US1461017A - Apparatus for the conversion and transformation of liquids, fluids, and oils - Google Patents

Description

July 3, 1923. J. H. ADAMS SION AND TRANSFORMAT;ON OF LIQUIDS AND OILS FLUIDS APPARATUS FOR THE CONVER Filed Dec. 5, 1917" 3 Sheets-Sheet 1 ATTORNEYS Juiy 3, 1923. MLGLON J. H. ADAMS APPARATUS FOR THE CONVERSION AND TRANSFORMATION OF LIQUIDS, FLUIDS, AND OILS Fil ed Dec. 5 1917 3 Sheets-Sheet 2 ATTORNE'YS July 3; 923.

- J H. ADAMS APPARATUS FOR THELCDNVERSION AND TRANSFORMATION OF LIQUIDS, FLUIDS, AND OILS Filed Dec. 5, 1917 3 Sheets-Sheet 5 INVEN TOR AM WITNESSES t ATTORNEYS closed and claimed in infiy i gas oil and other inexpensive hydro-carbons as well as coal tar oils, into 1i hter oils,,such

arana cranes.-

JOSEPH H. ADAMS, or rtareusn, new rear, ASSiGNOR are THE rams conmmr, j s or nousron, TEXAS, a'conroaa'rrom'or '.1EXAS. v

arraaarus roa 'rnn eonvnasron AND TRANSFORMATION 0ILS.

or traumas, returns, arm

' Application filed December 5, 1917. Serial Ito. 205,52

T 0 all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, JOSEPH H. AnAMs,a

citizen of the United States, residin at Flatbush, in the county of Kingsa-nd tate .of New York, have invented a new and useful Apparatus for the Conversion and Trans-' uids, Fluids, and Oils, and

formatlon of Li of which the fol owing is a specification./ I ThlS invention relates to an apparatus for converting fluids, such as oils,'-into products of dissimilar character in the manner disco-pending application Ser. No. 618,911, led March 30, 1911, of which this application is a continuation in part, relatin to process as disclosed in my former appllcation Ser. No. 535,879,, filed December 31, 1909, which applications have matured into Patent January 6, 1920.- One object of this invention is toprovide a relatively simple and inexpensive means for exterfially applying oil cracking heats under ea'sycontrol to oil contained in-t ubes and chambers while held under super-a tmosphericvapor pressures for the purpose of altering their physical and chemical characteristics to apredetermined extent.

Another object'within the contemplation of this'in'ventionis to devise an apparatus which will notonly facilitate the. conversion ofheavy oils, such'askerosene distillates,

as gasolenes,,naphthas, benzo and the "like,

- but will also do so under conditions eliminating the possibility of undesirable interruptions in the continuous process of oil transformation.

scription.

, This invention seeksto provide an apparatus particularly adapted for cracking oils according to my process referred to which, from an operative standpoint,'w1ll, 1n practical usage, possess a high degree of efiiciency and durabilit and which, structural-ly considered, wil be of the greatest Other objects" and advantages will be in part obvious'from the annexed drawings and in part pointed out in thejfollowing' de- The invention accordingly consists in the features of construction, combination of elements and arrangement of parts which will be exemplified in the construction herein- .this disclosure,

No. 1,327,263, issued- 'larged, scale of the converter after set forth and the see c of the a lication of which p pp in claims.

will be indicated the follow- 11 order that this invention -may be the .made compre part of this disclosure, and while certain I modifications in the controlling features of this invention will be readily-deducible from such modifications are to" be understood as embodied within the intended 1 3 scope of my appended claims.

In the drawings corresponding parts are similarly referred to by like-characters of reference throughout'the several views of which:

Fig. 1 is an assembly in elevation show ing the se paratus as organized for commercially carrylng out my process.

veral -co-related parts of my ap- F 1g. 2 1s a-sectional elevation on an enshowing the craeklng tube, the high temperature furnag: and the displacement core within the tn k Fig. 3 is a part sectional elevation of the converter having 'a larger-liquidand vapor separating dome and a modified unconverted g5, Fig; 1s a horizontal'section taken through oil overflow yste line Z--Z of Fig. 2.

Fig. 5 is a sectional elevation of a multiat the lower ends of the tubes and a 'common liizluid and vapor separating dome at the top an tubular converter having 'a common-header f. A

g- S-a modified form of appara V to a liquid'and vapor separating dome.

This nventlon,

describing the various features thereof in as. a source of oil.

being of a comparativelysimple nature, may be well understood by,

of course, be, understood that this tus, as in Fig. 5, with a-common header atv 'the topvof a multi-tubular converter leading as ice 1, A, represents a' g maintained over the surface of at the same serve the hei 6, to properly so that the heat ly vaporizing the oil, and

heater H, is provided in which the 5 part of dome o converter B, so that the flow of oil *ption of this invention,

In this embodiment, the containing vessel 1, of the supply apparatus A, may be somewhat elevated with respect to the adjacent converter B, so that the gravitating tendency 6 of the oil may augment its flow into the converter B, under the influence of the more or less weight of oil in the tank and the pressure which may be maintained over it notwithstanding the compression which may be the oil in the converter.

The fluid oil may be admitted into the containing vessel or tank 1, by means of a suitable supply pipe indicatedby 2, while time the displaced air ma escape through pipe 3, from the top 0 the tank, or pipe 3, may be connected to a suitable air compressor so that a premure in excess of atmospheric may be maintained over 20 the surface of 011 contained therein to further augment the flow of oil from the tank to the converter B.

Such supply tank maybe provided with a suitable sight glass gauge 20, in order to obht of oil therein and a dis: charge pipe t, controlled by valve 5, through which oil may flow to the converter. The pipe connecting tank 1, with oil preheater is provided with several precision valves of oil through the heaterH, to the converter B, as shown.

For obvious reasons it is best to heat the oil before it is admitted to the converter B,

from the furnace of the converter may 'be conserved for the more important function of cracking, splitting the molecules of or rearranging them, and rapidtherefore'the oil oil may be brought to any desired temperature within the container 7 and tubes 8, by applied heat. the waste heat from the converter furnace 31, the overflow hot oil from the lower 10 or by any other economical mean-s of heating.

The oil heater H, and precision valves 6, are placed in the pi ing system between the source of supply 0 oil in tank 1, and the may be controlled and heated before entering the converter B.

The figures of the drawingsshow several of the many diverse forms which the converter may assume within the contemplaand the converter shown in Fig. 1, comprlses a chamber 9, of heat enduring materlal and an overlying covered containin vessel of liquid and vapor separating ome 10, closed at the top, by means of cap 11. The supply pipes 4 and 12, lead the oil to pipes 13 and 15, governed by valves 14 and 16, through either one of which oil isadmitted to the chamber 9, or lower part of dome W.

column 18,

"susceptible of an intelli dome 10, is secured to the heat and precisely govern the flow made up as tightly These sections, that is the chamber 9 and dome 10, may be connected with the gauge on which glass sight gauges 19, are arranged so that the condition and disposition 'fthe contents of the converter may always be the more readily apparent and be nt variation by operating the precision va ves 6, for regulatin the flow of original oil through ipe 4 and preheater H, into the converter The liquid and vapor dome 10, may also be provided with a glass gauge 21, for comparative observation. At the lower part of the converter B, and connected to the cracking tube or chamber 9, a heavy bottoms and residue chamber 30, is arranged to collect the precipitated carbon and foreign subcarbon and other sediment which may accumulate therein.

The closed containing vessel or vapor enduring or cracking chamber 9, by means of a suitable interposed flange member 25, which is securely bolted to each of these respective sections. Inasmuch as the vapors rising into and filling the upper part of the vapor dome 10, may, at any timebe so rapidly evolved as to exert an undue pressure in excess of the predetermined super-atmospheric vapor pressure under which the apparatus is working, I have arranged an expansion tank 26, on one side of the dome 10, and a release pop valve 27, in the vapor line 40, directly over condenser D, so that any sudden pressure above a given number of pounds per square inchwill cause the spring check in the seat of the valve 27, to rise and release the excessive pressure.

It is to be understood that the fittings are as possible and, therefore, I have used between the several flanges, caps and plate gaskets-of asbestos and other heat resisting and indestructible materials, so that the pomibility of leakage may be ob viated so far as it will be necessary from a practical standpoint. v

A feature of primary importanceis the means for externally applying heat of intense or cracking temperatures to. the oil while contained in the heat enduring chamber 9, while the oil is held under superatmospheric vapor pressures,for the purpose of bringing about a conversion of such oi Preferably this feature is operated by gas and 1 air blast or fuel oil under pressure atomized by steam or compressed air and comprises one or more jets 28, supplied through pipe 29, through which a proper are - residue includin .ma-y be varied to shapes and designs in which retorts can be compressed air is forced and ignited to form the necessa elements .of combustion.

The nozz es of these jets are projected through openings or ports into the furnace 31, composed of fire brick or other refractory material held together within a strong and suitable metallic shell 32, as more clearly shown in Figs. 2, 3and 4, and provided with an exhaust pipe or stack 33, which may lead the heat and spent gases of combustion to and through the preheater H, then out through pipe 34;. The furnace 31 surrounds the converter intermediate its ends, thus insuring that the lower end or bottoms chamber shall be maintained rela tively cool for the reception of the heavy the gravitated carbon.- This furnace 15 designed to conserve the greater part of the intense heat from the several fuel jets 28, for the purpose of mainv taining the walls of theheat endurin chamher 9, at a high temperature of suflicient va riable intensity while oil is contained with-' in the chamber in accordance with the vary ing characteristics of the oils which may be treated by and according to my process referred to.

In the form shown this furnace 31, with its intake pipes 35 and36, and outlet or exhaust 'pipe 33, is made up in cylindrical form to enclose thegreater part of the cylindrical heat enduring chamber 9, intermediate its ends and, while this precise form conform to-the different made commercially available for this purose, the form shown in Figs. 1, 2 and 3, will e found very suitable for converting many clzlisses of petroleum and other hydro-carbon 01 s. This furnace 31, and heat enduring ,chamher 9, are especially adapted for the economical use of a mixture of gas and air or fuel oil and air under pressure as an intense heating fuel. and while this'unit B, is but one form of converter a number-of such units in series would possess commercial ad vantages. The gas and air being brought in separately through pipes 35 and 36, be-- come mixed within the pipe 29, leading-to the jets 28.

When this combustible mixture is ignited the heat action within the furnace 31, may be observed through the sight ports 37 located in the front-walhthereof, and the temperature indicated by the pyrometer 38, located in a central position on the 'furnac'e where the thermal couple may extend into the body of the generated heat within the enclosure.

For the preservation of the heat endurthe jets 28, are arranged to enter the ports in the walls of the furnace-at a tangent whereby a circulating heat may be distributed about the exterior walls of the chamber 9, as indicated in Fig. 4, instead of the jets being projected directly at local parts of sible destruction in a short time.

This form of intense heater is especially adapted for Working in the oil and gas regions where the cost of natural gas is very low or the gas manufactured in gas producer plants and fuel oil cheap gas is not obtainable then the form of heater may be changed to conform to the available fuel or means of heat generation to carry on the process in this apparatus.

The oil containing and cracking chamber 9, may be constructed of various heat enduring metals, alloys, carbons, graphites, graphitic carbon and other materials known to withstand a constant and varying temperature, but for the temperatures and super-atmospheric pressures employed in successfully carrying on my process in this form of apparatus, the cold or'hot drawn seamless steel tubing having a small percentage of nickel has proven to be the best for this purpose and to have the greatest enduring qualities when brought to a high or cracking temperature b the application of external heat to it while containing oil.

This intense externally applied heat aifects'the contained oil in such a manner as to very effectually convert the same and is thus adapted to assist in a step of primary importance as a means in carrying on my process in this apparatus.

It may here be stated that when operating upon certain classes of oils, that is the more volatile oils and oily spirits, it is highly desirable to localize the application spread, so to speak, of the heat in alower degree of intensity through the mass than'is necessary-to efiiciently crack-the oil, but of a suflicient intensity to cause an evaporation of undue amounts of the oil at a distance from the intensely heated walls of the cracking chamber without bringing about a transformation.

To this end, in the embodiment of the apparatus shown by Fig. 2, I have provided a cylindrical core or sheath 39, of a size de- This core 39, is supported by the rods 41 and t2, the whole forming a shaft which by .ilt) the cracking chamber 9, with chances ofposis inexpensive; or where I of the external heat ,so as to prevent the g are means of a bearing. in plate 24, at the bottom of heavy bottoms chamber 30, and a packed hearing or gland in the vapor dome cap 11, may be caused to revolve when'the gears43 and 44,arranged above the crown of the .vapor dome 10, are operated by power. a

A helical collar or worm 45, ofmetal or other suitable material is attached to the periphery of the core 39, but in such a manner as not to directly engage the interior surfaces of the cracking chamber 9. This core cylinder and collar, when revolving, agitates the oil contained within the cracking chamber 9, and causes it to be thrown into more or less close proximity to the intensely heated walls of the chamber for the purpose of cracking, splitting the molecules of or re-arranging the series andotherwise converting all or as much of the original oil as may be possible during chamber. I

The helical collar 45 has another very important function in preventing an accumulation of particles of carbon, scales and coke which may adhere to or be deposited upon the interior surfaces or walls of the cracking chamber 9 during the cracking-operation.

In this respect, the helical collar 45 acts as a scraper to positively remove the carbon and other matters from the converter walls whereupon it is permitted to settle or gravitate out of the heating zone and into the relatively cool bottoms, which it may be drawn off through the pipe 22 as desired. In this way an excessive aecumulation of carbon on is prevented thereby avoiding the building up of a heat insulating coating which soon results in burning out the converter wall.

Moreover, the removal of the carbon prevents a progressive accumulation which would tend gradually to choke the system and finally to clog it to such an extent as to interrupt the operation. The helical collar tense heat which will be 'ried on continuously.

placed by fresh quantities of or scrape-r, therefore, performs a highly imwhich permits the a paratus to be operated and the process to ecar- From this it will be understood that when ever the fluid to be convertedis admitted to the chamber 9, and. containing vessel 10, and brought to the proper and safe level, as indicated by the dotted line gX--X, in the dome 10, and also indicated in the glass gauges 19 and 21, it is in a position to be opthe externally applied 1nmaintained within the retort 31, and in close relation to the original oil through the wallsof the cracking chamber 9, and which, when evolved as vapors, will be constantly and uniformly reuntreated and In other words,'the oil erated upon by non-converted oil the accelerated movements within and passage through the .made fast so that they occupy a chamber 30 from" converter walls.

contained within the channel between the core 39, and chamber 9, will be held in place by the head weight of oil contained in the lower part of vapor dome 10, in addition to the super-atmospheric vapor pressures maintained over the surface of oil, thus preventing the intense heat from too rapidly volatilizing the small amount of oil in this channel and driving it away from the intensely heated walls of the chamber where it is to be broken up or converted into oils having lower specific gravities and boiling points.

The action of the heat is extremely violent, causing the cracked oil to become immediately vaporized and the uprising of this vapor brings about a furious local agitation within the cracking chamber 9, and the contained oil.

In order to prevent excessive agitation and cracking as known in the present methods of fractional distillation by particles of oil being projected above the body of fluid in liquid and vapor dome 10, and allowing them to drop back again into the heated mass and thereby causing a deteriorating re-action, perforated battle plates 46 and/l7, are located on the rod or shaft and position within the body of oil, as shown in Figs. 2and 3.

It may also be mentioned that owing to the excessive quantity of heat,,and owing also to the fact that much of the heat will radiate at a diminished temperature into surrounding portions ;of the oil more distant from the intensely heated walls of the cracking chamber 9, considerable oil may and will be volatilized without undergoin conversion, just as illuminating oils an naphthas are boiled and vaporized without essential conversion in the ordinary process e undesirable the cracking chamucts having lower boiling points and spe cific gravities.

Thus, the complex mixture of oils known commercially as distillates of henzine, kerosene,gas and fuel oils, also coal tar oils, may be changed or transformed by means of this apparatus into a mixture of lighter oils and oily spirits which bear a general resemblance to and have the properties of that which is known as illuminating oil,

- of which they are in manor? naphtha, gasolene, benzol, toluol and other low boiling products of the hydro-carbon group. I

lit may be mentioned also that during this operation, the raw, non-converted oils will be relieved of more or' less of the carbon part composed, as well as some of the foreign substances which it may be desirable to eliminate. This, of course, alters their chemical character and converts them from nets of the hydro-carbon series into those of lower speclfic gravity and possible different character. The carbon which is removed in thismanner will be in part deposited upon the hot walls of the cracking chamber 9, and in part precipitated in the adjacent 'oil, being to some extent held in suspension and to some extent gravitatrng through the oil toward the heavy bottoms chamber 30, provided for itsaccumulation, and from which it may be withdrawn through the pipe 22.

Inasmuch as the precis'edegree of temperature at which the walls of the cracking chamber 9, should be maintained'in practice, will largely depend upon and be varied with particular conditions, such as the composition of the raw oil to be converted, it will be suflicient' to state that the tempera ture will vary from a heat in excess of that required to merely volatilize the oil held under super-atmospheric vapor pressure to that of sufiicient intensity to crack and transform the heaviest molecules of an oil subjected to my cracking process referred to in this apparatus, according to the nature of the fluid to be treated.

For practical purposes, however, when treating suchoils as kerosene distillates, gas

oil and other non-viscous oils a temperature iii) ranging from 600 to 1000 F. would, under super-atmospheric vapor pressures not exceeding 200 pounds to the square inch, bring about the desired transformation of an original high boiling oil into lower boiling products. on operating in this manner it has been observed that apparent] only a certain part o'f'the fluid ultiniate y evaporated comes in direct or close contact with the intensel heated walls of the cracking chamber 9, or the reason that the condition ot'the heat is suficient to evaporate a cer-' h tam somewhat remote ortion of the oil at a lower temperature t an is required for cracking the oil. Accordin passing into the dome 10, wi I be not only of the oil which has breaking up of its molecules and of a part of its carbon by the high converting heat, but will also contain a certain portion of unchanged original oil in the form of vapor.

These mixed rapidly owing to composed sufiered a deposition vapors are evolved very the intense temperature of one or more of the prodly, the vapons mg apparatus JD,

ghe' cracking chamber 9, and consequently care should be exercised to 'keep'the .oil line in the dome'10, at the proper mark in the glass sight gauges and not permit it to'fall below or approach a line which borders on or approaches near to -the intensely heated walls of the cracking chamber and which might be followed purposes; a

Th mixed vapors pass from the dome 10, into vapor discharge pipe as, and thence through pipe 49, to a vapor trap 50, of the liquid and vapor trapping system C, in which abaflle plate 51, is arranged in such a manner as to ma c it necessary for the light vapors to descend nearly to the bot tom of the/trap on one side of the plate and rise again on the other before they can escape through the gooseneck 40, to the condensing apparatus D.

Vapors not light enough to rise in pipe 49, are condensed then conducted to a liquid by searing or burning the oil or discoloring it for commercial trap 52, through the pipe 53, and in like manner vapors not light enough to rise in the vapor trap 50, after descending along the battle plate 51, fall to the bottom of trap 50, and the condensate is led through pipe 54, into the receiving tank 55, of overflow liquid collecting apparatus l, which latter is provided with glass sight gauges 56, and a pressure gau cot, and from-which the liquid oil may e withdrawnand returned tothe supply tank 1, by means of the suc tron pump 58, of apparatus G, and the pipe 59 controlled by valve 60. lBy means ofthe pump operating mechan sm 61, the oil is conveyed through return pipe 62, in which the check valve 63, is located to relieve the back pressure on the pump, and finally the oil is admitted through Lthe top of tank 1, asithe original oil was let in through pipe 2.

The lighter mixed trap 50, through the a suitable condenser mersed in water in tank 65, forming a part of the condensing apparatus D, of Fig. 1. This apparatus is provided with a cold water supply pipe 66, and ap overflow pipe 67, whereby a continuous flow of cold water canbe maintained within the tank 65,-for

vapors passirom the gooseneck 40, and into t e purpose ot-bringing about a complete condensation of vapors passing through the coils of pipe 64%. Since some of the vaporized original unconverted oil ma reaching the con ensing apparatusll), ll prefer to connect the bottom of pipe 53, with the liquid trap52, so that condensate may be led through per end of which is'in turn connected with pipe 68, into pipe 54, the upcoil or pipe 6d, im-

tend tocondensebefore the bottom of vapor trap 50, so that all condensate not accumulated through condensmay be returned to tank 1,

tained in into lighter to'fractional distillationor other operations to more or less completely segregate its comafter it is collected in receiving tank 55, of apparatus F. In this manner the alreadycondensed unconverted oil may be passed into the cracking chamber 9, again, without first being mixed with and separated from the converted condensed oils in apparatus 1), by a fractional distillation method.

After passing through the coilcondenser and cooling tank apparatus D, the fluid oil passes through pipe 69, E, of which tank 70, provided with glass gauges 71, is the container and from which it can be withdrawn by means of pipe 72 ,j controlled by valve 73, as shown in Fig. 1,; The upper part of this reservoir 70, is pro-v vided with a pressure gauge 74:, and a as aive off in va orous form flows out through pipe outlet pipe 75, controlled by a needle v so that the vapor pressures 111 the system:

may be accurately controlled in order to keep a predetermineduniform vapor pressure in the system during the process in this apparatus.

For the treatment of certain oils it is-necessary to maintain a super-atmospheric vapor pressure of one or more atmospheres in the apparatus from the source of supply through to the end of or beyond the condenser in conjunction with the other features of my invention, for thereby I am enabled to retard to a certain extent the over-production of vapors andthe volatilization of oil that must necessarily be held back and in check within the cracking chamber 9, until as much of the cracking operation can be performed on the contained fluid as experience and practice warrants. Furthermore, the vapor compression in connection with the treatment of certain oils will promote uniformity and certainty in thesatisfactory operation of the apparatus and, therefore, the compression in addition to normal atmosphere pressure becomes an important feature in the operation of this apparatus for oil transformation.

Thus, from practical experience, it has been found that a super-atmospheric vapor pressure maintained over a body of oil conthe converter retards the vigorous volatilization of the lighter vapors in" a desirable manner, assists in the conversion of oil and renders a more uniform flow of product therefrom. On the other hand a greater vapor pressure maintained over a body of oil contained within the converter and throiighout the system from the source of supply to the endof'or beyond the condenser when treating and converting high boiling oils helps materially in the process of conversion in this apparatus.

The composite oil withdrawn from tank 70, may either be returned to the converter in order to still further convert the same roducts, or it may be subjected into the apparatus cracking chamber 9, and for this purpose 1ntake pipes 13 and 15, are provided. When fluid is admitted through the lower part of apparatus B, valve 14 in pipe 13, and valve 77 in pipe 76,

the lower part of the converter. By the continuous method of supply and discharge, the unconverted oil which has not been driven and valve 77 in pipe 76, is opened. The

head weightand pressure on the oil in the lower part of vapor dome 10, causes the oil to flow down through crackin chamber 9, and out through pipe 76. ft is then forced up through the pipe 76, (Figs. 1 and is closed. Valve 16 in pipe 15, v and valve 79 in pipe 78, is opened thereby allowing the oil to flow through pipe 15, into 2) and over into liquid trap 52, and flows out through pipe 68, into pipe 54, from which it is'discharged into tank 55.

For the purpose of determining the proper speed at which the oil should flow through converter B, a pyrometer 80, is located near the lower external part of the liquid and vapor dome 10, so that when the proper speed of flow has been established this pyrometer will register a uniform temperature in the oil when it is passing through the converting chamber 9, in an upwardly direction.

For the purpose of maintaining a positive feed of continuousl flowing oil from supply tank 1, through t e preheater H, into the converter B, a pump 17, is interposed in the piping system and byclosing valve 5, in pipe 4 and opening valve 82, in pipe 81, and operating this pump a constant and positive flow of oil will be assured to the converter.

In: order to be informed of the temperature of oil being fed from the preheater H, into the converter B, a thermometer is located in the pipe 12, leading out from the top of the heater, and in pipe 49, leading out from the top of the converter B, another thermometer is locatedfso that temperatures of the converted oily vapors may be known.

An emergency gas outlet is provided in the pipe 69, leading 'from the foot of the i by valve 83.

little used since the more eflicient and better illustrated. In Fig.

7 Leaner?- condensing apparatusD, and i controlled Such valve, however, is but located pipe and control valve 75, on the top of tank 70, will answer about every purpose for properly regulating vapor pressures within the system.

In Fig. 2, an enlarged sectional elevation of the converter is features of the various parts are clearly 3, a somewhat similar view is shown of a converter where a larger liquid and vapor dome isemployed having overflow pipes 84 located at the lower part of the dome through which overflow hot unconverted oil may pass into trap tank 52, through pipe 85. A substantially constant oil level is thereby maintained. I

In this form of converter oil is supplied through the lower pipe 15 only. The converted vapors pass off from the top of dome 10, through pipe 48, to the condenser while partly or wholly unconverted oils will overflow the pipes 84, and can be returned to the supply tank. 1,'for re-treatment as before.

A number otpipes 84, arranged at the bottom of' 'dome 10, will facilitate the rise and escape of light vapors which may not have had time to separate from the oil at the surface level XX, due toits continuous and more or less rapid flow through the converter.

In Fig. 5, the same principle of vertical tubes and externally applied heat is carried out in this multi-tubular converter in which the chambers 9, are enclosed within the furnace 31. This form of furnace is provided with a combustion chamber 86, into which the elements of combustion are projected by means of burners or jets 87, which elements, as they ignite and expand, are deflected by the bridge wall 88, before entering the larger furnace 31, through port 89. The waste heat and spent gases from furnace 31 pass out through port 90, into stack 33, and in their passage, such heat is employed to preheat incomingoil through pipe t, in the coils 8, before being delivered into the upper part of heavy bottoms chamber 30.

,Asdescribed in the reference to Fig. 1,

the oil becoming converted in the tubes 9,

rise and the light transformed vapors thererom escape from the and vapor dome 10, through pipes 48 and 49,

to the condenser D, while'the heavierpartly treatment together or wholly unconverted oils overflow the pipes 84, at .a fixed level and flow through they are trapped to tank 1, for rewith fresh oil.

In Fig. 6, a modified upper part of the converter and dome are shown where the upper ends of the chambers 9, take into a header 91,- from which the oil and. vapors in tank 55, and returned well 94, and is led out shown and the described system composed of upper part of liquid part of this dome 10, and the oil flowing up the fixed and down cavity or through pipe85, to the liquid trap 55, to be in turn re-treated.

The object of this improved dome is to facilitate the better separation of converted vapors from unconverted oils and which vapor may rise through the stand pipes 84, as the liquid overflowsand escapes through through neck pipe 92, rises to height ofthe stand pipes 84, over through which it flows into the pipe 48, to the condenser where, under the.

vapor pressures in excess of atmospheric pressure, the condensable vapors are reduced to condensate or distillates of converted oils. A man hole plate 95, can be attached to the top of this dome 10, so that access can be had to the interior of such dome, when necessary.

The above specifically described apparatus may, of course, be modified greatly and yet be well within the scope of'a co-related parts adapted to carry out one or more of the essential closely related steps of my process.

llt is apparent that I have succeeded in devising an apparatus admirably adapted for carrying out my new method of commercially enhancing the qualit quantity and value of the more abundant y available oils and that the character of the apparatus and of the process which it is instrumental in carryin out are both withintheusual manipulatlve skill of those employed in' this art. As many changes could, be made in the above construction and many apparently widely different embodiments of this invention could be made without departin from the scope thereof, it is intended that all matter contained in the above description or shown in the accompanying drawings shall be interpreted as illustrative and not in a limited sense.

It is also to be understood that the language used in the following claims is'intended to cover all of the generic and specific features of the invention herein described and all statements of the scope of the invention which, as a matter of langua e, might be said to falLtherebetween.

aving described my invention, what ll claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent is:

Claims-- i 1. In a device of the class described the combinatiton of an elongated vertical chamber adapted to contain oil and vapors under pressure, means for supplying oil to said chamber, means for externally heating said chamber above its bottom and below its top, means for removing carbon'from said chember below the heating zone, means for removing vapors and unconverted oil from said chamber above the heating zone, means for maintaining self-imposed vapor pressure in said chamber, and means for condensing the vapors. I

2. In a'devi'ce of the class described the combination of an elongated vertical chamber adapted to contain oil and vapors under pressure, means chamber means for externally heating said chamber above its bottom and below its top, means for removing carbon from said chamber below the heating zone, means for separately removing vapors and unconverted oilfrom said chamber above the heating zone, means for maintainin self-imposed vapor pressure in said chamIwr, rotary, mechanical means in said chamber for preventingthe caking of carbon on the hot surfaces of said heating zone. a

'3. In a device of the class described the combination of an elongated vertical chamchamber, rotary mechanical means pors and means ber adapted to contain oil and vapors under pressure, means for supplying oil to said chamber, means for externally heating said chamber above its bottom and below its top, means for removing carbon from said chamber below the heating zone, means for main taining self-imposed vapor pressure in said in said chamber for preventing the caking of carbon on the hot surfaces of said heating zone, means for separately removing'vapors and unconverted material from said chamber above the heating zone, means for separating the converted for' returning the unc0n-' verted material to said chamber for" retreat,- ment.

4. In a device of the class described the combination of a receptacleadapted to contain a body of oil and vapors under self imposed pressure'including an enlarged: dome or chamber and a portion or restricted cross-section leading to said. chamber, means for continuously forcingoil through said restricted portion to said chamber, means for exteriorly heating said oil in said restricted portion to a cracking temperature, means for removing carbon generated in said heated portion out of the heated zone, and means for drawingo'ffand condensing the vapors in said dome.

5. In a device of the. class. described the combination of an elongated vertical chamber adapted to contain oil and vapors under pressure, means for externally heating said chamber above the bottom I at below t e top to a cracking temperature, means for 0on tinuously supplying. oil under pressure to said chamber, rotary means extending from the top down to said heatingzone to prevent collection of carbon, means for separately removing vapors and unconverted oil from the upper portion of said chamber, and

for supplying oil to said drawing from the unconverted'vavapor pressure to be built up a substantially. vertical tubular cracking chamber, a high temperature furnace capable of withstanding protracted elevated cracking heats surrounding the-ends of saidtubular chamber extending through the top and bottom of said furnace, a carbon and residue chamber at the lower end of said chamber below the furnace, a liquid and 'vapor collecting and separating drum connected to the upper end of said chamber, a condenserand a collecting trap tank in open connection with said drum; means for forcing oil from said supply tank into said cracking chamber against a back pressure of vapors therein, means for withartly or wholly unconverted oil from said drum and returning it to said oil supply tank, and means for maintaining self generated vapor pressure throughout the system from the source of supply through to the end of or beyond the condenser.

' 7. Apparatusfor convertin high boiling hydrocarbons into lower boiling hydrocar bon's, which comprises a furnace for subjecting the oil to cracking temperature, a vertica at the top and below the furnace at the bottom, means for removing solid matter from converter extending above the furnacethe converter, a-condenser connected to the converter above the heated zone,- and means for closing the system beyondthe condenser jecting the oil to crackingtemper'ature, a

.vertical converter extending above the fur nace at the top. and below the furnace at-the bottom,-a removable bottom therefor, means for maintaining liquid hydrocarbons in the converter above the heated zone, a condenser" connected to the converter above the heated zone, and means for closing the system beyond the condenser to permit self-imposed therein.-

high boiling 9. Apparatus forconvertin ing hydrocarhydrocarbons" into lower boi bons, which comprises a furnace for. subjecting' the ,oil to cracking temperature, a vertical converter extending above the furto permit self-imposed vapor pressure to be nace at the top and below the furnace at the bottom, means for maintaining liquid hydrocarbons in the converter above the heated zone, a condenser connected to the converter above the heated zone, means forclosing the system beyond the condenser, to permit selfimposed vaporpressure' to be bui is up there- Lean-e17 in, and means for removing solid matter from the relatively cool bottom of the chamber.

10. In apparatus for converting high boiling hydrocarbon oil into ucts, the combination of a converter, means for continuouslypassing oil in liquid form to, through and out ofsaid converter, and a furnace enveloping the converter above its lower end for externally heating the oil therein to a cracking temperature under super-atmospheric self-imposed vapor pres sure whereby a portion of the oil is cracked. in transit, the lower end of said chamber being adapted to receive carbon produced during the cracking process.

11. In apparatus for converting high boiling hydrocarbon oil into lower boiling products, the combination of a; converter, means for continuously passlng o1l 1n liquid form into said converter, means for discharging liquid oil therefrom at a predetermined height whereby a contant oil level is maintained therein, and afurnace enveloping the converter above its lower end for heating oil therein to a cracking temperature under super-atmospheric self-imposed vapor pressure to' elfect conversion of the oil in transit through the converter.

12. In apparatus for converting high boiling hydrocarbon oil into lower boiling prod ucts, the combination of a converter, an

outlet discharge pipe therefor located at apredetermined height immediate its ends, an inlet pipe communicating with said converter, means for continuously passing liquidoil through said inlet" pipe into said converter and, in serving in conjunction with said outlet pipe to maintain a substantially constant oil level therein, a furnace surrounding said' converter above its lower end for externally applying cracking heat under super-atmospheric self-imposed vapor pressure to the oil therein,'and means for returning to said converter for retreatment the liquid oil discharged therefrom.

13. In apparatus ing hydrocarbon oil into lower boiling products, the combination of a converter.

maintained at a cracking temperature and under super-atmospheric self-imposed vapor pressure, means for supplying oil to said converter, means for withdrawing the evolved vapors, positive means for preventing the accumulation of carbon on the walls of the converter in the heating zone, and means disposed below the heating zone for receiving the carbon gravitating therein and means for permitting the removal of solid matter therefrom.

14. In apparatus for converting high boiling hydrocarbon oil into lower boiling products, the combination of a converter, means for supplying oil thereto, means for heatlower boiling prod-'- for converting high boils. I

means for'withdrawing the evolved vapors,

means for scraping the walls of the converter in the heating zoneto remove carbon deposited thereon during the cracking process, and permitting the removed carbon to gravitate into the lower and relatively cool end of the converter below heating zone, and means for withdrawing the residue including the carbon from the lower end of the converter.

15. ln apparatus for converting high boiling hydrocarbon oil into lower bolling products, the combination of a vertical converter, means for supplying oil continuously thereto, means forheating the oil in the converter to a crackin temperature under super-atmospheric seliimposed vapor pressure whereby the oil is converted, means for withdrawing the evolved vapors, continuously rotatable means for scraping ofi' the carbon deposited on the walls of the converter during the cracking process and permitting it to gravitate out of the heating zone, a chamber below the heating zone for receiving'the gravitated carbon and other residue, and means for removing the same therefrom.

16. In apparatus for converting high boiling hydrocarbon oil into lower boiling products, the combination of a converter, means for continuously supplying oil thereto, a furnace enveloping the converter intermediate its ends for heating the oil therein to a cracking temperature under super-atmospheric self-imposed vapor pressure, a

rotatable scraping device in proximity to the walls of the converter in the heating zone for preventing the accumulationjof carbon thereon during the cracking process and permitting it to continuously gravitate out of the heating zone and into the relatively cool lower end of the converter and means -for permitting its removal as desired.

17. In apparatus for converting high boiling hydrocarbon oil into lower boiling products, the-combination of a converter maintained above its lower end at a cracking temperature and under supenatmospheric self-imposed vapor pressure,

means forcontinuously supplying oil thereto and maintaining a substantially constant oil level therein, means for withdrawing the evolved vapors from the vapor space above the oil level, means for continuously and positively removing the carbon deposited on, the walls of the converter in the heating zone and permitting it to gravitate into the lower end of the converter, and removable bottom for efiecting its withdrawal.

.18. In apparatus for converting high boiling hydrocarbon oil into lower boiling products, the combination of a converter, means for continuously supplying oil thereto and maintaining a liquid body of oil therein, means surrounding said converter intermediate its ends'for heating the converter to cracking temperature under super-atmos-; pheric. self-imposed vapor pressure whereby the oil is converted, meansdisposed in a relatively cool jrcgion for receiving carbon produced during the cracking process, and means associated with said carbon receiving means for efiecting its removal therefrom.

19. In apparatus for converting high boiling hydrocarbon oil into lower'boiling products, the combination of a converter maintained at a cracking temperature and under super-atmospheric self-imposed vapor pressure, means for continuously supplying oil thereto and maintaining a liquid body of oil therein, means for continuously rem0v; ing thecarbon deposited on the walls of the converter during the cracking-process, means for'receiving the removed carbon, and means for withdrawing the residue from said receiving means. A

20. In apparatus for converting high boiling hydrocarbon oil into lower boiling products, the combination of a-converter, a fur-,

nace surrounding the converter intermediate its ends for externally applying a cracking temperature to the oil therein while inaintaining theoil under super-atmospheric selfimposed vapor pressure, means for continuously supplying oil thereto and maintain ing a liquid level above the heating zone,

means below the heating zone for collecting the carbon produced by the cracking process, and means above the heating zone for separately conveying away verted oil andthe converted vapors.

21. In apparatus for converting high. boiling hydrocarbon oil into lower boiling products, the combination with an enclosed vertical cracking chamber adapted to contain a therefrom the uncon body of oil to be converted, means for continuously supplying oil to the lower portion of the body of oil in said chamber and to maintain .a substantially constant level therein, means for removing unconverted liquid oil at the liquid level, means for externally heating said chamber intermediate its ends and below the liquid level to a crack ing temperature, a condenser having free and open communication with the vapor space of said chamber above the liquid level. means for closing the system beyond the condenser to, permit self-imposed pressures to build up therein, and means including a scraping device for separating out the carbon produced in the chamber during the crackin operation by scraping carbonfrom the wa ls of the chamber as it is deposited thereon and allowing ,it to gravitate below the cracking zone and'be removed.

22. Apparatus ing high boiling hydrocarbonoil into lower boiling products that comprises a vertical cracking chamber, maintained under superatmospheric self-imposed vapor pressure, a furnace surrounding the chamber intermediate its ends for heating the oil in the heating zone to a for continuously supplying-an oil distillate thereto and maintaining a body of oil throughout the length of the heating zone, means for taking ofi the evolved vapors from the vapor space above, the heating zone, and means for positively removing the carbon deposited upon the walls of the chamber within the heatingzone and allowing it to gravitate and collect in the'lower end of the chamber below the heating zone.

In testimony whereof I afiixmy signature in the presence of two witnesses.

for continuously convertcracking temperature, means JOSEPH H. ADAMS. a

i Witnesses: A. CAPSTICK, Joan S. on SELDING.

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