US1983027A - Heat treatment of petroleum oil vapor and other hydrocarbonaceous starting material - Google Patents

Description

Dec. 4, 1934.

I. W. HENRY HEA'I" TREATMENT'OF PETROLEUM OIL VAPOR AND OTHER HYDROCARBONACEOUS STARTING MATERIAL Original Filed May 6, 1929) 3 Sheets-Sheet l d m. n!

n. M N. n.

n .2 uuzxzuuuwzc: 9 .E ..9 v .Q e .9. u.. awww. r .Q si.-\ Bv .s l. illinnlllllilnlnnfdwammmmm/-awwf ...F...f f r r ..a. .f., .1 ,.f.. fMMMMJVA ..um? nf/m9671235@vilf/ m .N mMM. f M 1/ n Q P m Fm Qutxn lr.. e N n mi N.+ n I ji..... j n C Q m $0 .'fvffl" ...n'hvlndwrdzwzww wir! d.; 1132,42 fard. rd. A.. v .#Wawdhwnakrmmnvumhhl.nlbwlfdmlufnfba\wwffl ha!" I au i. :.x \..\!.-:-i-u nlmlh' :52.5. f .9 .9 i.. .Z iw.. .N msm Q -5@ Dec. 4, 11934. l, W HENRY f 1,983,027

HEAT TREATMENT OF PETROLEUM OIL VAPOR AND OTHER HYDROCARBONACEOUS STARTING MATERIAL f Original Filed May 6, 1929 3 Sheets-Sheet 2 IN VENTOR a Walf Hcrlryl; BY .ud/

ATTORNEY 4, 1934. l, w HENRY 1,983,027

Y HEAT TREATMENT OF PETROLEUM OIL VAPOR AND OTHER HYDROCARBONACEOUS STARTING MATERIAL Original Filed May 6, 1929 J 5 Sheets-Sheet 3 vos Patented Dec. 4, 1934 UNITED STATES PATENT ori-ICE `HEAT TREATMENT ofF PETRoLEUMoiL vAroR AND OTHER IIYnRocARRoNA- cEoUs STARTING MATERIAL 1ra Walton Henry, Greenwich, Conn., as signor to Ionizing Corporation of America, New York, N. Y., a corporation of New York Application MayV 6, 1929, Serial No. 360,926

i Renewed April 24, 1934 1 Claim. (Cl. 2011-31) 5 present petroleum oil cracking operations by suddenly raising to a cracking temperature the oil vapor or gases,u after they have been preliminarily obtained by'heat treatment, and while they are at a relatively high temperature of approxi- `mately 500 or 600 Fah. and before such preheated, hot,-gaseous vapor is led into a heat interchanger, such as a condenser or other apparatus for reception of the cracked vapor.

By my invention the gaseous vapor is given a sudden increase in temperature while it is in its pre-heated condition and is flowing to auxiliary apparatus.

It iswell known that nal cracking mustbe accomplished within temperatures that willv not cause the gaseous vapors tocarbonize; and my present invention suiTices for obtainment of final .and complete cracking without carbonization, and thus pertains to one of the most critical steps in the cycle of production Aof light hydrocarbons,

such as gasoline for example. I have discovered My apparatus herein set forth is useful in other connections than above indicatedyand I dornot i intend to limit my claim toits Vuse only in the described manner but to claim it broadly for every use to which it can be put.

In the accompanying drawings forming a part hereof and illustrating my present invention in different forms,- v l Fig. 1 is al diagrammatic view of a cracking still provided with exterior heating means and having a discharge pipe communicating with my new superheater which discharges into a heat interchanger.

Fig. 2 is a lengthwise, central section and elevational view of one form of my new superheater embodying the invention, in communication with a pre-heated, hot gaseous vapor, supply pipe and also in communication with a pipe for'discharging the superheated vapor into a. desired apparatus for subsequent treatment; the superheater including aconduit having an enlarged portion forming' an expansion chamber.`

Fig..3 is a lengthwise central section and ele- I vational View of another form of the superheater illustratedin Fig. 1.

Fig. 4 is a lengthwise, central section and elevationalview of another form of the apparatus illustrated in Fig. 1.

In all the figures, a pyrometer is shown as a member of the superheater, the pyrcmeter having a Aheat sensitive element exposed to the action of a high frequency, oscillating electromagnetic, hot

, eld, affecting apparatus and means for controlling the heat the heat sensitive element cf the pyrometer being inductively heated from the electhe usual type of apparatus in which petroleum oil is vaporized by application of external heat. For illustration,l apparatus B may be supposed to be a still provided with either side or bottom heating devices, as at B. In such apparatus, long commonly used forv crude oil vaporizing, a delivery pipe 2 leads to somel kind of vapor treating apparatus -such as `B2 which may be either a heat interchanger, condenser, expansioi. chamber, or otherwise. Heretofore, the hot yapors flowing through the pipe 2 have deposited a carbon content on the walls of the pipe and other Walls with which they have come in Contact, thus carbonizingthe walls and also impairing the quality of the distilled product by the presence of excess carbonin the distillate. In my opinion, based on my experience and work done in this connection, the result of subjecting the pre-heated vapors to the action of the high frequency, oscillating, electromagnetic field herein mentioned is to break up the carbon molecules in the vapor into exceedingly. small electrified particles, and thus to involve ionization. At any rate, by my invention the deposit of carbon from the heated and cracked vapor in the pipe is practically prevented and the carbon content of the vapor and distillate fixed in the distillate, the quality of the ultimate product, such as gasoline or the like, being vmaterially improved. By my invention, I give the hot, preheatedvapor or vapors, while flowing fromthe still, a sudden boost in temperature or hot shock asabove described, and have discovered that by so doing carbonization of the pre-heated cracked oil vapors, during their discharge flow is. largely and in some cases wholly` obviar-ed. Indeed lthe sudden hot shock given to the hot vapor in its :dow is a nal and complete cracking step.

Fig. 2 shows a conduit A of electric currentl conducting material. Conduit A is tapped at 1 into the starting material or vapor supply pipe 2 and is extended into an elongated coil which terminates and discharges at 3 within an expansion chamber structure A of dielectric material, such as ceramic, pyrex or the like. The expansion chamber structure A' is shown annular in cross section and is in eifect a cross sectionally enlarged extension of conduit A. It has a closed end wall 4, preferably at its end nearest the take-off, at 1, of the starting material; is of an interior cross section substantially larger than that of conduit 'A in order to permit expansion of the vapor discharged into the expansion chamber from the conduit A at 3. An end of the expansion chamber, preferably furthest from the discharge at 3, is open and in communication with a discharge or delivery pipe 5 which conveys the superheated vapor to any desired apparatus, such as a heat interchanger, condenser or otherwise. The interior circular wall of expansion chamber A' has a lining 6v of some suitable refractory material, such, for example, as asbestos. The purpose of lining 6 is to support the edges of each of, preferably a series of transverse, vapor-baffling and passing means 'I shown as metal wire screens through the interspaces of which the superheated vapor may flow. The peripheral margin of such screens is anchored in the asbestos or other lining, out of contact with the dielectric wall of the expansion chamber structure A', as shown at 8, in order to prevent unequal heating of the metal screen or other equivalent vapor baling and passing elements which also function as short circuited secondaries in the superheater, when the energizing current is on. A pyrometer having a heat sensitive element 9 is provided for the expansion chamber, and is located within the influence of a high frequency, oscillating electromagnetic eld established by an energizing, alternating; high frequency, electric current within the expansion chamber, and within and exteriorly of the coiled portion of conduit A which is of copper or other suitable high frequency, alternating; electric current conducting material. The pyrometer includes an exteriorly observable heat degree indicator 10. The ends of expansion chamber structure A are shown electrically insulated at 11 from the starting material supply pipe 2 and also from the discharge and delivery pipe 5. The coiled portion of conduit A is electrically connected at 12-12, spacedly apart, with the ends of high frequency alternating electric current conductors l3-l3. each leading from a brush 14 of an alternating electric current dynamo 15. A condenser 16 is interposed in each conductor 13; and rheostat 16a is interposed in one of the conductors 13 in order to permit regulation of the heat induced in the short circuited secondaries, which form electric current resistanoes, from the electromagnetic iield established in the expansion chamber when the current is on. 'I'he coiled portion of conduit A surrounds the expansion chamber structure A'.

The degree of heat generated in the expansion chamber, at any given moment, is determined electrically by regulation of the current, and is known instantly to an attendant by his observation of a corresponding pyrometer reading. This structure permitsrthe apparatus to be used as a superheater or heat booster for giving pre-heated hydrocarbonaceous vapors, or other fluid starting material, supplied to conduit A from pipe 2 a' sudden increase in temperature. The attendant can instantly raise or boost the temperature of `the pre-heated starting material by regulation of the current, and by observation of the pyrmeter reading give the material a sudden increase in temperature.

The short circuited, secondary forming element forms an electric resistance in the electromagnetic field and. may be very highly heated, even to the melting point if it were so desired; but in use the temperature effected in the expansion chamber is to be varied, usually according to the quality and character of the starting material, as above stated, the preheated vapors received from the supply pipe being usually of atemperature about 200 Fah. lower than that suddenly given them in the expansion chamber by regulated operation of the apparatus which forms a superheater if it is so used as just described.

As the dynamo and high frequency, alternating current generating, distributing and heat control apparatus above described are shown and identified by corresponding reference numerals in remaining gures of the drawings, no further detailed description thereof will be given.

In Fig. 3, the expansion chamber structure A' differs from that above described in that both its ends are closed except for its intake port 17 and discharge port 18. Starting material supplied to the expansion chamber and allowed to expand or vaporize therein flows out through discharge port 18 into the partially coiled conduit Agand is discharged therefrom at its discharge end 19. If desired, the starting material could be introduced into the expansion chamber through the discharge end 19, circulated through the coil, discharged expandingly into the expansion chamber, and flow out through the intake port 18, involving a reversal of the initial supply and ultimate discharge. In all other respects this form of the invention is like that set forth in connection with the Fig. 1 form.

In Fig. 4 there is no short circuited, secondary forming elements, the screens being omitted. The coiled portion of conduit A, however, is within the expansion chamber and its convolutions serve as gaseous vapor bailiing and passing means. The coiled portion of the copper conduit, offering resistance to the high frequency, alternating current owing through it and being in the high frequency, electromagnetic field which is generated when the energizing current is on, becomes highly heated, and the starting material in the coil is subject to influence of this heat and of the high frequency oscillations of the electromagnetic field. In this form of the apparatus or superheater, the starting material is assumed to be taken ,into an outside portion of conduit A, as at 20; to now through the interior coiled portion of the conduit and to discharge at 21 into the expansion chamber from which the superheated vapor treated flows out through a discharge or delivery pipe 22.

In practice, I employ a frequency of between and about r160 and 2,000 cycles per second as the particular character or quality of the hot, gaseous vapor to be superheated may require.

If'fdesired a catalyst may be located in the electromagnetic field. `The screens '7, one or all may be of catalytic metal.

Preferably the suddenly superheated and cracked vapor is suddenly chilled in the heat interchanger, and the apparatus shown is suitable for this important purpose and theconstituents of the finished product are yfixed and stabilized by the sudden changes in temperature, the high temperatures being affected by induction from the hot, electromagnetic field.

I have found that gasoline cracked in a hot, high frequency oscillating electromagnetic field contains a hithertov undiscovered and unrecognized waxy substance which is negligible in quantity but which indicates a new effect of the hot electromagnetic eld and the action thereof,l

in my divisional application, Serial No. 437,558,

filed March 20, 1930, for Oil heating apparatus.

What I claim is: K The method of treating hydrocarbon vapor while hot and in a condition normally to deposit carbon comprising passing a current of pre-heated hydrocarbon -vapor through an inductively heated high frequency electric current conducting tube forming a coil whereby the temperature of the vapors is suddenly increased and cracking takes place simultaneouslywith the fixation of the carbon content, subsequently expanding,- the superheated hydrocarbon vapors into a chamber of greater cross-section, said chamber being posi-f tioned within and surrounded by-said coil-whereby the expanded vapors are subjected to a high frequency oscillating electro-magnetic field and removing the treated vapors froml said chamber.

IRA WALTON HENRY.

Images