US2002670A - Process of making asphalt - Google Patents

Description

May 23, 1935- EAB. MccoNNELL l 2,002,670

.PaocEss oF MAKING ASPHALT original Filed July s; 19:51

@y M s/Qay/ r ATTORNEYJ,

Patented May 28, 1935 AluliuurED STATES PROCESS OF MAKING ASPHALT Elliott B. McConnell, Cleveland, ohio. assigno'r to The Standard Oil Company, Cleveland, Ohio, a corporation of Ohio Y Original application July 3, 1931, Serial No. 548,601. Divided and this application June 30, 1934, Serial No. 733,252

. 2 Claims.

A fundamental difficulty in the manufacture of asphalt has centered about the limitation ofV oxidizing action. In the customary procedure in which petroleum has been distilled, with removal of progressively heavier cutsdown Ito lubricating fractions, and the bottoms or residuum has then been subjected to the action of air as bubbled through -a perforated pipe along the bottom of the still, the amount of exposure and contact action has been so limited as to necessitate very prolonged treatment, two or three days for a batch; and besides the draw-back of such a large time factor there is the further difficulty that such prolonged subjection of hydrocarbons to the high temperatures necessary, effects detrimental decomposition tending to erratic and deficient results. In accordance with the present invention however, it now becomes possible to subject asphalt-forming residuum to a thorough-going oxidation treatment with relatively small time requirement, and besides a continuous type procedure, as opposed to batchwise, is available.

To the accomplishment of the foregoing and related ends, the invention, then, comprises the features hereinafter fully described, and partic- 'ularly pointed out in the claims, the following description and the annexed drawing setting forth in detail certain illustrative embodiments of the'invention, these being indicative however,

of but a few of the various Ways in which the principle of the invention may be employed.

In said annexed drawing:-

The sole gure is a semi-diagrammatic sectional elevation showing apparatus contemplated.

A petroleum residuum, as obtained for instance by distilling petroleum and removing the naphtha and progressively heavier cuts on through the lubrication fractions, for example the residuum or bottoms from the distillation of Mid-Continent petroleum as reduced to about 7-8 per cent is, in molten or adequately uidified form, projected in finely divided spray or atomized condition counter-currently to a supply of air. For such ne division, finely perforated or porous plates or air-atomizer heads may be employed, especially heads in which the subdivision of liquid is effected by the pressure applied and the emergence through passages affording a fine breaking up of the liquid body with formation of very small droplets or mist particles as projected into the air.

is supplied by pipe 4 from a source of residuum,

In the form of equipment illus-v for instance a pump 5 serving to provide a requisite distribution pressure. The spray-head 2 is a finely perforated diaphragm. On account of the difficulty` in .attaining a desirably `ne Y perforation by direct mechanical punching, it is preferable to provide such perforated diaphragm in the form of a porous plate or plates making up a header of suiicient extent, and such plates may be of any suitably porous material, as for example aluminum oxide, porcelain or other ceramic material in which pores may be conveniently formed by proportioning the granular raw material from which the plates are initially molded. Various degrees of `size of pore openings may be had `in materials of this order. Desirably, a heating means, as for instance a steam coil 20, is provided adjacent the diaphragm 2, for facilitating melting out of residuum which may become solidied or frozen on occasion of temporary shut-down. At the bottom of vthe chamber 3 an air inlet is provided and this may conveniently .take the form of a perforated pipe 6 connected with a Iblower or compressor '1, for supply of a body of air in the chamber. At the top anoff-take pipe 8 may lead through a condenser Siv to a receiver I0, and'if desired an eduction air pump to blower at the end of the vent pipe II.

As above indicated, the residuum, for instance as Vcoming from the final distillation zone, through pipel I2, and at a temperature of around 700 F., orrlower, to about 400 F., is fed by the pump` 5 to the atomizer head 2, Where it is projected in finely divided atomized form, against a rising current of air introduced by pipe 6. VAs the finely divided residuum or mist-` like particles leave the atomizer head, they are at once enveloped in an abundance of air, and with the elevated temperatures provided and the exaggerated surface exposure, oxidation proceeds effectively. The product collecting at the bottom of the tower may be drawn off through the pipe I3 to tanks, shipping drums, or whatever disposal is desired. In some cases, further treatment may be preferred by recycling the material through the pipe I4, the valves I5 and I6 being closed and the valves VI'I and I8 being open. The pump 5 then recycles the material until a sample taken off at the sampling outlet I9, shows the desired specificationl characteristics. The eflluent air proceeds through off-take pipe 8 and the condenser 9 to the discharge pipe II, any condensable substances being collected in the receiver I0. Temperature control may be maintained as desired by the temperature of the incoming residuum and the air. The air may be cooled in some cases as required, or it may be specially heated, or it may carry the heat acquired in the compressor.

Where it is desired to especially heat the air from the compressor, a heater 2l may be applied to the air pipe lprior to its entrance into the tower, the heat being applied by any suitable means, such as furnace or a flue-gas connection.

This application is a division of my prior application Serial No. 548,601, led July 3, 1931,

Other modes of applying the principle ofthe invention may be employed, change being made as regards the details described, provided the 'features stated in any of the following claims,

or the equivalent of such, be employed.

I therefore particularly point out and distinctly claim as my invention:-

1. A process of making oxidized asphalt, which comprises forcing petroleum residuum through capillary diaphragm openings, projecting the nely divided residuum therefrom in countercurrent flow, to air, and withdrawing the oxidized asphaltic product.

2. A process of making oxidized asphalt, which comprises forcing petroleum residuum through capillary ceramic openings, projecting the nely divided residuum therefrom in counter-current ow to air, and withdrawing the oxidized asphaltic product.

ELLIOTT B. MCCONNELL.

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