US737756A - Still. - Google Patents

Description

PATNTBD SEPT. l, 1903.

s SHEETS-SHEET 1.`

STILL.

APPLICATION HLLD JULY 14, 1902.

No MODEL.

No. 737,756. PATBNTED SEPT. 1, 1903.

W. MAYBURY.

STILL.

APPLICATION FILED JULY 14, 1902.

N0 MODEL.

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No. 737,756. `l PATENTBD SEPT. l, 1903K.

. W. MAYBURY.

STILL.

APPLICATION FILED JULY 14, 1902..

N0 MODEL. 3 SHEETS-SHEET 3.

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UNiTED STATESY Patented September. 1, 1903.

lPATENT OFFICE.

WILLIAM MAYBURY, OF LOS ANGELES, CALIFORNIA, ASSIGNOR OF SIXTEEN FORTY-FIFTI-IS TO NORMAN WILLIAMS AND ARMITAGE S. O. FORBES, OF

LOS ANGELES, CALIFORNIA.

STILL.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Mtters Patent No. 737,756, dated September 1, 1903.

Application filed .Tuly 14, 1902.

To cir/ZZ whom, it 11m/y concern: i

Be it known that I, WILLIAM MAYBURY, a citizen of the United States, residing at Los Angeles, in the county of Los Angeles and State of California, have invented anew and useful Improvement in Stills, ofV Which the following is a specification.

In the distillation of petroleum-oils, coal or vegetable tars, spirituous liquors, or other xo volatile compounds it is desirable that the process be conducted in a rapid, economic, andV effective manner and that Where necessary the products of the distillation be separated with as little intermingling of the r 5 diiferent grades as possible. The necessity for this is at once apparent when it isknown that as many as twenty diiferent hydrocarbons from petroleum and coal-tar are capable of separation by heat into valuable commerzo cial commodities.

In the form of still in which the material being treated is placed in a cylindrical vessel and heat applied thereto to drive off the different volatile particles such stills generally z 5 have a capacity varying from three hundred to twelve thousand gallons and are from three to seven feet in diameter and of various lengths, and they are supported in a horizontal position4 in suitable brickWork and exposed 3o to the heat of the furnace their entire length and from one-half to two-thirds of their circumference. Owing to the presence of such a large body of oil, it has been found impossible to remove all of the vapor of the same density at the same time, for the reason that the oil contained in the center could not receive the same degree of heat as that at the surface, owing to its greater distance from the source of heat. The result is that several dif- 4o ferent vapors or vapors of different densities are driven off the body of oil at the same time, which necessarily produces a mixture or intermingling of said vapors to such an extent as to produce an oil of inferior quality i; and ofuncertain specific gravity. In addition to this the very light fractions or portions of the'vapors are decomposed into permanent gases by the excessive heat to which they are' exposed before they can be con- 5o ducted from the retort. After the vapors Serial No. 115,5 70. (No model.)

have been removed in this manner and condensed into liquid form it is then found necessary to subject them to from one to three further fractional distillations and as many more chemical treatments to properly separate or grade the different oils and produce anarticle of merchantable value.

In the form of continuous stills in which the material to be treated is introduced into one end of a long pipe or still and subjected to varying degrees "of heat in its passage through the still the several fractionated parts or vapors from which the different grades of oil are condensed must necessarily travel from the point in the still at which they are liberated to the discharge-outlet before they can escape. In making this journey it is evident that the different grades must necessarily become so intimately mixed or intermingled that it is almost impossible to properly and effectively separate them after they have been discharged. In addition to this many of them, and especially the lighter grades, become so incorporated with the asphaltum or parts of a greater density as to be entirely lost, owing to the impossibility of economically and effectively separating them therefrom after they have been discharged. Further, many of the products are turned into permanent gases by the excessive heat to which they must be subjected, and it has been found impossible to efficiently and thoroughly separate the diferent grades after they have been discharged into the receiver or separator placed ou the outside of the furnace for receiving and condensing the distillized products. i

In either of the above-described processes Vit is impossible to give what is known as the standard flash or fire test without the particular product being fractionated over again, which is both costly and troublesome.

The object of my invention is to produce an apparatus by means of which a constant stream of material to be treated is introduced 95 at the point farthest from the source of heat and caused to travel in a path which constantly approaches said source of heat and to remove the different grades or qualities of vapors as soon as they have been liberated roo from the material and conducting each of said grades to a separate condenser or receiver. In this manner it is impossible Vfor the dierent grades or qualities of the vapor to become mixed or commingled, and it also determines the amountv of heat at which said grade has been volatilized, thereby determining without further process the fire test of said vapor, as the degree of heat in the furnace to which the oil is subjected where any given grade is driven off or volatilized is always known or lmay be easily determined. Such an apparatus will also permit ofthe process of separation or fractionation being stopped at any point, as the heat for the furnace, which is preferably applied by means of hydrocarbon-burners, can be sograduated or arranged as to not exceed a predetermined degree at the point of discharge, or the heat may be applied and controlled at any desired point along the path of the material being treated and the material then discharged as soon as it has been subjected to the desired degree of heat.

With this and other objects in view my invention consists in the improved construction and novel arrangement of parts of a still, as will be hereinafter more fully set forth.

The accompanying drawings illustrate the invention.

Figure I is an end elevation of one form of apparatus embodying my invention. Fig. II is a transverse vertical sectional View of the same on the line II II of Fig. IV. Fig. III is a horizontal sectional view on the line III III of Fig. IV. Fig. IV is a longitudinal sectional view on the line IV IV of Fig. I. Fig. V is a sectional detail of the connectorpipes, showing the ejector by which suction is produced to aid in the withdrawaltbf the volatilized material. Figs. VI and VII are sectional details showing modified forms of the ejector. Fig. VIII is a sectional detail of the means which I prefer to employ for supporting the floor or dome-partition. Fig. IX is an end view of the still proper, showing the condensing tank and chambers and the connections of the vapor-outlet pipes therewith.

In constructing a still to carry out my process of distillation or fractionation of volatilizable material a suitable chamber or fu rnace 1 is constructed of suitable material, as brick or metal, or both, of a suflicient size to receive the still or alembic 2. One or more burners 3, preferably hydrocarbon, are arranged in the bottom of the chamber in front of a fire wall 4. for supplying the proper amount of heat for volatilizing or vaporizing the material as it passes through the still. The top of the furnace may be formed substantially dome-shaped in cross-section, as shown at 5, and separated from the -interior of the chamber by means of a door or partition 6. A flue or chimney 7 leads from the dome, preferably the central portion, and a damper or dampers 8 are arranged for controlling openings 9 at or adjacent to the ends ofthe partition 6. The dampers may be arranged to slide or turn over said openings as desired and are controlled by means of handles 10, which project through the wall of the furnace in position to be manipulated.

Although I do not limit myself to any particular form or construction of furnace, in the drawings I have shown the walls of the furnace as constructed from metal 11, which may be lined or protected with brickwork 12.

(Shown only in dotted lines in Fig. II.) The metal may be formed in any desired manner, continuous or in sections, and be bolted or otherwise secured together, as by means of stay-bolts 13 of the ordinary or any preferred construction.y The upper edge ofeachI wall is preferably formed with an extended cap 14, from the inner side of which projects a bracket 15 for the support of the partition 6, the partition being preferably provided with a depending fiange 16 for hooking over or engaging with an upturned portion of the bracket. The central portion of the Wall may be provided with a rib or projection 17.,y preferably triangular in cross-section. The lower edges of the dome 5 are grooved or recessed,

as shown at 18, to fit over said rib and hold the dome in position.

The still or alembic is preferably formed from a number of pieces or sections of pipe 19, which may be of any desired sizeand structure .and extend from end to end of the furnace, a short portion of each section preferably extending beyond or projecting through the ends of the furnace. Each section is given a slight inclination to cause the material to dow through the still, and'the ends ofthe successive sections are joined upon the exterior of the furnace by means of short connectors 20 to form a continuous conduit. The connectors are preferably given a greater inclination than the sections to cause the material to pass more quickly from one section to the other as said passage takes place exterior of the furnace and in order to provide positively for the downward flow of the oil to prevent any possibility of its ascending into the vapor-outlet pipes. The connectors may be secured to the ends of the sections in any suitable manner, although I prefer to use an ordinary coupling, as a fourway T or cross 21. Connected with as many of the couplings as may be desired are means, as pipes 22, for permitting the escape of any Volatilized material which may have formed within the still by the time the material reaches that point from its entrance or from the last point at which the volatilized material had escaped. The pipe 22 leads into or through a tank B, of cold water, for the condensation of the vapors. C C represent the several condensation-ehambers into which the pipes 22, respectively, communicate, as shown. The respective chambers C are thus adapted to receive the respective grades or kinds of oils produced by the distillation, such as gasolene, benzin &c. To assist in with- IIO drawing the volatilized material at these points or outlets, suction is produced, as by an ejector of any desired form-as, for instance, a pipe 23, which receives a jet of steam or other suitable medium from a pipe 24 and discharges it into the outlet-pipe 22. The pipe 24 receives its medium from any suitable source of supply (not shown) and is preferably common to all of the ej ectors upon that end of the furnace and communicates with each of them through a pipe-section 25 and is provided with any suitable form of valve for controlling the entrance to each one of the ejectors. Where it is desired to use, my process and apparatus for very fine distillation or fractionating work, each ejector may be connected with a tank or reservoir, (not shown but where such ine graduation is not desirable two or more ejectors may be connected with or discharged into the same tank. The ejector and the outlet-pipe may connect with each other in a direct line, as by having the ejector-pipe enter the coupling through the arm of the cross directly opposite the outlet-pipe, as shown in Fig. V, or the ejector-pipe may enter through a reducer 26 (see Fig. VII) in one of the other arms and be provided with a nipple or bent at an angle to register with or enter the outlet-pipe. (See Fig. VI.) The outlet-pipe is preferably straight for a sufficient distance from the ejector-pipe to cause the most effective operation of the ejector before said outlet is bent or curved to lead to the tank. Any arm of the cross which is not being utilized can be stopped with an ordinary plug 27.

As shown, an inlet-pipe 28 leads from a suitable source of supply. (Not shown.) This pipe 2S connects with the upper section 30 of the sill, preferably by means of a Y block or union 31, which is provided with two passages 32, which communicate, respectively, With the section 30, and with one of such passages 32 said oil-inlet pipe 2S communicates. A steam-inlet pipe 29 is preferably connected with the union 3l and communicates with other the passage 32. The pipes 28 and 29 are provided with inlet-valves,` as shown. IVhen it is desired to thoroughly cleanse the distilling-pipes, steam is admitted from the steam-inlet pipe 29. I, however, do not admit steam into the distilling-pipes when distilling, as I nd that the mixture of steam stirs up the oil, the agitation causes the oil to foam, and the expansion of the steam in the oil, causing vapors to arise therefrom, carries up in suspension from the body of the oil heavy impurities, thus rendering the distilled product impure and dark-colored, reducingits commercial value, and rendering it much less marketable. It is therefore much more desirable to distil oil without mixing with theV oil any steam and without stirring or agitating the body of oil while distillation takes place.

As the crude petroleums have a greater or less amount of what are known as permanent gases, which are released with the least degree of heat and which should be separated as quickly as possible, I provide an outlet-pipe 33 at the end of the furnace opposite the inlet to section 30, through which said gases may escape into a separate receptacle (not shown) provided for their reception.

In constructing a still as above described, with its series of pipe-sections extending back and forth through the center thereof, Where they are constantly subjected to a greater or less amount of heat and atthe same time must support the onl'lowing stream of material and must also be of a certain length to be effective, it is desirablethat the sections be supported at one or more points intermediate their length within the furnace. I accomplish this by providing a column 34, which extends from the bottom of the furnace to the iioor or partition at the top and provide it with brackets 35 for the reception of the diderent sections of the still. By arranging the column between the sections of the still, which are preferably arranged in two vertical series, the Weight of the sections rests upon the opposite sides of the column, and thereby prevents the liability of the column moving out of plumb. To further assist in holding the column in its vertical position, it may be braced, as by being secured to the under side of the floor or partition 6 in any suitable manner, as by blocks or brackets 36.

In using my improved still the material to be operated upon is fed into the upper end of the still after the burner has been started and a suicient heat generated for the desired distillation. As the material passes through the upper section any permanent gases that may be contained therein will be liberated and will be removed from said section at the opposite end of the furnace through the outlet-pipe provided therefor. The materialthen passes into the succeeding sections of the still, and as it dows from the top of the furnace to the bottom the increasing amount of heat which it receives will cause the more volatile portions to be successively driven oif vor separated from the heavier particles. As the amount of material passing through the still is not sulcient to entirely fill the dierent sections, the volatile portions are collected in the diiferent sections above the material and are removed from the ends by the ejectors or other means, which are constantly effecting a suction from the different sections into the dischargepipes and are delivered from there into the reservoirs or condensers provided for the reception of the different grades of vapors being separated. NVith my ejector I do not depend upon an uncertain suction for re-A moving the vapors or volatilized portions from the distilling-sections. I provide means in the form of ejectors, which are not` only IOO IIO

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adapted to create a suction in the distillingsections, but are adapted to deliver a vjet of steam into the vapors as they emerge into the outlets from such distilling-sections, forcing them to the condensing-chambers. Thus it is seen that with my ejectors positive and efficient means are provided to induce and compel each grade or quality of vapor or volatilized oil to separate from the others and pass to the respective condensing-chamber provided therefor. For instance, the first vapor to pass off from the crude petroleum, owing to its high specific gravity, is gasolene. The next will be naphtha, the next benzin and any water that may be in the mixture, as the benzin is volatilized at substantially the same temperature at which water is vaporized. Following the benzin and water is the kerosene grade, after which come the parafns, then the lubricating oils, and finally the asphaltum or residuun portions, which are non-volatilizable except at excessively high temperatures. 1

By constructing the still in such a manner that the material to be treated is introduced at the coolest point of the furnace and gradually led into the hottest portion each grade or density of vapor remains in a liquid form and iiows onward with the entire mass until itv reaches av point in the furnace where it is subjected to a degree of heat sufficient to volatilize it, when it immediately separates from the mass and passes out through the proper discharge or outlet pipe. In this manner it is prevented from intermingling with the lighter grades, because each of them has been withdrawn at its proper vpoint in the still, and it cannot intermingle with those of a heavier grade, because they7 have not been liberated from the mass at the point at which said grade passes o.

As the heat within the furnace can be regulated by means of the burner at the bottom and the dampers at the top, a constant stream of material may be passed through the still, thereby producing a still of great capacity and economy of operation and at the same time producing a result that is much more desirable than can be obtained by treating a large mass of material in a tank or discharging the various products from a continuous pipe into a common receptacle and subsequently separating them into their dierent grades.

. to change or vary the degree of heat at different points.

Although I have shown what I consider a very desirable form of still and have described it as being more particularly applicable to crude petroleum and the heavier products, it is evident that changes and alterations may be made in the form of the still and that it may be applied to other materials, as vegetable oils, spirituous liquors, &c., and I reserve the right to make any and all such variations in the structure and to adapt it for such other uses as may come within the spirit and scope of my invention.

Having described my invention, what I claim, and desire to secure by Letters Patent of the United States, is-

1. In a still, a furnace, a continuous conduit therein formed from pipe-sections, the ends of said sections extending through the walls of the furnace and provided with couplings, connectors between said couplings, and means in a portion ofthe couplings for creating a suction through the respective pipe-sections, and for forcing the vapor or volatilized oil in said respective sections throughv said outlets, said means arranged to operate upon the volatilized portions only.

2. Ina still, a furnace, a continuous conduit therein formed from pipe-sections, the ends of said sections extending through the walls of the furnace and provided with couplings, connectors between the couplings of the successive pipe-sections, and an ejector in each of a portion of said couplings.

3. In a still, a furnace, a continuous conduit therein formed from pipe-sections, the

ends of said sections extending through thel Vwalls of the furnace andprovided with a fourway T coupling, connectors between the couplings of the successive pipes, outlet-pipes communicating with a portion of said couplings, and an ejector pipe communicating 'with each coupling that is provided with an outlet-pipe.

4. In a still, ay furnace, a continuous conduit therein formed from inclined pipe-sections and connectors, the connectors being upon the exterior of the furnace and having a greater inclination than the pipe-sections, means for discharging vapors at dierent points ,along the length of said conduit, and ejector means in said discharging means, adapted to draw respective grades of vapor or volatilized oil into said discharging means and force the same therethrough.

5. Ina still, a furnace, a continuous conduit therein formed from pipe-sections and connectors, the inlet-section being in the coolest portion of the furnace and provided with an outlet for the permanent gases,means at dierent points along the conduit for discharging vapors therefrom, and ejector means in said discharging means, adapted to draw respective grades of vapor or volatilized oil into said discharging means and force the same therethrough.

IIO

6. In a still, a furnace provided with a y burner at its bottom and a perforated partition near the top, said perforations being adjacent to the ends of the partition and each provided with means for controlling the same, a chimney from the top of the furnace intermediate said perforatious, and a continuous conduit within the furnace provided with vapor-outlets along its length.

7. In a still, a furnace provided With a dome-shaped top and a perforated partition, dampers for controlling the openings through said partition, and a continuous conduit Within the furnace formed from pipe-sections, the ends of which sections extend through the Walls of the furnace and are provided With vapor-outlets.

8. In a still, a furnace provided With a dome-shaped top and aperforated partition, dampers for controlling the openings through said partition, a continuous conduit Within the furnace formed from pipe-sections, the ends of which sections extend through the Walls of the furnace and are provided with vapor-outlets, and a support Within the furnace for said sections.

9. In a still, a furnace provided with a perforated partition in the top, dampers for said openings, a continuous conduit Within the furnace formed from pipe-sections, the ends of said sections extending through the Walls of the furnace and provided With vapor-outlets, the sections being arranged Within the furnace iu tWo vertical series, a column between said series provided With brackets for supporting the different pipe-sections.

10. In a still, a furnace, a continuous conduit therein formed from inclined pipe-sec tions and connectors, the connectors having greater inclination than the pipe-sections, vapor-outlets provided in connection with said connectors, condensing-chambers connected with respective outlets, and steamejector pipes in said outlets adapted to draw out the vapor from respective pipe-sections and force the same through the outlets into the condensing-chambers.

l1. In a still, a furnace, a continuous distilling-conduit therein, formed of inclined pipe-sections, and connector-sections, said connector-sections having greater inclination than the pipe-sections, vapor-outlets provided in connection with said connector-sections, condensing-chambers connected with outlets from respective connector-sections, and steam-ejectors arranged in said connector sections adapted to emit steam into said outlets and draw vapor from the respective pipesections into said outlets and force the same through the outlets into the condensingchamber.

In testimony whereof I have signed my name to this specification, in the presence of subscribing Witnesses, at Los Angeles, in the county of Los Angeles and State of California, this 26th day of June, 1902.

WILLIAM MAYBURY.

Witnesses:

W. S. BoYD J AMESv R. ToWNsnND, A. S. C. FoRBEs.

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