US1541140A - Process of and apparatus for distilling and cracking hydrocarbon oils - Google Patents

Description

June 9, 19m. 1,541,140

A. H. HELLER PROCESS OF' AND APPARATUS FOR DISTILLING AND CRACKING HYDROCARBON OILS Filed Aug. 21, 1922 3 sheets-sheet 1 kmw NW. u mm Jue 9, 1925'.

A. H. HELLER` PROCESS OF AND APPARATUS FOR DISTILLING AND CRACKNG HYDROCARBON OILS Filed Aug. 21; 1922 3 sheets-sheet s COLD O/L #or ou.

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. 15 the apparatus may -be avoided.

Patented June 9,

UNITED STATES PATENT oFFIcE.

ALFoNcE H. HELLER, oF BERKELEY, CALIFORNIA.

PROCESS OF AND APPARATUS FORDISTILLING AND CRAC-KING HYDROCARB-ON OILS.

Application filed'4 August 21.1922. serial No. 583,069.

To 'all fui/0m t may concern:

Be it known that I, ALFONCE H. HELLER, a citizen of the United States, residing at Berkeley, in the county of Alameda and State of California, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Processes of and Apparatus for Distilling and Cracking Hydrocarbon Oils, of which the following is a specification.

This invention relates to a'lprocess and ap` paratus for heat treating hydrocarbon-oils and pertains particularly to' the distillation and cracking of heavy petroleum oils in such -a way that carbon incrustation's within 'One particular feature isinclruded in the process and apparatus in which a plurality of parallel arranged pipes are so connected to each other and to acentral hollow shaft.

about which `they are grouped and with which they rotate, that oil may be intro-.

duced through the shaft and passed progressively through each of the pipes and finally discharged from an axially located discharge connection. During this operation heat is applied to the pipe arrangement in such a way. that the pipes farthest from the center are subjected to the highest4 degree of heat, the temperature of which is suiii.- "-l cient to effect cracking of the oil in the pipes.

Another outstanding feature of the process and apparatus of this invention includes the use of the rotatable pipe still described 4combined with a freely movable abrading rod positioned within each of the pipes which rotate with the center shaft and revlvolve about it. 1

Other features and advantages are described and claimed in the following speciw ication and claims, and illustratedin the accompanying drawings, in which Figure 1 represents a side elevation of a partial section taken substantially centrally and on the line 1-1 of Figure 2 through i5 the length of the apparatus, illustrating the furnace and central pipe in section;

Figure 2 is an end view of the structure shown in Figure 1 taken on the line 2-2 'of Figure 1, looking in the direction of the arrow;

Figure 3 is a sectional view taken on the line 3-3 of Figure 1, looking in the direction of the arrow;

Figure 4 is an enlarged sectionaI-fview showing a modification of the form of stuifing box connection for the axial intake and outlet for oil;

Figure 5 represents a sectional View, partly broken away, showing the position of a'hollow rod within one of the pipes; 60

Figure 6 represents across sectional view taken on the line 6-.6 of Figure 5;

Figure 7 'shows a modified arrangement in which a plurality ofround, solid rods are used; 65

Figure. 8 represents a cross sectional View showing how a square rod may be used; and

Figure 9 represents a portion of a twisted. solid rod used within the treatment pipes.

Referring in detail-.to the figures of the drawings, like numerals refer to like parts in the different figures. The furnace structure of suitable concrete, brick, ,or other building material is indicated at 1. A fire box 2 having an opening is shown in the 75 are a plurality of pipes, connected together lto form a rotatable pipe still the details of which will now bejdescribed. A lcentrally located horizontal pipe or tube 4 is journaled at opposite ends of the `furnace in the supporting bearings 5 which are cooled or S5 lubricated by'cooling liquid or oil in a channel 52l formed in the upper portion of the bearing 5. The bearing is mounted at the upper end of supporting legs or braces 6, which in turn have a base portion7 mounted at one end on a masonry support 8 and secured thereto by fastening screws or bolts 9, and at the opposite end adjacent the furnace door opening the bearing 5 is supported on girders 10 which bridge the space opposite-the furnace opening 3. The bear` ing is provided with a suitable bushing of cast iron encircling the pipe 4 as indicated at 11, and `the bushing is preferably keyed to the pipe 4f. 1041 In theparticular arrangement of still i1- lustrated, twenty-nine pipes are grouped about the central pipe 4. These pipes are numbered consecutively from 12` to 40, and the particular sequence of their connection 105 may be understood from an inspection of Figures 2 and3. These pipes 12--40, inclusive, are positioned and xed in parallel relation and are grouped around thecentral pipe 4 and havetheir ends connected l10- by return bend portions 41 in such a manner that the pipes are connectedin series," the hollow central pipe 4 being 1n ported communication with one of the more cenl and through which the individual pipes project and have a relatively tight connec-- tion. The purpose of these spacing plates 42 is also to prevent the escape of heat and heating gases from the furnace and to confine the heat and the heating gases to the space immediately about the group of pipes 12-40. To further provide for a tight fit at the periphery ofl the. plates 42 a comple.

mentary stationary annular plate 43 is mounted at each end of the furnace and in close, but` spaced relation to the pla 42. The plates 42 have an intimately projecting flange 42a which is adapted to move in a channel shaped extension 43a continued from the plate 43. Thus in the rotary movement of the group of pipes and the plates 42, the tortuous passage provided between t-hel parts 42a and 43a limits the escape of the heat-ing gases from the furnace. The plates 42 are preferably welded to the exterior of the pipe 4 or otherwise braced so as to move with the pipe. 4 during the rotation of the pipes with and about the pipe 4 as an axis. inclusive, are illustratedV as having Han es 44 at their ends to which may be secured y bolts, not illustrated, the corresponding flanges of the end bent portions 41.. In order to make possible a compact assembly, andl also provide space forthe flanges 44, the pipes 12-40 are positioned in staggered end-wise relation so that next adjacent pipes project alternately further from the plates 42 on the opposite -ends of the vrotatable assembly.

The particular ap aratus and the manner -of introducin and lieading off the oil treated will now e described. An intake pipe for fresh oil is indicated at'45, and it will be noted that this pipe is slightly off center Vwith respect to the center of the ipe 4. An outlet pipe for oil which has een treated in indicated at 46, and this pipe is illustrated as in alignment with the center of the pipe 4. Both of these pipes 45 and 46 are illustrated as screw threaded in a stuffing box structure having a stationary block member 47, which in turn has cylindrical sleeves 47a and 47b providing an annular space therebetween. The purpose of this arrangement is to provide an oiltight fit against the movable portion of the still,

The pipes 12-40,

as will be shown. T'he pipe 4, atone side of the bearing 5, has a plate 48, having a cylindrical flange 48 projecting therefrom Vnuts 51, and springs 52, which latter are held and moved in openings 53 formed in the rear of the flange 49. In practice a series of the spring held bolts are positioned around4 the margin of the plate 48 and the flange 49 to yieldingly hold the plate 48 and theblock member 47 in engagement. The position of the flange -48a between the sleeves 47 and 47" serves to assist incentering the parts-and to provide an oil tight seal. Packing-material 54 isprovided between 47 and 47b at the inner` end of the space to assist in preventing ,the leakage of oil, and oil vents are indicated 4at 54a through the block 47.y v.A similar arrangement of concentric flanges is provided to maintain an oil tight but rotatable connection between the oil inlet passage and the oil outlet paage as will now be described. The oil outlet pipe 46 terminates at the center of the block 47. An inner oil outlet pipe 55 is 'positioned centrally within and spaced from the ipe 4, and extends therethrough from a point on the still side of one bearing and terminates near the inner end of the pipe 46 and in alignment therewith. 'lhe opposite and still end of the pipe 55` is connected to the pipes of the still, aswill be described"hereinafter, The block 47 has a second set of concentric flanges corresponding tothe `flanges 47a and 47 b, and indicated at 47 for the inner flange and 47 d for the outer flange, and both of,

them serving to provide an annular space therebetween. Fitted into this space is a cylindrical flange 56 which closely encircles the pipe 55 and is fixed to it by-clamping screws 57. The extreme outer end of the pipe 55 is closely rotatably fitted into thecentral o ening within the flange 47 c. TheV inner en of the part 56 has a plurality of spaced lingers 58 projecting along the pipe 55 and serving to space the inner end of the flange 56 from the next adjacent face of the part 48 so that fresh oil may pass between the fingers 58 from the pipe 45' inwardly and along the exterior of the outlet pipe 55. The space between the flanges 47 and 4'4"d is also provided with packing material 54 and similar openings leading thereto through the block 4 7 are indicated at 54. This description applies to the stuffing box end of the apparatus.

The end of the apparatus oppite vto the illustrating also in section a hollow rod 60 stalling box is used for access to the fire box through thev doorway 3. The end of* the central pipev 4, farthest removed from the st-uiling box, is provided with a cover vplate or cap 4, to tightly close that end of the pipe and prevent oil from leaking. The cap 4a serves also for-inspection and cleaning of the interior of the pipe 4. ABetween the plate 42 and the end bearing near the cap 4a is a lead olf pipe 4b extending from the central pipe 4 to the pipe H,12, the first of the series of the pipes 12-40, inclusive. The last pipe of this series, 40, is illustrated as oney of the outer -group of pipes, and is positioned farther from the center than the pipe V12. The end of the pipe next adjacent the `stuffing box is connected to the outlet pipe by a pipe 55a which extends centrally toward the cent-ral pipe 4 between the plate 42 and ,the bearing, projects through the pipe 4, and is continued within the pipe 4' as the pipe 55.

A sprocket wheel for applying power to i'evolve the still is indicated at 59 on the central pipe 4 and is located between the stuliing box and the adjacent bearing.

Scraping means or scouring means is provided for the interior of each of the pipes 12--40, inclusive, and also, if desirable, for thcinterior of the central pipe 4, by rods which extend lengthwise of the ipes and which are inserted from` the en s of the pipes when the bends 41 are removed. These rods 60 occupy a substantial portion of the cross sectional area of the bore of 'the pipes. The rods normally rest on the inner lower Surface of the pipes and are adapted to slide and roll around the inner surface oi' the pipes as the latter are revolved about the pipe 4 as an axis. In this movement the rods serve as abrading elements and grind away any carbon which may be deposited on the inner surfaces of the pipes. The rods serve also to increase the speed of the oil as it flows through'the pipes,- it having been found that a given cross section ofoil flows much more swiftly through the portion of the pipe cgptaining the rod than through a portion of the pipe, such as the end portions or a similar section without a rod, in which no spacing member is positioned. The rod, in addition to increasing thespeed of the oil, serves to reduce the thickness of the body of oil to be heated in any given cross section of oil in the part of the pipe not containing the rod. This relatively thin body of oil is accordingly much more readily and quickl heated, and because of its increased s ee reduces to a minimum the formation o' carbon on the inner surface of the pipes, the speed serving to wash away carbon before it hasiopportunity to become deposited. In Figure 5 a typical pipe is shown in section having the ends thereof plugged at 61, and having an opening 62'through the walll of the hollow rod for the equalization. of pressure on theinside and outside ofthe rod. If the rod were hollow and sealed extremes of temperature might cause it to burst. This forni of rod provides a light structure which serves eliiciently for the removal of carbon and provides sufficient cross-sectional area to reduce the volume of oil within the A large pipe without adding the undesirable weight which would beprovided by a solid metal rod. The structure of Figure 5 is shown in cross section in Figure 6. Figure 7 shows a modified arrangement in which a plurality ot' rods, three in this View, are used. A plurality of rods may serve particularly efiiciently in certain instances because the tumbling action of the rods is multiplied and the removal of carbon is thus made more positive. Figure 8 shows a form of square iod, and Figure 9 shows a fragmentary view of a twisted arrangement of solidi'od, which, beca-use of its cutting edges, has been found particularly eflicient for scouring out carbon formations.

In Figure 4, a modification of the stalling box is illustrated. In this arrangement, the

hot oil flows the full length of-the central' pipe and out past the bearing and through a central pipe within the cold oil pipe which is in immediate contact, with the bearing. Thisarrangement is in contrast with the structure illustrated in Figure'l in which the cold oil extends through the full length of the central pipe. In Figure 4 the cold oil enters the stuilng'box and flows around the central hot oil outlet pipe and is led off through a branch Ipipe towards the series of revoluble pipes ot the still. ln this modification a somewhat similar stuliing -box is shown as is illustrated in Figure 1. Complementary.projecting annular flanges are provided between the fixed parts and the movable parts to prevent leakage of oil Jfrom the outer portion to the atmosphere, and from the hot and cold portions. An annular space is provided as an oil seal.

'lhe operation ot' the process and the appaiatus will now be described.` Oil is introduced through the pipe 45, through the stulling box, and through the length of the central pipe 4 which is thus kept 'full of cold oil. The oil is then led through the pipe4b from which it passes into the pipe 12 from which latter it is conducted into the next adjacent pipe 13, and so on through each of the pipes oi the series l2-.40, inclusive, being introduced into one end of the pipe and discharged from the opposite end, and being reintroduced in a similar manner 'into an adjacent pipe. In this manner the oil is moved progressively through each of the pipes in series, first in one direc-tion through source of heat in the lower part of the fury nace.

.the arrangement vshown the oil is passed through the group- 'of pipes most. closely grouped about the. center` pipe 4 and then through the next adjacent row of pipes. The particular manner of connecting the pipes forms no part of this present invention, but the invention does include the idea of heatin'g the outer group of pipes more intensely by having the outer group closest to the This idea includes the preliminary heating of the oil as it is freshly introduced by. passing it through the'central group of pipes first, Where it is relatively removed from the direct force of the heat, and then subjecting it to an increased temperature as it reaches the outer group of pipes. After the oil has been subjected in the outer group of pipes to temperature .conditions which are at least sufficient to effect cracking conditions Within the pipes, the oil is led back from the pipe 40 into the discharge pipIe 55 located Within pipe 4 and discharged through the pipe 46. In the passage through the pipe 55, within the pipe 4, the oil serves to slightly preheat the incoming oil inthe annular space imediately surrounding the pipe 55. The apparatus which thus provides for a flow of cold oil through the length yof thel center pipe 4 is particularly eflicient because the oil serves to keep the material of.

the pipe fairly cool and to prevent it from overheating and weakening. There is considerable weight on the pipe 4 due to the structure of the pipe assembly carried by it, and the long extent of the pipe 4 within the furnace structure makes it particularly desirable to have the pipe filled 'withV cold oil rather than previously heated oil such as might be the product from a structure such as that shown in Fi ure 4.

` No claim is made y me tothe inventions described herein relating to At-he particular sequence of the path of travel of the oil through the various pipesof the rotatable assembly or to the highv speed passage of oil through the pipes which contain the rods..

I claim:

- l. rIhe process of producing low boiling hydrocarbon oils from high boiling hydrooil to be treated progressively throng a plurality of pipes connected in series and mounted for rotation, and subjecting the of the pipes.

3. The process of producing low boiling hydrocarbon oils from high boiling `hydrocarbon oils-Which comprises passing lil uid oil to be treated progressively throng a plurality of pipes connected' in series and mounted for rotation and having a freely movable rod positioned in each pipe whereby carbon formed Within the pipes iskept free, from the pipes and may be carried jecting the oil to a heat treatment applied directly to the exterior of the pipes suffcient to elfect cracking conditions within at least some of the pipes.

4. Apparatus for .cracking hydrocarbon oil material comprising a plurality of pipes connected in series and mounted torotate about a fixed axis, and a freely movable rod in each of said pipes extending length- Wise thereof.

5. Apparatus for cracking hydrocarbon oil material comprising a plurality of pipes connected in series and mounted to rotate Vabout a fixed axis, a freely movable rod in each of said pipes extending lengthwise thereof, and pipe means located at the axis and through .which pipe means materials to be treated may be introduced into said pipes 1and materials Which4 have been treated may be led off from said pipes.

6. Apparatus for cracking hydrocarbon oil. material comprising a rotatable axle,

tubular throughout its length, ap ipe extending parallel to said axle and 1n communicationwith the interior of said axle and' revoluble about it, a freely` movable rod within said pipe and-extending lengthwise thereof, and means for introducing. vmaterial to said pipe through said axle. carbon oils which comprises passmg li uid In testimony whereof I afiix my signature.

ALFONCE H. HELLER.

-along with the flow of' the oil, and sub-

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