Patent GB-447738-A (GB)
Title: Method and device for purifying and enriching raw hydrocarbons
Filed: 1934-08-20
Abstract: <PICT:0447738/IV/1> <PICT:0447738/IV/2> Hydrocarbons are freed from sulphur and oxygen-containing constituents and from unsaturated compounds by treatment with hydrogen which has been treated by silent electric discharges in the cold so as to activate the hydrogen with the formation of triatomic hydrogen and other active forms of hydrogen, referred to as "heavy hydrogen" which is said to convert thiophene to ethane, phenol to benzene and cyclohexanol, styrene to ethylbenzene, and benzofurfurane into benzene, ethane, and water. A petroleum from which gasolene has been removed by distillation up to 150 DEG  C., when treated with the "heavy hydrogen" will yield a further 20 to 25 per cent of gasolene boiling up to 150 DEG  C.  For treating the hydrogen an apparatus A has an electrode 1, Fig. 1, of spongy or roughened nickel, perforated for a third of its <PICT:0447738/IV/3> length, and surrounded by a dielectric sleeve 3 around which is wound the other electrode 4 which may be a nickel wire which is formed into a close-coiled winding before placing around the sleeve.  The hydrogen enters at 5.  The hydrocarbon to be treated is pumped into a reservoir 7 and passes through emulsifiers 8, 8<1> which form a suction pump drawing in the activated hydrogen from the apparatus A.  The mixture then passes into a second electric discharge apparatus D having an unperforated central electrode 9, a double dielectric sleeve 11, 11<1> and an outer electrode 12, and finally into a decanting and filtering vessel C from which a pipe 13 leads back the hydrogen.  The first electric device A may be omitted, and if the hydrocarbon contains no electrically conducting substance, the dielectric may be omitted.  Alternatively the treated hydrogen may be brought into intimate contact with the hydrocarbon in other ways, for instance as a finely pulverized jet obtained by the pressure of the hydrogen or by pulverizing the hydrocarbon in an atmosphere of the treated hydrogen.  The device for treating the hydrogen may be modified by arranging as one electrode a catalyst such as nickel in the form of grains, flakes, or sponge, Fig. 2, or the catalytic metal may form an intermediate electrode, Fig. 3, or the catalytic metal may be enclosed in a perforated dielectric or metal case, Fig. 4, in which the outer electrode may if desired be replaced by acidulated water, shavings, grains or the like.  For treating benzene for example, the apparatus <PICT:0447738/IV/4> <PICT:0447738/IV/5> described above may be fed with alternating current of ,002 ampere at 100,000 volts and 2,000 periods at 15 DEG and atmospheric or lower pressure.  In another modification the hydrocarbon may be treated in the vapour phase.  In this modification, hydrogen from a cylinder 33, Fig. 5, passes through an activator 34 to the neck of a still in which the hydrocarbon is distilled, the hydrocarbon vapour mixed with the "heavy hydrogen" being passed through an electric device 32 constructed as described above.ALSO:<PICT:0447738/III/1> <PICT:0447738/III/2> <PICT:0447738/III/3> <PICT:0447738/III/4> <PICT:0447738/III/5> Hydrocarbons are freed from sulphur and oxygen-containing constituents and from unsaturated compounds by treatment with hydrogen which has been treated by silent electric discharges in the cold so as to activate the hydrogen with the formation of triatomic hydrogen and other active forms of hydrogen, referred to as "heavy hydrogen," which is said to convert thiophene to ethane, phenol to benzene and cyclohexanol, styrene to ethylbenzene, and benzofurfurane into benzene, ethane, and water. A petroleum from which gasoline has been removed by distillation up to 150 DEG  C., when treated with the "heavy hydrogen" will yield a further 20 to 25 per cent of gasoline boiling up to 150 DEG  C.  For treating the hydrogen an apparatus A has an electrode 1, Fig. 1, of spongy or roughened nickel, perforated for a third of its length, and surrounded by a dielectric sleeve 3 around which is wound the other electrode 4 which may be a nickel wire which is formed into a close - coiled winding before placing around the sleeve.  The hydrogen enters at 5.  The hydrocarbon to be treated is pumped into a reservoir 7 and passes through emulsifiers 8, 8<1> which form a suction pump drawing in the activated hydrogen from the apparatus A.  The mixture then passes into a second electric discharge apparatus D having an unperforated central electrode 9, a double dielectric sleeve 11, 11<1> and an outer electrode and finally into a decanting and filtering vessel C from which a pipe 13 leads back the hydrogen.  The first electric device A may be omitted, and if the hydrocarbon contains no electrically conducting substance, the dielectric may be omitted.  Alternatively the treated hydrogen may be brought into intimate contact with the hydrocarbon in other ways, for instance as a finely pulverized jet obtained by the pressure of the hydrogen, or by pulverizing the hydrocarbon in an atmosphere of the treated hydrogen.  The device for treating the hydrogen may be modified by arranging as one electrode a catalyst such as nickel in the form of grains, flakes, or sponge, Fig. 2, or the catalytic metal may form an intermediate electrode, Fig. 3, or the catalytic metal may be enclosed in a perforated dielectric or metal case, Fig. 4, in which the outer electrode may if desired be replaced by acidulated water, shavings, grains or the like.  For treating benzene for example, the apparatus described above may be fed with alternating current of ,002 ampere at 100,000 volts and 2,000 periods at 15 DEG and atmospheric or lower pressure.  In another modification the hydrocarbon may be treated in the vapour phase. In this modification, hydrogen from a cylinder 33, Fig. 5, passes through an activator 34 to the neck of a still in which the hydrocarbon is distilled, the hydrocarbon vapour, mixed with the "heavy hydrogen" being passed through an electric device 32 constructed as described above.