US1559701A - Method of distilling oil - Google Patents

Description

Nov. 3', 1925. 1,559,701

L. E. HIRT METHOD OF DISTILLING OIL Filed March 2, 1920 oF/Lm/rf Foz vA/oes oF TM INLET' annunci/,S

Patented Nov.' 3, 1925.

LEON E. HIRT, OF LOS ANGELES, CALIFORNIA.

METHOD OF DI Application led March 2,

To all 'w/om it may concern.'

Be it known that I, LEON E. Him?, a citizen ot the United States, residing at Los Angeles, in the county of Los Angeles and State oit California, have invented a new and useful Method of Distilling Oil, of which the following is a full, clear, and eX- act description, reference being had t'o the accompanying drawings, forming part of this specification, in which:

Figure 1 is a sectional elevation of a preferred form of oil still adapted for carrying out my invention.

Figure 2 is .a top pl-an view of the same, and

Figure 3 is a detail view on a larger scale, partly in side elevation and partly in vertical section, of one oi the still tubes or pipes.

In carrying out my improvedfmethod I employ a still having means whereby the oil to be distilled is caused to liow in thin films in contact with the vapors of steam as well as the heavier vapors of distillation in a manner to give very intimate `contact between the oil films and the heat-carrying agencies', so that. a complete distillation of the fractions, as may be desired, will take place, and wherein the temperature conditions can be readily and accurately controlled.

In the drawings the numeral 2 designates the body of the. still which `is shown as being ot cylindrical form with a removable cover portion 3 having an otltake pipe 4 for the vapors of distillation and also provided with a plurality in the present instance four) of oil distributing land inlet pipes 5. The upper portion of the still comprises an o-il receiving and istributinggv chamber into which the feed pipes -discharg'e and also through which the vapors of distillation flow to the' oi'take pipe 4. 6 designate a plurality of Vertical pipes or tubes which occupy the central portion of the still. their ends being secured in the upper and lower headers 7. These pipes are suitably spaced from each other in a\ mannerto provide for a free circulation around them of a suitable heating medium which may either be steam or exhaust gases from an internal combustion engine. The steam, which may be either live steam orexhaust steam, may be introduced through the pipe 8.. IfA exhaust gases are used. they` `may be introduced through the connection 9.' 10 designates an outlet connection for the exhaust gases-'and STILLING OIL.

1920. Serial N'o. 362,678.

11 a suitable outlet for the steam where that is used as the heating medium. 12 designates a manhole opening into the upper chamber of the still, 13 is a gauge-glass -which indicates the level of the oil in the lower chamber 14 belowI the bottom header,

and 15 designate oil outlets. 16 is an inlet or introducing steam into this lower cham- I preferably place in the upper chamber ot the still broken tile, pieces ot scrap iron, or other material, such as indicated at 17, which will act to further distribute the oil introduced by the distributing pipes 5. Through these several pipes and the provision ot this loose block material, the oil may be very thoroughly distributed to the di lierent tubes 6 at a temperature at or near the vaporization point of the desired product. I have, however. obtained very satisfactory results by introducing the oil cold into the pipes 6. In such cases, the capacity is much reduced since these pipes have to heat the oil as well as distill it.

In each of the tubes 6 I place a suitable arrangement of baflles calculated to form means for causing the oil to flow therethrough in a' thin film. Such baffles may be ot various forms such as loose broken material, wire screening, etc. In Figure 8 I have shown a tube in which these balies are formed by suitably bent strips or ribbons 18.

'The operation will be readily understood.

The oil discharged into the upper chamber of the still is distributed among the various tubes 6 and flows down the interior of these tubes over the baHies which also act to slow up this passage and cause it to be distilled while flowing therethrough. The oil films are, during their passage through these tubes, brought into intimate contact with the vapors of steam arising from the lower chamberias well as the heavier yvapors of distillation coming` from the lower portion of the still. In this manner a very complete distillation of fractions takes place. The temperature surrounding the pipes or tubes '6 can be maintained at the desired degree, thereby controlling the flashing point of the oil as well as furnishing additional heat to the descending oil passing through the tubes. If steam is used,any desired degree of pres sure; may be maintained around the tubes. The lengthl of Althe tubes will depend upon ythe nature of 'the oil to be treated, the amount of fractionsfto be taken from the.

la'tion rising through the tubes. constitutes ai gaseous medium serving to mechanically re move vaporized constituents of the oil and prevent such vaporized constituents from re condensing in the' tubes. 'v

As above indicated, instead of using steam anound they tubes, l may utilizeexhaust gases from a as engine or from a furnace, or any other exghaust gases which may be available provided their temperature is approximately constant.

I preferably maintain an approximately constant level of liquid in the bottom of the still so that the expansivelratio of the steam introduced into this lower chamber is always substantially the saine. If the volume ofthis space' is varied to any great extent, the steam naturally varies accordingly in its expansive temperature and pressure.

l By reason ofthe fact that the oil is treated inthe form of very thin films which pass over surfaces heated to about the fractionation point of 'the products desired, very effective fractionation results. l have used the still very effectively in the gasolene absorption method. .l

I claim: i 1. The method of distilling oil, comprising producing a flow of the oil' in. thin films through a series of tubes in which the dis-` my hand.

tillation takes`v place and passing a gaseous medium other than the hydrocarbon being distilled through the tubes to mechanically .remove vaporized constituents of the oil,

through a series of tubes in which the disp tlllation takes place and passing a heated gaseous medium otherthan the hydrocarbon being distilled through the tubes to mechanically remove vapori'zed constituents of .the-

oil, substantially as described. 4. The' method ot distilling oil, comprising producing a flow of the oil in thin films through a series of tubes and passing steam through the tubes in a direction counter to thel direction of iow of the` oil to mechanically remove vaporize'd constituents of the oil, substantially as described.

5. The method of distilling oil, comprising producing a flow of the oil through a series of heated tubes in which the 'distillationtakes place,y and passing a gaseous medium other than the hydrocarbon being distilled through the tubes tol mechanically r'e move'vaporized constituents of the'oil, sub'- stantlally as described.

In testimonywhereof, have hereuntogset LEONE. Hm'r.

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