US1961358A - Electric light and wave apparatus and method for treatment of hydrocarbons - Google Patents

Description

l. w. HENRY 1,961,358

ELECTRIC LIGHT AND WAVE APPARATUS AND METHOD FOR TREATMENT OF HYDROCARBONS June 5, 1934.

Original Filed July 30. 1931 3 Sheets-Sheet 1 ELECTRIC LIGHT AND wAvE APPARATUS AND METHOD FOR TREATMENT oF HYDRocARBoNs l. W. HENRY June 5, 1934.

Original Filed July 30. 1931 3 Sheets-Sheet 2 ww am muh Nb June 5,y 1934. l. w. HENRY ELECTRIC LIGHT AND wAv APPARATUS AND METHOD FOR TREATMENT oF HYDRocARBoNs Original Filed Ju1y30. 1931 3 Sheets-Sheet 3 Patented `une 5, 1934 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE ELECTRIC LIGHT AND WAVE APPARATUS AND METHOD FOR DROCARBONS TREATMENT OF HY- Application July 30, 1931, Serial No. 554,120 Renewed August 19, 1933 6 Claims.

This invention relates to an electric light and wave apparatus and method for treatment of hydrocarbons, and for other uses. An important object of this invention is simultaneous dissociation and bleaching of the hydrocarbon treated.

By its use even difiicultly crackable Pennsylvania crude petroleum oil may be converted readily into antiknock gasoline, for example. According to the American Petroleumlnstitute data, as is well-known, Pennsylvania crude petroleum while largely lused for production of lubricating oils, is so resistant to ecient cracking, by methods andapparatus used prior to my ionization processes of my United States patents and corresponding patents in foreign countries, that Pennsylvania crude oil has not been used for gasoline production.

This present invention is, however, an improvement on that set forth in my pending application Serial No. 386,182, led August, 1929, for Method and apparatus for treatment of hydrocarbons, and which is efficient for conversion of Pennsylvania crude, and crude petroleum oil from many other fields, into gasoline, as well as 3" other petroleum and hydrocarbon oils.

This invention is also an improvement on the invention set forth in my United States Patent No. 1,709,815, of April 16, 1929, in Fig. 5 of which and the description relating to that figure, I

pointed out that a radio audion or vacuum radio tube might be substituted for the current producing and cooling medium conducting coil described in that patent. i

It is to be noted, however, that such radio vacu- 55 um tubes or audions are energized by rectied that is direct cuirents. I have found that such so energized radio receiving tubes are not efficient for conversion of some grades of crude or heavy molecular weight petroleum oils into lighter mo- 4 lecular weight products, such as gasoline and lubricating oils; and by the present invention, as

well as by that of my said pending application, I

am able efficiently to convert all grades of heavy petroleum oil known to me into desired lighter molecular weight oils.

The objects of the present invention are increased safety in use of my ionization apparatus, over use of copper on'catalytic metal electromagnetice eld generating coils, by use of electromagnetic field generating tubes-preferably and best of coiled form-in which the eld generating current passes wholly within the outer skin or sur- .face of the tubes or coils which may be called self-insulating. By so doing, the following important objects and advantages are obtained.

My new field generating tubes,-preferably coiled-although conducting a non-rectied electric current, such as an alternating or pulsating current, may be touched by the hands or tools of workmen without injury. Copper or catalytic metal tubes or coils, on the other hand, oier electric resistance and have to be carefully insulated, and also constantly cooled to keep the electrical resistance and loss of power and also to prevent their softening or melting; and any one directly or indirectly contacting with them may be shocked, burned, or otherwise injured. The hydrocarbon treated, whatever it may be, is simultaneously disintegrated oi ionized and bleached by the electric waves and by the light rays which eiectively dispel impurities and eect a lighter colored product that is more pure by reason of the bleaching.

My new tubes or coils are transparent. They are made of `ordinary lead glass, pyrex glass, quartz or the like. When the current is on, they are electric light-ray and electric wave emitting tubes or coils. They are preferably partially vacuumized and in any event have their respective ends hermetically sealed on end portions of conductors or electrodes with which they form the current conveying circuit. The electric oscillations or pulsations within the coils are visible to the naked eye where the coils are observable, as for example at the projecting ends of the coils, as shown in the accompanying drawings. Thus an attendant may visually observe the condition of the oscillations or pulsations in the tubes, the frequencies of which are regulable by regulation of an oscillating or pulsating current with which the circuit is connected.

The current ilows or travels along the inner surface of the glass in these partially vacuumized tubes probably as a high tension current travels on the skin of an ordinary porcelain petticoat insulator, or, if the tubes are lled with a gas,

through the gas as a conductor.

When a high voltage current of from one thousand to ,ten thousand volts is applied to the circuit, depending on the length of the co'il turns from sealed end to sealed end, the oscillating or pulsating current passes through the self-insulated coil. If the tubes or coils are charged with a gas, such as hydrogen or neon or mercury vapor a colored light will be emitted with a characteristic electric wave length;v in such case the curpulsations within the outer surface of the tubes or coils generate a non-sparking, electromagnetic wave field transversely of the axisof the coil, cross-axially in all directions and throughout the length of the coil.

It is in such a field that the hydrocarbon starting material is initially vaporized, being ionized as it appears to me. The vapor is then passed to a condenser from which a stream of hydrocarbon liquid flows. Light weight vapors escaping from this liquid and main stream of liquid is then re-cycled through a second, similarly generated electromagnetic field and therein and thereby liqueed. This two step treatment of heavy, petroleum oil, also set forth in'my said pending application, results in a` superior quality of anti-lmock gasoline; or of lubricating oil, depending on the frequencies established in the electromagnetic fields and power applied.

According to the data of the American Petroleum Institute, average anti-knock gasoline has an octane test of about seventy-two per cent, but the best anti-knock gasoline heretofore made by apparatus other than those embodying my said invention tested about octane seventy-four per cent. These tests are of gasoline made by ordinary cracking processes treated with chemical compounds. Gasoline produced by the present invention may be made to respond to these octane tests by regulation of field oscillations or pulsations; and this invention has for one of its objects and advantages the production of an anti-knock gasoline responding to the octane seventy-four per cent test and higher; and also 'responding `to a Baum sixty to fty degree gravheat and the pressure drive off essential'constituents of the crude oil which should be retained in order to produce an anti-knock gasoliner-I, by my invention, use only low temperature and no pressure, and by so doing retain and practically' of condensed gasoline, and which heretofore have gone directly into the condensate, seems to ionize the mysterious waxy constituent', and also carbon in the vapor, and otherwise to convert the constituents in part and in Whole into a non-knocking gasoline even at less than at atmospheric. pressure and at negligible field temperaturestemperatures less than that required to soften ordinary lead glass, for example.

'Io avoid vapor lock in high-speed internal combustion engines the development of which is characteirized by increasingly higher speeds, it has been ascertained by scientific tests that gasoline having a gravity of about Baum 60% is better than gasoline having a gravity of Baum '70% or higher; and that '72% and higher octane gasoline is siower burning and does not vaporize so rapidly as the higher A. P. I.gasoline, in the overheated manifolds of an engine. All really anti-knockr-knock eliminatinggasoline has a my gasoline product testing also at octane 74%; 1D0

` andi being produced at temperature varying from about 75 to about 400 Fahrenheit, according to the character of the oil treated; and the temperature being adiusted by regulation of the field generating, non-rectied current used.

I have not found it necessary to remove the catalysts from the apparatus now shown, but use of a catalyst is not essential so far as my experience goes in the use of my newv electric light and wave tubes.

It is to be said that in my useof the glass coils set forth I have invariably used thev high frequency alternating electric current circuit set -forth and claimed in my said pending application, except that the glass coils have been substituted for the catalytic metal coils therein shown.

In the presen application, I show the low pressure apparatus of said application with my new glass coils substituted for the metallic coils,

'the glass coils being electric wave and light emit- 126 ting portions of the circuit, and forming a new kind of circuit, whether the coils are merely vacuumized or are-charged with a gas effective of a colored light and corresponding wave length. My invention may be used with high pressure apparatus if desired. In the accompanying drawings forming a part thereof and illustrating apparatus embodying the present invention,

Figure 1 is a view partly in vertical sectional 130 elevationv and partly in diagram of vmy new elec- 'tric light and electric wave emitting coil apparatus embodying this invention -in a highly vacuumized or practically non-pressure apparatus;

Fig. 2 is a view similar .to that shown in Fig. 1,` but embodying the invention in a pressure apparatus;

'Fig. 3 is a cross-sectional view at line 3-3 of Fig. 1 and shows removable catalytic members 140 comprising a plurality of transverse catalytic baffle plates in the electromagnetic field;

Fig. 4 is a view of one of my new electric light. and electric wave emitting coils removed, and showing a conductor end or electrode hermetically sealed in each end of the oil, which is of glass or the like.

Fig. 5 is a vertical central section of a vaporizer or still showing baille plates of catalytic metal inclined in planes of coil turns with dotted lines indicating induced disscciating, e1cctric coupling currents through coil turns and baille plates.

It is noted that the partial vacuum apparahls shown in the drawings is of the barometric type and capable of producing a partial vacuum of from about twenty-seven inches to twenty-eight inches of mercury.

In drawings (Fig. 1), an oil or pre-cracked oil Vapor supply pipe 1 leads to the intake side of a charging pump 2 which discharges through a pipe 3 into the upper part of the chamber of a vaporizer 4. If preferred, the starting material of crude oil,.1"aw or pre-cracked gasoline, for example, may be fed into the vaporizer 4 by gravity, in some cases, but the use of a feed pump, the speed of which may be varied from negligible head to high pressure" of the starting material fed,

is desirable as explained below.

this field is also exterior to The lower portion of the chamber of the vaporzer, 4, which may be called a receiver, or a container, ora still, is provided with an interior, tubular, elongated field generating coil 5, of electric light ray and wave emitting material, which extends upwardly from near the Vaporizer bottom to the line which in some cases may be considered as an oil level; for example, in batch vtreatrneritof oil. Thev coil ends 6 extend outwardly through the `side Wall of the vaporizer. 'I'he end portions of the glass or like coil 5 pass back through a collar '7 in the vaporizer wall. The coil is preferably spacedrfrom the vaporizer 'wall by an asbestos or other suitable cushioning packing 8 between the coil and the side wall of the converter.

An alternating high or current, depending on the character of the material treated, is used to energize the coil for the production, within and transversely of the coil, and throughout the length of the coil, of a high or low frequency, oscillating, non-discharging and consequently non-sparking electromagnetic field of electric light rays and waves. The energy of the coil and through the converter wall as it is also through the material of the' coil, the supplementary catalytic members mentioned below, the starting material and the vapors thereof. The oscillations in this field are of enormous velocity whether they are of a high, a low or any intermediate frequency.

Said field is effective to dissociate hydrocarbo f naceous starting material into hydrogen and `electried carbon particles, these 'products of dissociation having a movement corresponding to that of the fleld in which they are generated.

One end of coil 5 ishermetically sealed at 9, on the end of a conductor or electrode 1J0 provided with a condenser 11 and a switch 11a. Conductor 10 is in electric connectionv with theibrush 12 of one of the two alternating electric current gen.- erating rings 13, the other ring 13 being provided with a brush 14 from which a conductor 15, prof vided with a condenser 16, leads into sealed connection at 17 with the other end portion of the coil 5; `This end portion of conductor 15 forms an electrode. The hermetically sealed connections of the coil ends, at 9 and 17, with the conductor ends are exterior'of vthe condenser.l Fig. 5 shows the sealed coil and conductor ends or electrodes.

v Thegenerator rings 13 are on a shaft 18 carrying a rotor 19 and driven by an adjustable speed, electric motor 20; the rotor revolving between field pieces 21, provided each with a coil not shown, all as usual; but, in accordance with a features of this invention, and for eifecting a constant frequency of adjusted oscillations in the low frequency electric high frequency, non-sparking electro-magnetic eld through coil 5, and consequently for treatment of the starting material in the vaporizing chamber in such a eld possessing constant frequency of oscillations adjusted to the natural period of the starting material under conversion, I now provide for the alternating current circuit, as also set forth in my application Serial No. 386,182, aconstant speed, direct current exciter 22 driven through a power application member 23 with which the exciter is provided. Prior to my invention such an exciter has been mounted on' the shaft 18, but I remove it from the shaft and drive it independently of the shaft end of the adjustable speed motor 20. 'Ihis permits the exciter 22 to be driven at constant speed, while the adjustable speed motor 20 may have its speed adjusted for varying thefrequency of the cycles and of oscillations in the electromagnetic eld; this is, adjusted at the will of the operator to vary the frequency according to the particular quality or character of -the materialV under treatment. One of the eld piece structures 21 for rotor 19 is in connection through a conductor 24 with the direct current exciter, at 25; and, at 26, the exciter is in electric connection with a conductor 27 which is in connection with the other eld piece structure 21. This special circuit apparatus is of substantial economic importance reducing the cost of the electricity otherwise obtained.

The practical effect and advantage of the arrangement just described, due to the separatelyl and constantly maintained speed of the exciter, is also to maintain electric current strength in all the oscillations of the adjusted electromagnetic field, and consequently to maintain constant frequency of oscillations and constant uniformity of treatment of the starting material and of its evolved vapor, in said field, and constant uniformity of quality of the vapor of dissociation and recombination, for each particular grade of material treated. Uniformity of the vapor results in uniformity of the quality of the hydrocarbon liquid into which the vapor is condensed The starting material forms a working load in the electromagnetic field, and the constant oscillations in the eld selected for each different kind or grade of materia are advantageous in treating different grades of crude petroleum and other hydrocarbonaceous starting material, depending upon their carbon content.

In dissocating different grades or types of crude petroleum or gas oil or pre-cracked gasoline, I change the frequency of the oscillations to suit the so-called natural period of the oil or other starting material. 'I'he change in the frequency of the oscillations may be Vone involving a greater or less frequency than that assumed to be a normal frequency. e

In all cases, according to one Vfeature of this invention based on my discovery of its practical enl- -ciency, the crude petroleum of other hydrocarbonaceous starting material treated for production of hydrocarbon uid is rst dissociated into a vapor by the action o'f the electromagnetic eld in from any source extraneous to the hydrocarbonaceous starting material itself.y

This object, feature land economic advantage of the invention constitute an extremely imporoscillating, non-discharging and l 4 1,931,358 Y tant nevi:r departure from all comparable prior No. 336,132, the bae plates may be supported in practice in which additional hydrogen from some extraneous source of hydrogen .and oxygen have been introduced into the converter chamber and the electromagnetic eld during the dissociation.

The qualitative results arising from exclusion of oxygen and of hydrogen from an extraneous source are very marked in the ultimate products whether they are of high or low molecular weights- When hydrogen from an extraneous source is used on a working scale, either hydrogen gas has to b e manufactured in large quantities lfor supplying the converter and electromagnetic field; or else,

the additional hydrogen has to be supplied by dissociation of water at a high temperature suicient to produce a supply of superheated steam from the converter and electromagnetic field, the latter being raised to a sufficiently high heat to dissociate the aqueous volume introduced in the-presence of a catalyst into hydrogen and oxygen. Obviously, dissociation of the aqueous vol.- ume used for the additional of extraneous hydrogen supply necessarily involves supplying the converter not only with hydrogen, but also vwith oiwgen. The oxygen does not enter into combi'- nation with the hydrocarbonaceousvapor and though some of it may be burned up in high temperature work; the oxygen actively voxidizing oxidizable surfaces with which itmay come into contact, and especially attacking the surface of the metallic catalytic elements described below or other catalytic metal in the field; In the present case of the electric light and Wave emitting coils, the use of catalysts is in some cases apparently lmnecessary. Y

In the form shown in Fig. 1 the supply pipe 3 communicates with the vaporizer chamber through the converterA cover 4a which is suitably fixed in place at y.

. apart one above the other.

The Vvapor'izer chamber is shown provided,

within the electric light ray and wave emitting coil 5, and within the electromagnetic field, with removable catalytic elements in the form of a plurality of removable, transverse, horizontah spaced apart, perforated nickel or other catalytic metal plates 28 which are frequently perforated at, 29, being supported on a vertical steppedv post 33 provided with spaced shoulders 30 for the centrally holed plates. 'Ihe plates are spaced Each. is in an approximate plane of a coil turn, in an electrically coupled relation to a coil turn. The effect of this coupling isa vast multiplicity of induced currents, some of which are indicated by a, through ythe coil turns and plates. The perforat- A ed plates permit a somewhat slowed down escape of the Vvapor puried between the plates which, as battles, retard the vapor escape and produce what may be metaphorically called a cooking of the vapor in the field oscillations combined with the induced currents due to the electric'coupling of the coil turns and catalytic plates. This I 'nd to be of high importance in that it dispels all warw constituents and results in the so-called Premilungasoline referred to by the Bureau of Mines; and at the same time, the oscillating or' pulsating electric light rays have a powerful bleaching effect on the hydrocarbonaceous material under treatment, producing a purified, anti-Y -knock gasoline; or, if desired, a puried lubricating oil of the smoothest working character. In a word, this feature of my invention, apart fromv the bleaching eifect due to the electric light, is of great advantage in stills having metal coils as in my said patents and pending, application Serial any desired practical manner. 'I'he glass coll is preferably mounted in the still chamber both for direct bleaching effects and safety to the coil. Considered as an ionizing and catalyzigg means, this feature unites in'cooperation, an oscillating or pulsating electromagnetic iield of any desired equal frmuency; the `i-:mizing power ci which is enormously increased bythe immensenumber of induced coil and baille plates coupling circuits above, between and below the plates; the oil or vapor being held in retarded flow by the bale plates of catalytic metal. l

When the oscillating, non-discharging, nonsparking electromagnetic eld is established, and oil or vapor is introduced Vinto the eld, by the feed'pump, if that is continuously operated, the oil or vapor is jetted or sprayed into the upper portion of the vaporizing chamber from Vthe discharge end of the feed pipe, upon and between the members of the catalytic elements and into the electromagneticl field. ''he jetting or spraying action is favorable to the almost instantly occurring subsequent dissociation. I f desired,'the initial oil or pre-crackedgasoline or vapor vsupply maybe preheated by any-suitable kind of pref heater.

By the natural period of the diierent k'inds or types ofthe starting material and evolved vapors is meant, as usual in physics, the inherent ampiitude of vibrations peculiar to eachdifferent time of petroleum starting material in which there are a great many varying qualities.,

It is during the dissociation that different impurities, often includingr sulphur as in Texan and other oils and vapors, are released from'the starting material,` collecting on the vaporizer walls andA through apipe 35 with an associatedchambered multi-stage ejector condenser 36. 'I'he topsof both members 34 and 36, are in connection with the water supply pipe 37; member 34 being connected with pipe 37 through a valve 38 and member 36 'commimicatlng withpipe 37 through a valve 39. The member 36 is provided with a valved steam intake pipe 40. 'I'he chambered member 34'has a bottom discharge pipe 41 and.

member 34 has a bottom discharge pipe 42. Both .pipes 41 and 42 discharge downwardly into a water separator and hot`we1l tank 43 providedwith a waste water discharge pipe 44 having a valve`45.

`'I'he partial condenser 32 has a discharge pipe 1.40

46- from its under portion to a wet vacuum pump 47 for condenser oil frpm the partial condenser les 32, and pump 47 delivers through an eduction pipe 48 to a fractionating manifold 49 @ving agascline delivery pipe 50 provided with a valve 51 Lthrough which thegasoline ows into a condensing wormV 52 in the gasoline condensing tank AFor recovery of fugitive or light fixed gas,

which rises-from the gasoline `iiowing from the 150 condenser and for incorporation thereof as a fluid forming part of the general gasoline supply in the gasoline storage tank T, the discharge end portion 54 of the worm 52ileads into the expansion chamber of a gasoline receiver 55 above its bottom; the main portion of the gasoline flowing out of the receiver chamber through an eduction pipe 56 that discharges the main stream of gasoline into the gasoline storage tank T. But the exceedingly lightand economically important fugitive or exceedingly light weight gas, expandingly and continuously rising from the main stream of the gasoline, flows upwardly through the receiver 55 and out of it through a pipe 57 into the chamber of a converter 58 in which'the light weight fugitive fixed gas is converted into fluid Vgasoline'which flows out through a pipe 59 into a place of reception which is preferably the gasoline storage tank T.

The converter 58, wherein the vapor escaping from the main gasoline stream is liquefied, is provided with a glass or like electric light and wave emitting coil 60, the same as coil 5 in vaporizer 4; the coil ends projecting through the converter walls and being each hermetically sealed on a conductor end, as shown at 91i and 17e. This coil 60 is in circuit through leads 61 and 62 with the conductors 10 and 15. The converter 58is shown provided with the removable catalytic plates 28, as in the case of the vaporizer 4.

Apparatus for the purposes described may be made largely of ceramic material when economy of plant construction is desired, the coils being of glass or the like as above stated.

Substantially better results are obtained for liquefaction of the xed gas introduced into converter 58,and subjection therein to theaction of the oscillating, non-discharging and non-sparking electromagnetic field, by winding the coil 5 clockwise and the coil 60 anti-clockwise as shown, as described and claimed in my said application, Serial No. 386,182 and as herein also shown.

The alternating current generator driven at ,V

at a variable speed and in circuit, as described, with the constant speed direction current exciter produces a constant magnetic field in the generator when the generator speed is varied. The variations in the speed of the generator create variations in the frequencies without changing either the strength of the alternating field or the voltage of the exciter; and the catalytic metal pole-forming portions, if they are used, are alternately polarized, thus alternately subjecting the starting material topolarizing effects. The opposite side of each plate serves as a pole.

I have found in practice that the winding of the coils in reverse directions has a new effect on the catalytic electrically energized members that is quite different from the effect obtained when the coils are both Wound in the same direction. The coils wound in reverse directions as shown are connected in series and arewound clockwise and anti-clockwise in order to vary the magnetic fields produced in the catalytic metal members, severally, and analogously to the field variations obtained by winding electromagnets in direct current work for production of north and south poles; the so oppositely wound coils effecting the' opposite polarities, act and react on the catalysts and on the carbon content of the starting material under treatment. I find that this action and reaction positively intensies the conjoint action of the catalysts and` energized carbon particles and that the polarization of the catalytic material is a highly important feature of my invention, as set forth in said application Serial No. 386,182. It is herein shown because the effects obtainable are useful with the electric light and wave emitting coils when the material to be treated is of a kind difiicult to vaporize or liquefy in the said `fields.

The vaporizer 4 has a bottom discharge pipe 63 for carrying off impurities or sludge. It leads to the intake side of a vacuum pump 64 which discharges through its eduction pipe 65 into a sludge residue tank T.

When and if the apparatus is to be operated `for production of lubricating oil, it is desirable to put a high pressure booster ejector into operation ahead of the vacuumzing apparatus described, if that is used; or ahead of the fractionating manifold, as the case may be. Such a booster ejector is shown and includes a chambered member 66 provided at one end with a high pressure steam supply pipe 67 which delivers steam into the chamber of member 66 crosswise of the upow of vapor of recombination from vaporizer 4 through pipe 31. This ejector member 66 is interposed, conduitwise, in the pipe 31, the discharge from member 66 being through a portion of the pipe 31. If the ejector booster member is used, the hydrocarbonaceous vapor ascending into the booster member is entrained by the high pressure steam.

When and if pressure is desired, the vacuumizing apparatus and its members may be omitted, and the apparatus constructed as shown in Fig. 2, in which a conduit 68a connects the booster discharge end with the manifold.

To `shut off the booster ejector, a valve A with which the high pressure steam supply pipe is provided, is closed. The booster ejector structure then becomes merely a portion of the conduit connection` of vaporizer 4 with the partial vacuum apparatus designated by the reference numerals 32 to 48, inclusive.

vThe sludge discharge pipe 63 is provided with a shut-off valve C in Fig. l and a shut-olf valve F in Fig. 2; and feed pump eduction pipe 3 is provided with a shut-off valve D in each figure. When the valve C is closed, the feed pump may be operated slowly to supply vaporizer 4 with a batch of starting material up to the level :v valve D being then closed. Various other valves maybe supplied for convenience in adapting the apparatus to various working conditions. l

The fractionating manifold 49 is provided as usual with valve take-off pipes such as 68 for kerosene; 69 for gas oil and 70 for lubricating oil. In the pressure apparatus of Fig. 2 vaporizer very desirable not only for safety and Couvenience but also for increased quantitative and qualitative results in the distillation of some grades of crude petroleum, to operate at substantially low temperatures; for example, at from about '75 vdegrees Fahrenheit up to about 250 degrees Fahrenheit. Production' of motor fuels and the like at any of such low temperatures in use of electromagnetic. fields has been hitherto unheard of in the art; and just as the dissociation and re-f combination above referred to, without addition of oxygen or hydrogen, constitutes a new departure in the art;'so my present low tempera-v substantially increased quantitative and qualitative results.

By operating the charging pump at speed the starting material will issue `as a spray into the upper portion of the chamber of converter 4. As the oily spray descends, counter-currentwise to the ascent of the generated and recombined vapors, it passes into the electromagneticfield and is immediately disscciated. Simultaneously, sulphur and other, impurities are separated from. the vapors of dissociation, and are.b est removed continuously away from-the presence of the dissociating and recombining constituents of the vapors by operation of the pump 64 or by unaided, outflowing discharge through the pipe 63. The molecular weight of the starting material is reduced during I- dissociation and recombination by elimination of drogen supply p ipe discharging into the converter the various impirities=referred to including the mysterious waxysubstance above mentioned.

When `the higher partial vacua are required than above indicated, and such as correspond to an absolute pressure' of approximately ifteen millimeters ofmercury, such vacua may be ob-v tained by the operation of the steam jet type of booster ejector above described; but whatever de gree of partial` vacuum is required may be obtained by use o f any other practical form of partial vacuumizing apparatus.

As in some vcases it may be preferred to install a pressure system as a unit, I have shown in Fig. 2 a pressure system. In theFig. 2 construction, the sludge discharge pipe 63 leads directly to the pipe 65 through the shut-off valve 64 which takes the place of the wet vacuum pump 64 shown'in Fig. '1. In Figs. 1, 2 and 5 I show transverse, perforated, nickel, and therefore catalytic inclined baffle plates 28, the peripheries of which are closely adjacent convolutiohsof the coil with the insulating mat 8 interposed between the vaporizer wall and the interiorly mounted coil. These plates are removable. I Eachpost 30 is supported on an insulation member-30b-on thebottom of a vaporizer.

With some grades of material or under some circumstances, hydrogenation may bedesired and be beneficial as explained in my prior patents. A hydrogen-intake pipe 76 is shown. It is provided with a shut-off and regulating valve 77, this hy,`

chamber for the starting material or'otherwise as may be preferred. By closing valve 77 no'hydro'- genwill beadmitted.

The booster ejector 66 when used assists in propelling heavy' gases through the vapor pipes comvapor lines.

e raf monly called vapor lines. GS efI'ects higher vacua which increase the owing movement of the heavy gases through the By increasing the frequency of the current` through the coil the function 'of which, as already 4 forms an expansion chamber.

mairi stream and recycling them through another Qperatien of ejector.'

4and plate, while permitting resultant vapor to stated, is to establisha low or high frequency, oscillating, non-discharging, non-sparking elecf tromagnetic iield of electric light ray and waves Within the coil and converter chamber, a distillate of heavier molecular Weight, such as lubricating oil, is obtainable. It is a demonstrated fact that temperatures are 0f relatively and generally of silght importance in the described operations which are eiected mainly, if not in most cases exclusively, bychange of frequencies to which questions of temperature are incidental.

The upper space of the chamber of the vaporizer knock gasoline, consisting in vaporizing petroleum oil on an electromagnetic lightand wave iield at a temperature of from about 75to about400F., and at ,approximately atmospheric pressure; in

Acondensing the vapor into gasoline and passing the gasoline as a main stream to a place of reception;

in capturing light weight vapors arising from such an electric circuit; and, in-the circuit, a non'- 11.5-

rectied current generator, a variable speed motor for driving the generator; a constant speed .direct current exciter or direct current source;

and leads connecting it in ringstructures.

3. The herein described electric current circuit, comprising an electric light and waveA emitting circuit with the rotor coil; a non-rectified electric current conductor sealed each end porti o the coil; the two conductors so, sealed in the `coil ends forming a circuit; and, inthe circuit, a non-rectiedelectric current generator; a variable speed motor for driving the generator; a constant speed direct current exciter; leads connecting it in circuit with thev rotorring structures; another non-rectiied elesntric current circuit ends ci 'which are severallyconnectedwith'a leadfrom thegenerator; and a second coil of' electric light and wave emitting material; the latter coil having each of its ends sealed on an end of said other circuit. 4. In electromagnetic fleld'generating and still@ forming apparatus, the combination with a still and electromagnetic field generatingand maintaining apparatus; including an elec 'c current conducting coil; of a catalytic baille plate mounted in the still chamber in the approximate plane of a coil turn thereby forming an electric coupling generative of a multitude of induced electric currents through the. coil turn andbaiile plate supplementary to t. e iie'ldmcvements, the 145 baille plate serving to hold material treated -under the influence of both the field movements and the multiplicity of induced currents upon the coil escape therefrom.v

spo

5. In the appar coil being made of electric light 6. In electromagn 5 forming apparatus,

aus set forth in claim 4, the' translucent material emitting bleaching and ionizing rays.

etic field generating and still. the combination with a `chambered vaporizer;` a translucent electric light and Wave emitting co ing material coil; and, W

between ithin said chamber,

il in said chamber;

the chamber wall and the insulata plurality of -whereby the material ionized, or dissociated in the augmented eld is retarded in itsioutow therefrom.

ma WAL-ron HENRY.

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