US1619977A

US1619977A - Process and apparatus for treating oils

Info

Publication number: US1619977A
Application number: US724077A
Authority: US
Inventors: Lyman C Huff
Original assignee: Universal Oil Products Co
Current assignee: Universal Oil Products Co
Priority date: 1924-07-03
Filing date: 1924-07-03
Publication date: 1927-03-08
Anticipated expiration: 1944-03-08

Description

March 8,1927.

L. C. HUFF PROCESS AND APPARATUS FOR TREATING OILS Filed July 3, 1924 I g a Patented Mar. 8, 1927.

UNITED STATES 1,619,977 PATENT OFFICE.

LYHAN C. RUFF, OF CHICAGO, ILLINOIS, ASSIGNOR TO UNIVERSAL OIL IIRODUCTS COMPANY, OF CHICAGO, ILLINOIS, A CORPORATION OF SOUTH DAKOTA.

PROCESS AND APPARATUS FOR TREATING. OILS.

Application filed July 3, 1924. Serial No. 724,077.

The invention relates to a process and apparatus for treating hydrocarbon 011s, and refers more particularly to improvements designed to promote the production of a maximum yield of light hydrocarbons from heavy hydrocarbons.

In its particular aspects the inventlon is directed to improvements in the arrangement and position of the preheating coils within the furnace.

In the drawing, the single figure 1s a side elevational view, partly in section of the ap aratus.

fieferring in detail to the drawing, 1

designates a furnace having the flue passage 2,, stack 3, controlled by damper 4, said flue passage beiniguprovided with auxiliary damper 5. The rnace is of the side fired type being heated by means of the burners 6 and having the centrally positloned baflie 7 to form the combustion chamber 8. On

the 0 posite side of the bafile 7 are positione a plurality of sets of heating 0011s 9 and 10, arranged in this instance, parallel.

Referring to the bank of heating coils 9, oil may be charged thereto thrqigh the hue 11 on which is mounted pressure gauge 12 and in which is interposed valve 13, said line 11 communicating with the pump 14 drawing oil from any suitable source of storage or supply through inlet 15. The bank of tubes 10 may be charged through the line 16 in which is interposed the meter 17 pressure gauge 18 and valve 19, said line 16 communicating with the pump 14. At a point referably above the center of the horizontal banks of tubes, of which there may be any number, they. combine into one coil as shown at 20 having the outlet 21. A meter 17 may be interposed in line 11.

Referring now to the operation of the invention, and the reason for the particular construction shown, it has always been a problem to minimize the friction encountered in passing oil through a continuous coil. It has been found that when oil is passed through a continuous coil of say 3500 linear feet of three to four inch pipe mounted in the furnace it encounters a frictional 0 position of upwards of 100 pounds. I have discovered that by so arranging the coils in separate banks or sets that the same number of linear feet can be utilized, and the frictional resistance will be cut down very materially, less than 50 pounds. The

advantage of this from the standpoint of )umping the oil will be at once apparent. n addition, the separate coils combining into one coil at the point 20 at the zone of highest temperature will assist in increasing the velocity of the oil as it approaches this hottest zone to prevent precipitation or dropping out of any carbon in the coil while at the same time maintaining the desirable effect of a single coil relative to this point.

In addition, by increasing thevelocity of the oil as it approaches the point of critical temperature after having been previously subjected to a soakingheating in the parallel coils will result in any carbon which may be precipitated being washed along and carried by the oil under the increased ve locity. Thus the tube friction is materially decreased through a bank of tubes, thus elim inating costly pumping and high friction pressure. The oil flowing in parallel tubes will be heated to approximately the same temperature in the parallel coils, The. line 21 may lead to any suitable reaction chamber Where vaporization occurs.

The spent gases of combustion passing through the flue chamber 2 may be passed out of the stack by opening the damper 4 and closing the damper 5, or they may be recirculated in any suitable manner by closing the damper 4 and opening the damper 5.

I claim as my invention:

1. A process of treating hydrocarbon oils, consisting in forcing the oil under pressure in a plurality of independent streams through a furnace, Where'said oil is progressively heated, increasing the velocity of the oil approaching the point of highest heat by combining the oil streams into a less number of streams.

2. A process for treating hydrocarbon oil, consisting in placing the oil under pressure, in lowering the velocity of the oil during a preheating treatment by separating the oil into a plurality of independent streams in which streams the oil flows through that portion of a heating zone wherein the lowest temperature is maintained, in increasing the velocity of the oil prior to its passage through that portion of the heating zone wherein the maximum temperature is imparted to the oil by again uniting said streams.

3. A process for treating hydrocarbon oil, consisting in passing the oil in a plurality of streams through that portion of a heating zone maintained at the lowest temperature, in increasing the velocity of the oil to prevent precipitation of carbon when the oil is subjected to a decomposing temperature by uniting said streams prior to the passage of the oil through that portion of the heating zone wherein the maximum temperature is imparted to the oil.

4. An apparatus for treating hydrocarbon oil, comprising a heating zone, a plurality of preheating coils positioned in that portion of the heating zone wherein the lowest temperature is maintained, said plurality of preheating coils being united into a single elongated heating coil positioned in that portion of the heating zone wherein the maximum temperature is maintained and means for supplying oil under pressure to said preheating coils.

5. A process for treating hydrocarbon oil consisting in passing the oil in a pluralit of streams during its initial flow throng a heating zone and while being subjected to preliminary heating therein, in thereafter increasing the velocity of the oil during a substantial portion of its flow through the heating zone by uniting said streams prior to the final heating of the oil in the heating zone.

LYMAN C. HUFF.