Patent GB-410773-A (GB)
Title: Process and apparatus for treatment of hydrocarbons
IPC: F23K5/12
Filed: 1932-10-18
Abstract: <PICT:0410773/III/1> <PICT:0410773/III/2> Heavy hydrocarbon liquids such as heavy crude petroleum, oil-field emulsions, still and tank bottoms, crude oil, gas oil, fine oil and like oils having vaporizing points above 400 DEG  F. are treated to form an emulsified composition substantially stable in character by mixing them with an aqueous liquid and a gas in a chamber under superatmospheric pressure, vigorously beating the mixture, and continuing the bearing until the formation of a stable emulsion, which may be immediately or subsequently processed to produce a fixed gas, or may be cracked to produce lighter hydrocarbons.  The process may be carried out by means of the apparatus shown in Fig. 1, comprising a closed chamber 15 capable of withstanding pressures from 100 to 500 lbs. per sq. in., and provided with two horizontally disposed rotatable shafts 16 each having a plurality of blades 19, the oil being introduced through an <PICT:0410773/III/3> <PICT:0410773/III/4> <PICT:0410773/III/5> inlet 20, water or other aqueous liquid, preferably made alkaline with caustic soda or potash, entering through an inlet opposite thereto, and the gas, which may be air, oxygen, hydrogen, carbon dioxide, still or natural gases or a mixture of oxygen and carbon dioxide, entering through an inlet 23.  The fluidity of the oil may be increased by means of a heating coil 22, which may also be used for heating the interior of the casing.  The mixing may be accomplished either by batch treatment or continuously, appropriate arrangements being described for each purpose, provided with variable capacity pumps for proportioning the oil and water. Instead of a proportioning device and mixer, a homogenizer 58, Fig. 5, may be employed.  Oil and water from tanks 42, 43 respectively, the latter after an addition of alkali from a tank 45, are brought by means of pump 46, 47 provided with proportioning valves 50, 51, to a common discharge pipe 52.  Air from a compressor 55 and storage tank 56 is mixed in proper amount with the oil and water and fed to the homogenizer 58.  From the latter the emulsion is led to the hollow shaft of a motor 61, which extends into a suitably heated retort 62 and ends in a conical diffuser 63 which atomises the emulsion.  The gasified mixture is brought to a water-cooled condenser 67, wherein tars &c. are removed, and the purified gas is led to a holder 70.  In treating the emulsion in the retort 62, which may be heated to 1600--1800 DEG  F., the amount of air or other gas admixed is so proportioned that incomplete combustion takes place.  As an alternative to the method of treating the emulsion described above, emulsion from a storage tank 72 may be through a pump 74 into a manifold 76 provided with a series of atomizing nozzles 77 discharging into the chamber 78 of a primary heating unit, which latter comprises a tube sheet 79 and a series of tubes 80 projecting into larger tubes 81.  The near ends of the tubes 81 are integral with a second tube sheet 83, a vapour chamber 84 being formed between the two sheets.  The tubes are positioned in a furnace housing 85 suitably heated to maintain the tubes at a temperature of at least 1600 DEG  F.  Steam from a superheated 87 passes into a header 88 having a plurality of nozzles 89 which lead into the tubes 81. Vapours from the chamber 84 pass through a conduit 90 to a dephlegmating tower 91, light fluids from which are led off through a pipe 92 at the top, while heavier fluids are discharged at the bottom by a trap pipe 93.  The residual vapours flow into a condenser 94, wherein they are liquefied, and the liquid is pumped thence to a secondary heater 97, heated by oil or gas burners to about 1600 DEG F. or higher, and comprising banks of tubes 98 through which the partially converted fluid flows under a pressure high enough to maintain rapid circulation.  The converted material flows into an ionizer 100, Figs. 8 and 9.  The vapours enter through an inlet 101 into an upper header 102 connected by tubes 103 with a lower header 104 having an outlet 105 and a tubular insulator 106 equipped with a gas inlet 107, all of the inlets being joined to a manifold 108 which conducts a hydrogen-rich gas thereto.  Supported by lugs 110 within the insulator is a tube 111 of suitable material such as aluminium silicate extending through one of the pipes 103 and terminating at its upper end in a petticoat insulator 112 which is equipped with a terminal port 113.  These ports, and the metallic casing of the ionizer are connected to a suitable source of current at about 4000 volts.  Each port 113 is connected to O an electrode wire 116 suspended within a tube 111 supporting a metallic plumb bob 117. The ionized gas is discharged through a conduit 119 into a catalyzer 120 maintained at 450 to 1800 DEG  F. by electrical heating means and containing a suitable catalytic metal such as iron, nickel, or an alloy thereof.  The vapour mixture is then brought to a fractionating column 125, the upper portion of which is so heated as to allow gasoline vapours and lighter fluids to be discharged through a conduit 126, heavier materials being removed at 127.  The vapours go to a condenser 128 for hydrocarbon boiling within the gasoline range, while the gasoline &c. enter an accumulator 130, from which gases are sent either to a holder 133 or to a line 134 leading to the furnace. U.S.A. Specification 1,611,429 is referred to.