US1973294A

US1973294A - Method of and apparatus for treating hydrocarbons

Info

Publication number: US1973294A
Application number: US456931A
Authority: US
Inventors: Mutter Erik
Original assignee: Standard Oil Development Co
Current assignee: Standard Oil Development Co
Priority date: 1930-05-29
Filing date: 1930-05-29
Publication date: 1934-09-11
Anticipated expiration: 1951-09-11

Description

apt. I1, 1934. E. MUTTER 73394 METHOD OF AND APPARATUS FOR TREATING HYDROGARBONS Filed II/lay 29, 1950 d/WMZ" Patented Sept. 11, 1934 I I PATENT. OFFICE METHOD OF AND APPARATUS FOR TREAT- ING HYDROCARBONS Erik Mutter, New Brighton, N. Y., assignor to Standard Oil Development Company, a cum-- I ration of Delaware Application May 29, 1930, Serial No. 456,931

2 Claims. (Cl. 196-74) This invention relates to the "treatment of hydrocarbons with gaseous reagents to obtain chemically modified products. The invention will be fully understood from the following description taken in connection with the accom panying drawing in which latter the figure is a sectional view diagrammatic in character of a form of apparatus suitable for carrying out the invention.

Referring tothe drawing reference numeral 1 designates a heating structure which is divided by walls 2 into a plurality of chambers 3.4 and 5. Hot gases from a furnace are introduced into these chambers through lin 6 and openings 7.

The hot gases are discharged from the chambers through openings 8 into a discharge stack 9.

Containers 12,13 and 14 are associated with the chambers 3, 4 and 5 and project downwardly thereinto. Cylindrical shells or

tubes

15, 16 and o 17 project downwardly from the containers 12, 13

and 14. These tubes are relatively long and of relatively small cross-sectional area. If desired, a plurality of thetubes can be connected to each container. A valved feed line 19 for hydrocarbons opens into the lower portion of tube 15. A discharge line 20, having a valve 21, communicates with the container 12 below the normal level of'liquid therein and connects with the lower portion of the tubev 16. A similar discharge line 22 having a valve 23, connects container 13 with tube 1'1. A discharge line 25 leads from the lower portion of container 14 and is provided with a valve 26.

Gaseous reagent is adapted to be injected into the lower portion of

tubes

15, 16 and 17 from a line 2'7 through

branch lines

28, 29 and 30. Valves 31, 32 and 33 are provided in these branch lines respectively. The gaseous reagent can be cold air, heated air, super-heated steam or other reaction gas. The reagent is preferably injected under greater than atmospheric pressure.

The liquid level in the containers 12, 13 and 14 is controlled by means of floats 35, 36 and 3'7 respectively. Float 35 is operatively connected to actuate valves 21 and 32 by means of a line 38. Raising of the liquid level in container 12 causes the float 35 to open valves 21 and 32. Float 36 of container 13 similarly actuates valves 23 and 33. Float 37 is operatively connected to a pump, not shown. through line 40 whereby. the pump is actuated when the liquid level in container 14 rises above a predetermined position. The pump is connected with the discharge line 25.

Vapors accumulating in the vapor space of container 12,13 and 14 are withdrawn through a line 41 to a jet condenser 42; Cooling liquid such as water is introduced into the jet condenser through a line 43. The jet condenser communicates with a separator 44 containing baffles 45. The condensate and cooling liquid separate into layers in the separator and the condensate is withdrawn through a line 46. Exhaust steam 'or the like can be introduced into the vapor space of containers 12,l.3 and 14, through a valved line 47.

Treated hydrocarbons can be withdrawn after treatment in container 12 and tube 15 by means of a valved line 48. Similarly the hydrocarbons which have been treated additionally in container 13 and tube 16 can be withdrawn through a valved line 49.

By the construction described residual hydrocarbons are lifted by means of a current of gaseousreagents so as to effect circulation of the hydrocarbons through the system. At the same time intimate contact is eflfected between the gaseous reagent and the hydrocarbons to facilitate the reaction there between. As a result oxidized asphalts are produced continuously, the consumption of gaseous reagent is reduced to a.minimum and at the same time no extra pumping means are required for-effecting circulation of the hydrocarbons through the system. By controlling the level of hydrocarbons in the containers 12, 13 and 14 it is possible to maintain a uniform quality of the asphaltic product discharged from the containers. It will be understood that the process of lifting hydrocarbons into a container by means of a gaseous reagent can be repeated as often as necessary in order to obtain the desired quality of product. It will be understood that the hydrocarbon containing system can be operated under atmospheric pressure, less than atmospheric pressure, or under greater than atmospheric pressure.

- Various changes may be made within the scope of the appended claims in which it is desired to claim all novelty inherent in the invention as broadly as the prior art permits.

I claim:

1. Apparatus for treating liquid hydrocarbons comprising a. heating structure divided into a. plurality of chambers by a series of walls, a vertically disposed still partially projecting downwardly in each chamber, a feed conduit and a discharge conduit leading downwardly from each still through the heating chambers to a point outside of the heating chambers, connect on between the discharge conduit 01' a still 2. Process of continuously treating liquid hy-.

drocarbons for the production of oxidized asphalts therefrom, oxidized to various degrees by treatment with a gaseous agent containing free oxygen, which comprises passing a liquid hydrocarbon while applying heat thereto upwardly through a series of narrow elongated and substantially vertical treating zones and separating zones on their upper ends, discharging the hydrocarbons from each separating zone to the lower portion of the next narrow elongated treating zone, injecting the gaseous reagent containing free oxygen into the lower part of each narrow elongated treating zone, withdrawing gases and vapors from the upper portions of the separating zones and withdrawing at will oxidized asphalt from any of the separating zones.

ERIK MUTIER.