US1646380A - Treating hydrocarbon oils - Google Patents

Description

Oct.

18 1927 R. c. HOLMES ET AL TREATING HYDROCARBON OILS Filed Deo. l0. 1925 Patente'd Oct. 18, 1927.

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

RALPH C. HOLMES, OTTO BEHIMER,

T THE TEXAS GOINIPANY, OF NEW YORK, N. Y., A

0F NEW YORK, N. Y.; FREDERICK T. MANLEY, OF HOUSTON, AND OF PORT ARTHUR, TEXAS, ASSIGNORS, BY MESNE ASSIGNMENTS,

CORPORATION OF DELAWARE.

TREATING HYDROOABIBON OILS.

This invention relates to the cracking or decomposition of hydrocarbon oils for the production of gasoline and other similar products.

In carrying on the pyrogenic decomposition of hydrocarbon 011s the production of oke and carbon which laccompanies the op- .ration establishes limitations to the operation, particularly in regard to the time under l0 which a given apparatus may be kept under operatingconditions. One of the chief objects of the present invention is to provide methods and means that will result in prolonging the period of time during which the l5 still may be ept on stream. We attain this object by means of special apparatus and particular methods of operation in which either, or both, the charging of oil to the stills or the introduction of reflux condensate thereto, is utilized to substantially eliminate or materially reduce the formation of excessive deposits of carbon or coke in the stills.

The chief difficulty encountered in carrying on the cracking operation is due to the presence of the higher boiling oils, articularly the polymerized constituents W ich are formed in the cracking operation and which readily break down into carbon under the infiuence of heat. Thus when the heat required for the cracking operation is applied to the still the lower portion thereof, or those portions which contain the bulk of the high.- er boiling oils or polymerized constituents, become heated excessively due to the rapid 36 formation of carbon in these ortions of the still. In the same manner w en cracking is being carried on in a battery or plurality of stills those stills which contain liquid in the more advanced stages of decomposition read- 40 ily become overheated with a consequent excessive production of carbon and coke. In accordance with our invention the oil in those portions of the crackin zone which contains the bulk of the heavier hydrocarbons or polymerized constituents is diluted with the fresh oil charge, or with the reflux condensate obtained from the generated vapors, or With both charge and condensate, and thus the excessive production of carbon and coke is prevented. The quantity of backtrap, or of charge, or of charge and backtrap, is so proportioned as to dilute the liquid in the cracking zone to the degree desired so as to effect a successful and satisfactory operation.

In practicing the invention we preferably employ a battery or series of stills and selectiyely introduce the charge of oil into the stills so as to produce therein a greater or less amount of agitation and dilution of the oil undergoing conversion thereby preventing the excessive formation of carbon or coke deposits. We carry on-distillation during the cracking operation, condensing a. ortion of the generated vapors, and reflux t e condensate selectively to the stills. We prefer to employ a vertical still, or battery of vertical stills, and selectively introduce the charge and reflux condensate to the lower portionsI of the stills where the higher boiling and high carbon-forming oil tend to settle.

In carrying on the invention We prefer tc prehminarily heat the oil to substantially the temperature desired for cracking and then introduce the heated oil to a cracking still or battery or series of stills or converters wherein cracking conditions are maintained. In thus operating we prefer to carry on the process in accordance with an invention described and claimed in a pend- 1ng application of Otto Behimer Serial #263,562, filed November 21, 1918, wherein the oil is preliminarily heated to substantially a cracking temperature after which it is introduced into a still or converted wherein the bulk of the decomposition takes place. In the present process We pass the oil through a heated coil or passageway where the oil is heated under pressure to the temperature desired and then charge the heated oil selectively to the several stills of the battery, the oil preferably being introduced into the lower portions of the stills. The stills or converters are maintained under superatmospheric pressure but as they are ordinarily at a slightly lower pressure than that obtaining in the heating coil the eect of discharging the oil from the coil into the stills or converters is to produce a greater or less amount of agitation therein. If the oil in the coil be heated sufficiently that there is a substantial portion thereof in vapor form the agitating effect produced by the discharge of the stream of heated oil into the stills is augmented.

A special feature of our invention consists in providing in the several stills or converters and in maintaining therein a body of liquld oil of substantially the same mean boiling point. We accomplish this result mainly either by the selective introduction of oil charge to the stills, or by the selective reflux of condensate to the several stills, or by the pro er proportioning of reflux and charge to tlie stills, together with such control of the withdrawal of the liquid from the stills as may be necessary.

Another object of the invention is to provide suitable methods and means for starting a run and brin ing the stills under operating conditions 1n a rapid manner as will be hereinafter more fully explained.

Another important object of the invention is to provide for the removal of the carbon from the various portions of the cracking zone substantially in proportion to the extent of its formation, thereby prolonging the duration of runs.

a detailed de- For the tpurpose of giving scription o the invention re erence will now be had to the accompanying drawing which is a diagrammatic elevation showing apparatus constructed in accordance with the invention and constituting an embodiment thereof.

In the example of the invention thus illustrated 10 designates a heating coil which is mounted ina furnace 11, or otherwise arran4 ed to be heated, and to which oil is supplie by means of a pump 12. It is to be understood that the oil may, prior to its introduction to the coil 10, be passed through suitable exchangers, such as tar and vapor exchangers, and through such economizers, or preheaters as may be desired, but as the heat exchange apparatus which may be used constitutes in itself no part of the present invention no description of such apparatus is deemed necessary. A battery of cracking stills or converters, as 13, 13", 13, and 13d are provided in which the cracking operation or a material part thereof is carried on. The batter is shown as being composed of four stills ut it is to be observed that any convenient number of stills may be employed to advanta The stills 13, 13h, etc. are either arrange to be heated or are supplied with suitable insulation to prevent loss of heat due to decomposition, distillation and radiation. The stills illustrated are of the vertical type and are interconnected in such a manner as to ali'ord free communication between the several units of the battery. Thus the stills may be provided with interconnectin vapor lines 14 and li uid level lines l5 w ich, as shown, are pre erably arranged to establish communication between the upper portions of the several stills. The stills may, if desired, be equipped with scraping mechanism or with a itating or stirring means.

The coi 10 is provided with an outlet line 16 adapted to establish connection between the coil and the battery of stills or converters. As illustrated, the pipe 16 is provided with a plurality of valved branch lines 16", 16h, etc. communicating with the several stills. It is often suliicient to provide the pipes 16 with branches only to the first one, two or three stills of theseries, since in most cases it is undesirable to charge into the latter stills of the series. There are at times, however, advantages to be gained in charging to the last stills of the series and consequently it is convenient to provide means by which the oil may readily be charged into any or all of the stills of the batter Each still is equipped with a valve drawofi' line, as 17, 17h, etc. The several draw-off l,

lines preferably terminate in a common draw-oft' pipe 17 which may lead to a suitable tar exchanger for preheating fresh oil to be treated or it may lead directly to a storage tank. In carrying on the cracking operation it is best to do most of the charging of the oil to some of the stills of the battery and rely on the others for the collection and withdrawal of the bulk of the residue containinov the polymerized constituents and suspende( carbon. We have found in ractice that there is danger that the reguar tar lines, from those stills in which the greater portion of thea carbon and polymerized bodies are sought to be withdrawn, may become choked by reason of excessive accumulations of carbon or coke. We, therefore, provide an auxiliary tar line 18 which is equipped with branch lines, as 18d and 18C, extending to certain stills of the battery. In practice most of the tar is preferably drawn through the bottom tar lines 17'l and 17, the line 18 being used mainly whenever it becomes necessary' to remove additional liquid for the purpose of equalizing the oil levels in the stills, and in case of emergencies, as in case the lines 17d, 17c would become coked, etc. We thus provide each still with means for drawing ofi' liquid or residue from the bottom thereof and equip certain of the stills, from which the bulk of the heavy residual material is to be removed, with additional lines in order to insure the ready withdrawal of carbon and residue A vapor line 19 is provided for removing the generated vapors from the cracking stills and conveying them to a suitable condensing apparatus for li ue lying a portion of the vapors. The con ensing apparatus preferably assumes the form of a fractionating apparatus, such as a bubble tower 2O in which the constituents of less volatility than that desired may be liquefied and collected while the vapors of desired volatility may be permitted to pass out through a vapor line 21. A pipe 22 is provided for removing the condensate from the fractionating device 20. This pipe communicates with a valved pipe 23 which is equipped with' branch lines 23, 23", etc. communicating with the several stills. The condensate collected in the fractionating device 20 may thus be selectively reuxed to the several stills. 'Ihe reflux lines 22, 23, 23, 23", etc., are preferably insulated. Any reflux liquid in excess of that desired to be returned to the stills may be removed from the system by means ot a valved pipe 24, which may connect with the line 17, as shown, or may extend direct to a tank.

The vapor line 21 preferably extends to a reflux condenser adapted to condense out a portion of' the vapors which may be returned to the fractionating device 20 by means of the valved pipes 25 and 26. A vapor line 27 extends from the reflux condenser 24 to a condenser 28. It is convenient to provide pipe 25 with a branch line 25a which connects with pipe 27 so that any water which may be condensed in the con denser 24 may be removed from the system. The condenser is provided with a valved outlet 29 which terminates in a receiver 30, having a valved gas outlet 31 and a valved condensate pipe 32. The desired pressure may be maintained in the cracking stills by proper manipulation of the valves in the lines, 19, 27, 29, 31 or 32. It is generally preferable to rely mainly on the valve in the gas outlet 31.

It will be observed that we provide the stills with a multiplicity of connections arranged in such manner that the carbon and heavy residual bodies may be readily withdrawn and a uniform oil level maintained in the several stills. By proper manipulation of the valves in the charging lines 16, 16", etc. in the backtrap lines 23, 23", etc. in the tar lines 17 a, 17", etc. or inxthe auxiliary tar lines 18c and 18d, the inflow and outflow of oil may be accurately regulated and at the same time such conditions maintained in the several stills as are most conducive for an eflicient and long time period of operation.

In commencing a run with the apparatus illustrated the oil is charged into the heating coil 10 and the fires for the furnace 11 are lighted. The oil enters the outlet pipe 16 and is then introduced to the battery of stills or converters. The particular method of charging the oil to the stills or converters depends on a number of variable factors. Thus for example, in case the battery 0f stills is positioned in an end-fired furnace supplied with heat from a source adjacent the still 13a it is desirable, in order to start the run in the mostrapid manner, that the stills adjacent the firing end be filled with oil before the other stills are filled. In such a case the branch lines 16", 16, and 16d may be closed leaving only the line 16a open so that the entire quantity of oil from the heatf ing coil is passed directly into the still 13.

When it is filled to the overflow line 15 the oil will pass into the still 13b and thence into the others in succession. It is sometimes desirable to charge into stills 13 and 13b simultaneously, the exact procedure, of course, depending upon the particular furnace arrangement.

In case the stills are installed in a gasfired furnace having for example, sets of burners, such as `gas burners 33, adjacent each still and arranged at varying elevations, the best method of operation is to charge the oil into all of the stills thus raising the liquid levels in all of the stills simultaneously. It is practically impossible, however, to regulate the valves in the several branch lines 16, 16", etc., so that substantially the same quantity of oil will be charged into each still and for this reason the best procedure is to charge oil from the line 16 into say one or two of the stills, such as 13a and 13", and having lines 16 and 16d closed, causing the oil to flow from the iirst two stills to the others in succession through the additional lines which it will be observed can be employed. Thus the valves in the lines 23" and 23c may be opened so that the oil charged into stills 13 and 13" may be passed into the remainin stills and the liquid levels in the severa stills thus raised simultaneously. If desired, the draw-off lines 17", 17, 17l and the special draw-off line 18c may be employed for this purpose. It will be readily seen that by 'means of the several connections, as illus.-

trated and described herein, it is possible to convey the oil to all of the stills at the same time so that the oil levels in the several stills may be raised simultaneousl Thus the lower rows of burners ma be lighted at an early sta e and the rows ofy burners above lighted as t e oil levels in the several stills rise with the result that the battery may be brought under running conditions practically as soon as the stills are full of oil. The time required for starting a run and etting a battery on stream is thus materia ly reduced.

After the stills have been brou ht to operating conditions it is preferable t at the flow of liquid between the stills be through the liquid level lines 15 rather than through the bottom connections provided for quick starting. The oil is heated in trans1t through the coil 10 so that it is discharged through the outlet 16 at the temperature desired, which is` preferably substantially a cracking temperature. The heated oilis continuously, passed into the particular stills desired and in such proportions thereinto as is considered desirable. Thus the oil ma be charged, for example, wholly into stil 13EL and caused to flow to the other stills in succession, or it may be charged into stills 13 and 13", or it may even be charged into stills 13, 13", and 13. When charging into still 13 or stills 13a and 13b, the stills 13 and 13d, particularly the latter, are relied on for the collection of the carbon and residual matters and consequently the bulk of the oil drawn off' will be from stills 13 and 13, particularly the latter still. In this method of operation the valve in the tar line 17'd is opened most frequently and held open for the longest intervals, while shots of progressively decreasing frequency and interval are taken from stills 13, 13", and 13, respectively. In this way the polymerized bodies contained in the residual oil may be removed from the stills before they are broken down into free carbon and the carbon that is forme-d and which is held in the liquid in suspension may be removed approximately in proportion to its formation and before injurious deposits of carbon or coke have resulted.

The backtrapping or refluxing of condensate from the separator 2O is preferably regulated in accordance with the system of charging employed so as to maintain oil of substantially the same boiling point in the several stills, except in perhaps the last one or two from which the bulk of the residue is Withdrawn. It is generally undesirable to backtrap any material quantities into the still or stills from which the bulk of the residuum is Withdrawn because in so doing the residue drawn off is contaminated with the reflux which constitutes potential gasoline-forming material. It is to be observed, however, that at times it is quite advantageous to reflux even into the dravv-ofl' stills. Thus when there are evidences of excessive coking or formations of carbon in certain of the stills the backtrap may be introduced into such stills so as toflush same out and check the production of coke deposits before any material injury has occurred. At times due to uneven heating in the furnace or to other causes certain of the stills may have a tendency to rise in temperature unduly with a resultant excessive production of coke or carbon. This tendency may be overcome by introducing sufficient reflux to such stills.

In the case of end-fired furnaces it is parpo ticularly advantageous to reflux a considerable portion of condensate to the still or stills which are subjected to the more intense furnace heat and in this way prevent overheating of such still or stills.

One method of operation that has been found advantageous is to introduce the oil charge from the coil l0, and the reux condensate or backtiap, to certain of the stills 'n regulated proportions. Thus for example, with the lines 16c and 16dl closed the valves in the lines 1G and 1,64 may be so regulated as Ato admit approximately of the charge of oil into the still 13a and 1/3 into the still 13". The backtrap lines 23d and 23 are normally closed except when necessary for flushing purposes and the valves in the lines 23EL and 23b are so regulated as to admit 1/3 of the backtrap to the still 13 and 2/3 .to the still 13". The proportions stated aregiven as an example to indicate the possibility of regulating the How of oil charge and backtrap to the several stills in order to obtain the most desirable results. When introducing a material quantity of charge and backtrap to a selected portion of the cracking zone, such for example as stills 16L and 16", it is desirable to carry a. temperature in the outlet of the coil 10 above the temperature desired to be maintained in the stills.

Although the preferred embodiment of the invention has been set forth in connection with apparatus having a particular construction and arrangement of parts and mode of operation, it is obvious that various changes and modifications may be made therein, While securing to a greater or less extent some or all of the benefits of the invention, Without departing from the spirit and scope thereof. Therefore, only such limitations should be imposed as are indicated in the appended claims.

IVliat I claim is:

1. The process of cracking hydrocarbon oils which comprises heating the oil to substantially a cracking temperature, passing the heated oil into a plurality of converters wherein cracking conditions are maintained, condensing a portion of the generated vapors and selectively refluxing said condensate to the several converters.

2. The process of cracking hydrocarbon oils which comprises heating the oil to substantiall a cracking temperature, selectively intr ucing the heated oil into a plurality of stills wherein cracking conditions are maintained, condensing a portion of the generated vapors and selectively returning the condensate to the several stills.

3. The process of cracking hydrocarbon oils which comprises maintaining oil under cracking conditions in a plurality of stills, condensing a portion of the generated vars and selectively returning condensate to the several stills in such manner as to maintain the oil in the several stills at substantially the same mean boiling point.

4. The process of cracking hydrocarbon oils which comprises maintaining oil of substantially the same mean boiling point in a plurality of stills wherein cracking conditions are maintained, by selectively charging oil to said stills, by selectively Withdrawing liquid from the stills and by selectively iefiuxing to the several stills condensate formed from the vapors generated.

5. The process of cracking hydrocarbon oils which comprises heating the oil to substantially a cracking temperature, seleclli tively charging the heated oil into a plurality of converters wherein the oil is maintained under cracking conditions, condensing a portionr of the generated vapori and selectively returning condensate to the coiiverters, while maintaining a predetermined ratio between the quantity of oil charged, and the quantityof condensate returned, to each of the several converters.

6. The process of cracking. hydrocarbon oils which comprises maintaining-.a body ot liquid oil at a cracking temperature and superatmospheric pregsure with a substantially uniform liquid level in a plurality of stills, by selectively charging oil to said stills, by withdrawing vapors from the stills, by condensing a portion of the vapors and selectively refluxing condensate to the several stills, and by selectively withdrawing liqpid from the stills.

The process of cracking hydrocarbon oils which comprises heating the oil to substantially a cracking temperature, passing the heated oil selectively to stills of a battery of stills wherein superatmospheric pressure and cracking temperature is maintained, withdrawing vapors and liquid from the stills, condensing a portion of the vapors and selectively admitting condensate to the several stills.

8. In the cracking of h drocarbon oils by subjecting same to cracliing temperatures and pressures in a battery of stills, the process that comprises initially introducing the oil into one of the stills of the battery and passing the oil thence to the other stills in succession through lines interconnecting the lower `portions of the stills, and then while continuing to charge oil. to the battory discontinuing the passing of oil through said lower interconnecting lines and passing the oil from one to the other of the stills in succession through lines interconnecting the upper portions of the stills.

9.1m the cracking ot hydrocarbon oils by subjecting same to cracking temperatures and pressures in a battery of stills, the process that comprises initially heating the oil and charging it into one of the stills of the battery and passing it thence to the other stills in succession through lines interconnecting the lower portions of the stills, and then, while continuing to charge oil to the batter and heating said oil to substantially a crac ing temperature, passing it through the stills in succession through lines interconnecting the upper portions of the stills.

10. The process of cracking hydrocarbon oils which comprises heating the oil to suhstantially a crackin temperature, passing the heated Oil selectively to certain of the stills of a battery, drawing off the bulk of the residue from certain other stills of the battery, condensing a portion of the generated vapors and relluxing selectively to the several stills of the battery.

l1. The process of cracking hydrocarbon oils which comprises heating the oil to substantially a cracking temperature, passing the oil thus heated successively through a series of stills wherein cracking conditions are maintained, drawing olf residue from the last still of the series at certain intervals and for certain periods of time and drawing olf liquid from the other stills from the last to the first of the series at progressively decreasing intervals and for progressively decreasing periods of time.

12. Apparatus for cracking hydrocarbon oils comprising a plurality of stills, vapor cqualizinor and liquid level lines interconnecting the stills in series, means for introducing oil to the stills comprising a manifold line with valved branches to the several stills adapted to selectively admit the oil to the stills severally, a rellux condenser adapted to receive vapors from the stills and means for returning condensate from said reflux condenser to the several stills comprising a manifold line with valved branches to the several stills.

13. Apparatus for crackin hydrocarbon oils comprising a plurality o vertical stills lines interconnecting the upper portions ot the stills in series, means for selectivel introducing oil to the lower portions o the several stills, means for removing vapors from the stills, means for condensing a portion of said vapors, and means for selectively returning condensate to the several stills.

14. Apparatus for crackin hydrocarbon oils comprising a heating coi a batter of stills, means for selectively charging oil rom the coil to the several stills, means for condensing a portion of the vapors from the stills, and means for selectively admitting condensate to the several stills.

15. Apparatus for crackin hydrocarbon oils comprising a heating coi a batter of stills, means for selectively charging oil rom the coil to the several stills, condensing means in connection with the stills, means 'for conducting condensate from-said condensing to the stills severally, and means for selectively drawing oil liquid from the lower portions of the stills.

16. Apparatus for cracking hydrocarbon oils comprising a heating coil, a battery of vertical stills, lines interconnecting the upper portions of Said stills, means for selectively charging oil from the coil to the Several stills, a vapor conduit from said battery of stills. condensing nicans in communication with said conduit, a condensate line adapted to receive condensate from said condensing means, branch lilies extending from the condensate line to the several stills, and

means and selectively admitting samel means for drawin olf liquid from the lower portions of the st' s.

17. Apparatus for crackinv hydrocarbon oils comprising a heating coi a battery of vertical stills, pipes interconnecting the upper portions of said stills, a manifold 1n communication with the coil and comprising valved branch lines to the several stills, Va vapor line from the stills, condensing means in communication with said vapor line, a condensate line adapted to receive condensate from said condensing means, valved branch lines extending from said condensate line to the several stills, a draw-off line havin valved branch lines to the several stills an an auxiliary draw-off line with valved connections to certain of the stills.

18. Apparatus .for crackin hydrocarbon oils comprising a heating coi a battery of vertical stills, pipes interconnecting the upper portions of the stills, a manifold in commumcation with the coil and comprising valved connections to the lower portions of the several stills, means for condensing a portion of the vapors from the stills, a condensate line arranged to rece-ive the condensate, valved pipes extending from said condensate line' to the lower portions of the several stills and valved draw-olf lines extending from the lower portions of the stills. In witness whereof I have hereunto set my hand this 26th day of November, 1923.

RALPH O. HOLMES. In witness whereof I have hereunto set my hand this 16th day of November, 1923. FREDERICK T. MANLEY. In witness whereof I have hereunto set my hand this 15th day of November, 1923.

OTTO BEHIMER.

means for drawin olf liquid from the lower portions of the sti ls.

17. Apparatus for cracking hydrocarbon oils comprising a heating coil, a battery of vertical stills, pipes interconnecting the upper portions of said stills, a manifold in communication with the coil and comprising valved branch lines to the several stills, a vapor line from the stills, condensing means in communication with said vapor line, a condensate line adapted to receive condensate from said condensing means, valved branch lines extending from said condensate line to the several stills, a draw-off line having valved branch lines to the several stills and an auxiliary draw-oit line with valved connections to certain of the stills.

18. Apparatus for crackin hydrocarbon oils comprising a heating` coi a battery of vertical stills, pipes interconnecting the upper portions of the stills, a manifold in communication with the coil and comprising valved connections to the lower portions of the several stills, means for condensing a portion of the vapors from the stills, a condensate line arranged to receive the condensate, valvcd pipes extending from said condensate line to the lower portions of the several stills and valved draw-off lines extending from the lower portions of the stills. In Witness whereof I have hereunto set my hand this 26th day of November, 1923.

RALPH (l. HOLMES. In Witness whereof I have hereunto set my hand this 16th day of November, 1923. FREDERICK T. MANLEY. In Witness whereof I have hereunto set my hand this 15th day of November, 1923.

OTTO BEHIMER.

D I S C L A I M E R 1,646,380.-'Ralph O'. Holmes, New York, N. Y.; Frederick T. Manley, Houston, and

Otto Beht'mer, Port Arthur, Tex. dated October 18, 1927. The Temas Company.

TRnATiNG HYDRocAnBoN OiLs. Patent Disclaimer filed November 10, 1931, by the assignee,

Hereby enters this disclaimer to claims 12, 14 and 15 of the aforesaid Letters Patent which are in the following Words, to Wit:

12. Apparatus forcracking hydrocarbon oils comprising a plurality of stills, yapor equalizing and liquid level lines interconnecting the stills in series, means for introducing oil to the stills comprising zii/manifold line with valved branches to the several stills adapted to selectively admit the oil to the stills severally, a reflux condenser adapted to receive vapors from the stills and means for returning condensate from said reflux condenser to the several stills comprising a manifold line with valved branches to the several stills.

1 4. Apparatus for cracking hydrocarbon oils comprising a heating coil, a battery of stills, means for selectively charging oil from the coil to the several stills, means for condensing a portion of the vapors from the stills, and means for selectively admitting condensate `to the several stills.

15. Apparatus for cracking hydrocarbon oils comprising a heating coil, a battery 0f stillsZ means for selectively charging oil from the coil to the Several stills, condensing means in connection Withl the stills, means for conducting condensate from said condensing means and selectively admitting same to the stills severally, and means for selectively drawing ofi liquid from the lower portion of the stills.

u [Oficial Gazette December 1, 1.931.]

DISCLAIMER 1,646,380.-Ralph U. Holmes, New York, N, Yi; 'redem'clc T. Zl/Ianley, Houston, and Otto Behimer, Port Arthur, Tex. TREATING HYDnoCARBoN OILS. Patent dated October 18, 1927, Disclaimer bled November 10, 1931, by the assignee, The Texas Company.

Hereby enters this disclaimer to claims 12, 14 and 15 of the aforesaid Letters Patent which are in the following words, to wit:

12. Apparatus for cracking hydrocarbon oils comprising a plurality of stills, vapor equalizing and liquid level lines interconnecting the stills in series, means for introducing oil to the stills comprising a/nianifold line with valved branches to the several stills adapted to selectively admit the oil to the stills severally, a reflux condenser adapted to receive vapors from the stills and means for returning condensate from said reflux condenser to the several stills comprising a manifold line with valved branches to the several stills.

14. Apparatus for cracking hydrocarbon oils comprising a heating coil, a battery of stills, means for selectively charging oil from the coil to the several stills, means for condensing a portion of the vapors from the stills, and means for selectively admitting condensate `to the several stills.

15. Apparatus for cracking hydrocarbon oils comprising a heating coll, a battery .Of stills, means for selectively charging oil from the coil to the several stills, condensing means in connection with the stills, means for conducting condensate from said condensing means and selectively admitting same to the stills severally, and means for selectively drawing of liquid from the lower portion of the stills.

[Oficial Gazette December 1, 1981.]

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