US1983028A - Oil cracking apparatus - Google Patents

Description

I. W. HENRY Dec. 4, 1934.

OIL CRACKING APPARATUS Original Filed May 6, 1929 3 Sheets-Sheet l Dec. 4, 1934. w HENRY OIL CRACKING APPARATUS Original Filed May 6, 1929 3 Sheets-Sheet 2 Dec. 4, 1934. w. HENRY 1,983,028

' OIL CRACKING APPARATUS Original Filed May 6, 1929 3 SheetS -Sheet s Patented Dec. 4, 1934 OIL CRACKING APPARATUS Ira Walton Henry, Greenwich, Conn., assignor to Ionizing Corporation of America, New York, N. Y., a corporation of New York Original application May 6, 1929, Serial No. 360,926. Divided and this application March 20, 1930; Serial No. 437,557. Renewed April'24,

12 Claims. (Cl. 204-31) This invention relates mainly to improvements in oil cracking apparatus.

This application is a division of my application Serial No.-360,926, filed May 6, 1929, for Heat treatment of petroleum oil vapor and other hydrocarbonaceou's starting material: method andapparatus.

One object of my invention is more effectively to dissociate or ionize the petroleum oil, vapor or other hydrocarbon starting material, such as crude petroleum, raw gasoline, or other petroleum oils ortheir vapors by passing them through an electromagnetic field in a new and hitherto unknown advantageous way, as described below, for production of gasoline, or other products from a suitable starting material.

Another object of the invention is to improve present petroleum oil cracking operations by suddenly raising to a cracking temperature the oil vapor or gases, after they have been preliminarily obtained by heat treatment, and while they are at a relatively high temperature of approximately 500 or 600 F. and before such preheated, hot, gaseous vapor is led into a heat interchanger, such as a condenser or other app ratus for reception of the cracked vapor.

By this feature of 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 is well known that final cracking must be accomplished within temperatures that will not cause the gaseous vapors to carbonize; and my present invention suffices for obtainment of fin l and complete cracking without carbonization, and thus pertains to one of the most critical steps illthe cycle of production of light hydrocarbons, such as gasoline for example. I have discovered that the desired result, without carbonization, is

obtainable by giving the pre-heated, vapor or oil a sudden increase of approximately 200 F. or even higher temperature, a hot shock as it were,+

' just before the vapor goes to a heat interchanger or the like; superheating the hotvapor to from between 500 or 600 Fahrenheit ;p' to approximately 800 F. depending on the quality of the oil to be cracked. A

My apparatus herein set forth is useful in other connections than above indicated, and I do w not intend to limit my claims to its use only in the described manner but to claim it broadly for every use to which itcan be put.

In the accompanying drawings forming a part hereof and illustrating'my present invention in different forms, v

Fig. 1 is a 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 intcrchanger.

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 appational view-0f another form of the superheater illustrated in Fig. 1.

Fig. 4 is a lengthwise, central section and elevational view of another form of the apparatus illustrated in Fig. 1. This Fig. 4 form of the invention is the preferred and best form of the invention now known to me for all now contemplated uses of my invention. I will first describe the apparatus in its use as a preheater in which a pyrometer is employed.

In all the figures, a pyrometer is shown as a member of the. superheatenthe pyrometer having a heat sensitive element exposed to the action of a high frequency, oscillating electromagnetic, hot-field, effecting apparatus and means for controlling the heat, the heat sensitive element of .the pyrometer being inductively heated from the electromagnetic field.

Referring-to the different forms of the invention illustrated in the drawings,-

In Fig. 1, B diagrammatically indicates any of the usual type of apparatus in which petroleum oil is vaporizedby application of external heat. For illustration, 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 for crude oil vaporizing, a delivery pipe 2 leads to some-kind of vapor treating apparatus such as B which may be either a heat interchanger, condenser, expansion chamber, or otherwise. Heretofore, the hot vapors flowing through the pipe 2 have deposited a. carbon content on the walls of thepipe and other walls with which they have 'come in contact, thus carbonizing the walls and also impairing the quality of the distilled product by the presence of excess carbon in 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, os-

cillating, electromagnetic field herein mentioned is to break up the carbon molecules in the vapor into exceedinglysmall 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, the quality of the ultimate product, such as gasoline or the like, being materially improved. By my invention, I give the hot, pre-heated vapor or vapors, while flowing from the still, a sudden boost in temperature or hot shock as above 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, obviated. Indeed the sudden hot shock given to the hot vapor in its flow is a cracking step.-

Fig. 2 shows a vapor or oil conduit A of electric current conducting material. Conduit A is tappedat 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 or any other suitable materiaL. The expansion chamber structure A is shown annular in cross "section and is in effect a cross sectionally enlarged extension of conduit A. It has a closed end wall 4, preferably at its end nearest the takeoff, 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 heatinterchanger, condenser or otherwise. The interior circular wall of. expansion chamber A. has a lining 6 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 7 shown as metal wire screens through the interspaces of which the superheated vapor may flow. In all forms of the invention, the lining 6 serves to diminish escape of the electromagnetic energy from the expansion chamber. The peripheral margin of such scre ns is anchored in the asbestos or other lining, out of contact with the 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 bafliing 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 infiuence of an oscillating electromagnetic field established byan energizing, alternating, electric current within the expansion chamber, and within and exteriorly of the coiled portion of conduit A which is of copper or other suitable, altemating, 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 pipe5. The coiled portion of conduit A is elec':

trically connected at 12-12, spacedly-apart, with the ends of an alternating electric current conductor l313, each leading from a brush 1% of ii-n alternating electric current dynamo 15. A

'to install such coiled portion of the starting material conduit A inside the expansion chamber and within the lining 6 as shown in Fig. 4.

The degree of heat generated in the expansion chamber, at any given moment, is determinedelectrically by regulation of the current, and is known instantly to an attendant by his observation of a corresponding pyrometer reading. This structure permits the apparatus to be used as a superheater or heat'booster for givingpre-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 10 the current, and by observation of the pyrometer reading give the material a sudden increase in temperature.

,.;The short circuited, secondary forming screens I T form electric resistances in the electromagnetic field and may be very highly heated, even to the melting point ifit 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 materiahas above stated, the pre-heated vapors received from the supply pipe being usually of a temperature about 200 F. lower than that suddenly given them in the expansion chamber by. regulated operation of the apparatus which forms a superheater if it is so u 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 figures of the drawings, no further detailed description thereof will be given.

In Fig. 3, the expansion structure A differs from that above described in that both its ends are closed except for its intake port 17 and discharge port18. Starting material, such as any petroleum oil or vapor, for example, supplied to the expansion chamber will be vaporized if the starting material is oil; or further and more actively vaporand will fiow out through discharge port 18 into the partially coiled conduit A and be 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 fiow out through the intake port 18, involving a reversal of the initial supply and ultimatedischarge. In all other respects this form of the invention is like that set forth in connection with the Fig. '2 form.

In Fig. 4 there are no short circuited, secondary forming elements, the-screens being omitted. The coiled portion of conduit -A is within the expansion chamber and its convolutions serve 'as gaseous 1 ,5

tromagnetic field which is generated when the energizing current is on, becomes heated and may be highly heated, and the starting material in the coil is subject to influence of the 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 flow through the interior coiled portion of the conduitand 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 760 and 2,000 cycles per second as the particular character or quality-of the hot, gaseous vapor to be superheated may require.

If desired, a catalyst may be located in the electromagnetic field. The screen '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 the constituents of the finished product are fixed 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 hitherto undiscovered and unrecognized waxy substance which is negligible in quantity but which indicates a new effect of the hot electromagnetic-field and the action thereof, whatever it may be on the petroleum oil vapor treated.

In the structure of Fig. 4, the high frequency, oscillating current in the turns of the coil re-acts on itself and heats the coil.

The foregoing description refers particularly, apart from description of thediffering forms of the invention, to use of the structure in suddenly raising the temperature of the starting material, whatever it is, whether an oil or a gas.

I will now set forth additional advantages and features of the invention when used for production of gasoline or other products without preheating, but at any suitable temperature in the coil, screens or expansion chamber.

An important feature of the invention is the location of the coil within the expansion chamber and its insulation from the side wall of chamber structure A by the asbestos mat 6. Hereby the energy of the electromagnetic field is conserved to a very high degree for disintegration actionwithin the expansion chamber or still on the matter treated within it; and the more or less dangerous field oscillations or pulsations outside the still are so greatly reduced as greatly to increase safety-. to persons using. the still or apparatus. This'is'one' of the reasons why the Fig. 4 structure is the preferred structure.

I havepointed out above that a catalyst may be located in the electromagnetic field; that the screens 7 may be of catalytic metal; and that the screens as well as the convolutions of the coil on Fig. 4 act as baflles. It is a feature of this invention substantially to retard outflow of the treated material from the expansion chamber or still; that is, substantially to prolong the period of its subjection to the electromagnetic field force, for thereby I have found that a greatly superior quality of either gasoline or other products may be produced-'by what may be metaphorically called-cooking the vapor.

The Fig. 4 structure is also greatly preferable to the other. illustrated structures because it serves a double field treatment of the vapor or vaporizing oil. The material entrant into the intake end 20 of the coil supply pipe is first subjected to electromagnetic field action while within and flowing through the coil turns, as the field oscillations or pulsations are partly through the coil wall and the space or chamber enclosed by the wall. As the coil product-vaporflows out of the coil, at 21, into the expansion chamber or space, the vapor discharged instantly expands, and in its flow to the discharge port or pipe 22, flows through the field oscillations or pulsations exterior to the coil turns, thus involving a double field treatment of the discharged product.

The different portions of this "new structure maybe made of any suitable material. The casing A may be made of a ceramic material if desired; insulating material other than asbestos may be used for the lining 6; the coil may be made of copper, or whenever desired, of a suitable catalytic metal, of which catalytic metal the screens '7 are preferably made. apart for more effective retardation of vapor escape. The screens are baffle plates. The coil The screens 7 are spacedturns in Fig. 4 are baflling elements and may be catalysts. Screens '7 may be inserted in the ex- I will now set forth new and formerly unexpected effects obtained from use of this invention,

.wholly apart from its first described use as a mere superheater.

What I claim is:

i 1. The combination with a crude oil vaporizing still including still heating means and a discharge pipe; and a heat interchanger in conduit communication with said discharge pipe; of a superheater conduit in intermediate communication with said discharge pipe and with the intake of said heat interchanger; means for heating the superheater conduit inductively from a high frequency, oscillating electromagnetic field; and means for establishing a high frequency, oscillating electromagnetic field within and adjacent the superheater conduit; the latter means including a heat regulating device; said means for heating the super-heater conduit inductively including a high frequency; oscillating, hollow electric-current-conducting coil having an intake foroilvapor to be'treated and a discharge for vapor treated, all arranged and operating for suddenly induit at the will of the operator.

2. In apparatus of the class described, the combination of an expansion chamber structure; an

electromagnetic field generating hollow coil; said expansion chamber being positioned within the generated electro-magnetic field; an insulating lining for the chamber wall between it and the coil turns; and current generating and current control apparatus in circuit with the coil; the wall of the expansion chamber being connectible with a supply pipe and also witha discharge pipe; the supply pipe communicating with the coil spacefor flow of material from the supply pipe through the coil.

3. Inthe combination set forth in claim 2, a series of spaced apart baffling members insulatedly mounted transversely of said chamber and of the coil axis.

. -4. In the combination set forth in claim 2, a bafiling member; the coil discharging into the expansion chamber at a place remote from the discharge port thereto to cause the expanded vapor issuing from the coil to pass the baflie and the electromagnetic field and to be retarded in its outflow by the baflle.

5. In apparatus of the class described, the combination with electric current generating and control apparatus; of a'hollow electric current conducting coil in circuit with said apparatus; and an expansion chamber structure into the chamber of which the coil discharges said expansion chamber being positioned within the generated electric field of said electric current-conducting coil; the coil having an intake end for supply of material to be treated. I

6. In apparatus of the class described; the combination of oil cracking apparatus and a heat interchanger with an intermediate conduit form;- ing apparatus in communication with both the oil cracking apparatus and the heat interchanger; said intermediate apparatus including an electric current conducting and electromagnetic field generating hollow coil serving also as a conduit between the cracking apparatus and the interchanger; the coil being provided with a walled expansion space; and an electric current generating, electromagnetic field inducing, frequencyregulating and current control apparatus with which the coil is in circuit said expansion chamber being positioned within the induced electromagnetic'field of said electric current-conducting hollow coil.

7. In the combination set forth inclaim s, the coil being exteriorly insulated.

8. In the combination set forth in claim 6, the expansion space having a conduit wall enclosing it; the coil being in said space and insulated from said wall.

9. In the combination set forth in claim 6, said hollow coil being insulatedly mounted within a chambered expansion chamber structure, in communication with the supply pipe and discharging into the expansion chamber remotely from the intake end of the coil and from the discharge port of the expansion chamber whereby the material flowing through the coil is acted on while flowing; expanded on its discharge, and then passes through the electromagnetic field ex eriorly of the coil into the conduit leading to the heat interchanger. v v

10. In the combination set forth in claim 6, vapor escape retarding means within the expansion space.

11, In the combination set forth in claim 6,

vapor escape retarding elements of catalytic IRA WALTON HENRY.

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