US1567212A - Apparatus for treating hydrocarbons - Google Patents

Description

WNI

Patented Dec. 29., 1925.

f- UNITED STATES 1,567,212 PATENT OFFICE.

\ lFRANK C. VANDE WATERJAND FREDERICK RY SUNDERMAN, OF NEWBURGH, NEW

YORK, ASSIGNORS TO PETROLEUM LABORATORIES llNC., )OF NEWBURGH,

YORK, A CORPORATION OF NEW YORK.

APPARATUS FOR TREATING HYDROCARBONS.

v'Application led May 17, 1923. Serial No. 639,581.

ing a lower boilingpoint than the original.

material. y

Another object of `our invention is the provision of'suitable apparatus wherein various factors contributing towards the desired result are within accurate control of the operator, thus producing maximum etiiciencv. The above results are accomplished mainly by reason of the fact that we can control the temperature with aI -minimum amount of variance at which the hydrocarbon is cracked, thereby accurately determining the lhydrocarbon produced. By controlling this temperature-we are able to vary the character of the product by producing conditions most favorable, under which a particular bodv may be formed. i

` The appara-tus which we have found successful in `carrying" out the above process may be attached to` any fractionating still now in use by one skilled in this `art, which :thereby renders the former apparatus more eiiicient with minimum expense.

To this end our invention consists in conducting the vaporized hydrocarbon from the still to a point in proximity to the fire box imV or other source of heat through tubular-mem? bers which may be in the form of coils or" otherwise. which are surrounded by a protective or possibly insulation member which receives the heat directly. Dampers are provided at each end of this protective surrounding member, and upon proper regulation of these dempers, the degree of heat reachingthe cracking coils or tubes are read-V ily controlled., From the cracking tubes the this design of instrumentalities may be changed or modified as desired without departing from the scope of our invention.

In these drawings:

The figure is a diagrammatic side elevation partly in section of apparatus embodying our invention.

Referring now more particularly to the drawings, we provide a still body 1 which may be of yany suitable construction orA design adapted to be heated as by burners 2 in fire box 3 placed, as usual, below the still. Upon vaporization of the hydrocarbon within the member 1, vapor passes by means of pipe 4 to mixing fixture 5 which leads'to the cracking tubes or coils 6. Also attached to the mixing fixture 5 is a pipe 6 delivering hydrogen thereto. The hydrogen may be suitably formed in coils 7 from steam, the supply of which is controlled by valve 8, the coil 7 passing through the fire box 3,

thereby causing theusual reaction between steam and iron. A protective member 9 is adapted to surround the cracking `tubeor coil 6 so that an air space is provided be'- tween the members 6 and 9 for a purpose more fully described hereinafter. The meinber 9 is closed tightly around the part l6 at each'end thereof, and is provided with ,dempers 10 and'll to control the amount of -12 conducts olf the air passing through the member 9 which ymay be. facilitatedv in its passage by either ,a vacuum lapparatus or a pressure apparatus asis well known, and as 1t forms no part of this invention, is not illustrated.

The -cracked hydrocarbons pass ofi' by I neans of pipe'18 to the air condenser 14 of usual construction, where the heavier vapors are condensed and dropped back into thestillbody, a trap 17 being provided for the purpose of eliminating undue pressure.. .From theV condenser 14 the lighter hydrocar vbons -pass by means of pipe 15 to the usual fractionating apparatus 16 shown diagrammatically. 1

. It will be apparent that if the dampers 10 and 11 remain closed, thatthe temperature of the member 9 and the cracking tube 6 will be substantially that of the fire box 3.' If, however, it is desired to reduce the tein-- perature in the cracking tube 6 regulation of the dampers 10 and 11 will cause a draft of air to pass through the member 9, thus effectively reducing the temperature in the cracking coils, the air acting as cooling body to the coils.

We claim:

In combination, a still, a` vapor outlet therefrom, a cracking tube receiving vapors I from the still and located beneath the still, 15

of cool air to circulate entirely around the 20 cracking tube and between the cracking tube and the protective element.

In testimony whereof, we affix our ,signatures.

FRANK c. VANDE WATER FREDERICK R. SUNDERMAN.

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