enclosed pop valve 46..and by means of the upper part so on into the condenser E,

of pipe 37, is returned to the tank A. It. I

for instance, a back or vapor pressure of seventy five pounds to the square inch is maintained in the system .and it is desired to force oil into theconverter through pump 38, it is necessary to s ot the release valve 46, at 90' or pounds to. the square inch so that the oil can be forced against a check set at .a higher pressure than that maintained in the system.-and in this man;

ner it is not necessary to operate the pump at any particular speed for any. excess 01] above the quantity admitted into the sys tem through theprecision valves 6, is, by this means, returned to the original supply tank.

In the commercial operation of my process in an apparatus of this nature it may here be-pointed out that, when operating upon certain classes of'oils, that is, themore volatile oils, it is highly desirable to localize the application of the intense internal heat so as to prevent thespreadof the heat in a lower degree of intensity than is necessary to efficiently crack the oily spray, but of sufficient intensity to cause the vaporization of undue amounts of the oilyv spray at a distance from the electric heater without 5 unconverted vapors of oils than is absolutelyunavoidable. 4

To that end I have provided the sheath 39 which confines the supplied oily spray and which spray must pass down and out from W the bottom of the sheath-before it can rise in-vaporous or gaseous form into the upper 'gart of the converter C, and into the dome The space between the lower edge of the sheath 39, and the heater 12, permits the escape and rise of both converted and un'- converted vapors, as indicated by the arrows,

into the expansion and vapor separating dome D, where the heavier unconverted vapors are dephlegmated and drop back into the converter C, for re-treatment. In Fi 3, the plan of the heater 12, is shown w ere the electrodes of graphitic-car- I bon rods are alternately joined at their ends so that current flowing in through feeder wire +14, courses through one. continuous length of rod or tube and out through the wire --13, and while in this process case it is not necessary to enter extensively into the structural features of this heaterit is sufli cient to say that the links or terminals join: ing the ends of these GIGCtI'OdQSwfil-G large enough 1 to conduct the current with little. or no resistance and thus causing the rods or tubes comprising the grid to become highly heated for the (purposes intended.

In my copen ing application S. #209,476

filed of even date, I have described and claimed an apparatus similar'to that here mentioned, and-as I have fully disclosed the structural character of such electric heater 4 in that application it .will be unnecessary 3 to elaborate thereon in this process discl'osure. It' is-sufficie'nt to say, however, that this electric'heater provides a means of internally heating the oil in spray or vaporous formin such a manner as to very efiectually convert the same and is thus adapted to assist inv performing a ste'p of primary imp'ortance-tom process.

"employed for the urpose 'of conversion, I may also use su ereated steam at very high temperatures orced into. the body of the vapors or spray through pi e 56, controlled by valve 57, while being a mitted into the converter throughnozzles 58. This steam is generated and preferably super-heated outsidethe converter then forced into" the sheath '39, contained within the converter C, against a back or vapor pressure maintained during the process. I

- The purposes for which the super-heated steam may be used will be apparent to those skilled in the art, for thereby a certain quantity of carbon contained in the oil may be In addition to thelntense or cracking heats u regulating the heat held with n the furnace -mulate at the lowerpart of converterC, in

L i I removed in gaseous form, thus freein the resultant vapors from a portioirof un esirable carbon, the ox gen combining withthe carbon forming car on-dioxid--carbon-mon-' oxide and otherpossible gases, While at the same time the oily vapors. may be hydrogenated and the resultant products of conversion will be the sweeter in odor and lighter in color than converted oils not subj ected to the super-heated steam treatment. 7

'Referring now to Fig. 4, it will be seen that all of the principal parts of apparatus here shown resemble those shown in -Fig. 2, and are co-related for the purpose heretofore described. The heater and heating means, however, are different, the heat being applied externally to the bottom of a dished plate or disk near which the oily spray is transformed and converted into vapors of dissimilar nature,- 35

The sup ly tank A, re-heater B,flconverter C condenser and trap tank F, as well as the hot oil overflow tank G, are all arranged about as shown in the appa-' ratusof Figs. 1 and 2, but in carrying ofi thesurplus unconverted oil a difierentmeans has been supplied as will be described.

To provide an economical means of heat where electric current'is .not available or is too high in cost forcommercial usage the dished plate .47, is attached to the lower part of the shell of the converter C, by means ofbolts drawn against-a heat and hot I oil proof gasket of asbestos or. other suitable above a furnace J, constructed of suitable fire brick and provided with a bridge wall 48, against which the elements of combustion are projected from a burner 49.

. The heat -from such combustion rises to the'top of the furnace and heats the plate 47, to cracking temperatures so that the oily vapors or sprays from the jets 17, must come in close proximity to this highly heated surface before escaping into the dome D.

' The heat so generated must 'rise and heat theplate 47, from the under side before it can flow down and out through the flue '50,

- of the stack 51, which stackis provided with :gases of combustion above the apparatus.

In order to jprovidea means for the escape of unconverted .oil which might accuthe valley around the outer part of the plate,47,' and below the crowned part or the plate 47, pipe 53, is provided to connect intothe lower end of pi e 20", in-order toz lead this oil into hot oi overflow-tank G, through pipe '32.

' Since it becomes necessary onlyto ,provide a simple and inexpensive means of heat I for carrying, out the process of vapor or spray, conversion the drawing Fig. 4, shows.

the'adaptability of this form of externally applied source of heat to bring about the desired results.

The battery of converters shown in Fig.

:5, illustrate a commercial installation of A feature, of importance in the arrange ment' of a number of units in a battery, as

shown, is in the fact that through the vapor line, or other-equalizing pipe as L59,'all

, of the units carry, the same umform vapor pressure, foriby such duct and the pipes 19 and 20, as well as the descending pipes 55, the pressure in each unit is compensatedor'equalized one with another, and in this manner, while one furnace maybe slightly hotter. than another, the pressure maintained over the oil in the converters andin the vapors being condensed is thesame all of the units comprising such a system.

Then, also, should it be necessary tomake repairs or shut eas well as the hot oil overflow line valve and the unit needing attention can be taken care of without disturbing the continuous operation .of the other units comprising the system.

The'inflowing oilto the converters being preferably' p're-heated is led through pipe 61, and controlled at its entry into each converter by valves as 62, with which an accuratedelivery of oil can be made instead of one valve controlling the entire inlet 1 system. I In the treatment of hydro-carbon oils having initial boiling points ranging from 300/to 600 'F. pressures from -to 150 lbs. to the square inch'in excess of atmospheric ressure have beenfound the most'satis- Y actory for this process while subjecting the oil" and oily vapors to heats considerably aboveltheir normal boiling temperatures.

: .Thus in subjecting an oil having anin'itial boiling point of say 300 F., to cracking 1 temperatures ran ing from 700 to 950 F.,- it

has been] found esirable .to employ superatmospheric pressures; from 50 to 100 lbs.

to thesquare inch, while for heavier-oils, orthose with higher boiling points, the pressure may. be increased from 75' to 200 pounds and the-temperature from'850 to 1'000 F.

-In View of, the foregoing disclosures, a-

will be obvious to those who are more or less skilled.in 'this art that my process may be i carried out with difierent'fluids from those dpwn any one of the units this can be'done by closing the oil supply .valve and the va or line va v scope of my invention, and accordingly I intend that all matter contained in the above description shall be interpreted as illustra-- t-ive and not in a limited sense. I desire it also to be understood that the language adopted in the following claims is intended to cover all of the generic and specific features of the herein described invention and all statements 0 the scope thereof which as 'a matter of lan uage might be said to fall therebetween.

Having described my invention what I claim as new and desire to' secure by. Letters Patent is:

1. A process of the nature disclosed for converting high boiling oil into lower boiling products which comprises preliminary heating the oil to a temperature slightly be low its boiling point, introducing said hi hly heated oil into a crackin chamber atomization, bringing the fine y divided particles of oil into close proximity to a highly heated member while under superatmospheric vapor pressure, maintaining su c h '90 sufficient to crack and transformsaid oil into i lower boiling oils essentially difi'erent in I character from the original untreated oil, andcollecting and condensin the converted,

heating member at elevated temperatures vapors therefrom under su stantially the same vapor pressure as thatin the converter.

2. 'A process of the nature disclosed for converting highv boiling oils into lower boiling products, consistin heating the oils slightly elow their boiling points, introducing the highly heated oils intoa confined chamber' by atomization against an internal local heater maintained at a cracking temperature and under superatmospheric pressure for transforming them in preliminarily into vapors of oils essentially difl'erent ,from the orlginal untreated oils. and collecting j pressure 218 the form of a spray; bringing the finely di-- vided-particles of oil intoclose roximity to a highly heated member while under '12? changedvcondensed high boilingpiltoflow superatmospheric pressure, allowing unand condensin the converted vapors under into a collecting tank for retreatment, heatto .cracking temperatures and under superat- [mos heric pressure and mo'ndensing the crac' ad or. transformed vapors'under sub- I j stantially the same pressure.

\ specifically referred to, b various steps,

andw1th the assistance, 0 difiierent apparatus without, however, departing from the 4." Acontinuousprocess of the nature dis-v .ing the vapors undergoing transformation sisting in preheating oil to a temperature below vaporization, continuously atomizing and spraying it downwardly under pressure into a chamber and against an element in said chamber heated to a cracking temperature, passing the vaporsgenerated upward through an enlarged vapor dome whereby unconverted portions will flow back to the vicinity of said heated element, passing the vapors from said dome through a condenser in open communication therewith and maintainmg substantially the same superatmospheric pressure throughout the operation in said chamber, dome and condenser.

5. A continuous process of the nature disclosed for transforming high boiling hydrocarbon oils into lower boiling products consisting in preheating oil to a temperature below vaporization, continuously atomizing and spraying it downwardly under pressure into a chamber and against an element in said chamber heated to a cracking temperature, spraying superheated steam into said chamber continuously towards said heated element, passing the vapors generated upward through an enlarged vapor d'ome whereby unconverted portions will flow back to the vicinity of said heated element, passing vapors from said dome through a condenser in 'open communication therewith and maintaining substantially the same superatmospheric pressure throughout the operation in said chamber, dome and condenser.

6. A continuous process ofithe nature disclosed for transforming high boiling hydrocarbon oils into lowerboiling product-s consisting in preheating oil to a temperature below vaporization, continuously atomizing and spraying it downwardly under pressure into a chamber and against an element in said chamber maintained at a suflicient'temperature to convert the vapors, injecting su-' perheated steam into said chamber towards said heated'element, passing the generated vapors through a vapor separating dome and through a condenser in open communication therewith and maintaining substantially uniform superatmospheric vapor pressure throughout the operation including condensation.

LA process of the nature disclosed for converting high boiling oils into lower boiling products which comprises continuously passlng a stream of oil through a heating coil where it is raised to a temperature slightly below its boiling point, subsequently spraying it in finely divided streams into an enclosed chamber and against a heater maintained at a cracking temperature, subjecting the sprayed oil in the chamber to superatmospheric pressure whereby it is converted into lower oiling products by said heater, and carrying ofl' the evolved vapors and resultant residue.

8. A process of the nature disclosed for converting high boiling oils into lower boil ing products which comprises preheating the 011 to a temperature below vaporization by passing it in a stream through a heating coil, introducing the highly heated oil into an enclosed chamber maintained under su peratmospheric pressure by spraying it downwardly in finely divided streams, locally confining and directing the flow of the oil streams, subjecting the streams of oilto the direct action of a heater maintained at a cracking temperature whereby the oil is converted, separately withdrawing the residue and evolved vapors, and returning for retreatment the heavier unconverted constituents of said vapors.

9. A process of the nature disclosed for converting high boiling oils into lower boiling products which comprises preliminarily heatmg the oil to a temperature slightly below its boiling point continuouslyspraying the heated oil into a pluralityv of enclosed cracking chambers maintained under superatmospheric pressure and against heating members ,i therein maintained at cracking temperatures whereby the oil is concurrently converted. in the several chambers, withdrawing the residue-and the evolved vapors from said chambers and equalizing the pressures developed in said chambers by maintaining free and open communication between the vapor spaces thereof.

, In testimony whereofiI aflix my signature in the presence of two witnesses.

' JOSEPH H. ADA MS. Witnesses: A

AMCAPSTICK, F J. S. nn SELDING.

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