Dodge City times. [volume] (Dodge City, Kan.) 1876-1892, 1886-01-14
REFINING OF PETROLEUM..

REFINING OF PETROLEUM..
The Various Processes Necessary to the
Production Of Refined Oil.
Processes vary in different establish
ments, but they are essentially as fol-
lows: The crude oil is emptied into
stills made of heavy boiler iron, either
in cylindrical form (placed horizon
tally) or with oval top and corrugated
bottom, underneath which is the fur
mace fire. Every refinery has a series
of these stills, each containing from
six hundred to fifteen hundred barrels
| The former are twelve and half feet
in diameter and thirty feet in length.
The heat of the furnace causes vapors
to rise from the most volatile portions
of the oil within three hours after firing
up. This vapor enters coil, or worm,
of iron pipe submerged in cold water
The water coos or condcnses the vapor
into LIQUID called .'distillate''. This
condensation in some refineries is eff
fected by permitting the vapor to es-
cape into confined boxes of water or
condensers. In this box or condenser
the vapor is converted into distillate
which passes through pipe to the re
ceiving-room'' and the water sinks to
the bottom of the condenser, and is
withdrawn.
All distillate is sent to the receiving
room, where separation is made ac-
cording to its density. All that is be-
low 60 degrees d. Baume, standard
of density, and down tc 40 degrees
B., is turned into tank for kerosene
dstillates. The lighter portions, or the
earlier runs from the still, 90 into
naphtha, gasoline or benzine tanks,
while the heavier oils, below 50 de-
grees B., 60 into the manufacture of
paratfine and lubricating Oil. The
lightest vapor is called '.rhigolene'',
ranging from lis degrees to 1O5 de-
grces B., though it and the second run
are usually turned into the naphtha
tanks. When saved it is us. as an
anasthetic. The next product is known
as ''cymogene", ranging from 1O5 de-
grees to 95 degrees B., and is some
times used in ice-machines. Below
this is gasolene, 95 degrees to 80 de-
grees B., used largely in country
houses for manufacturing gas. The
Park Avenue Hotel, New York, the
Grand Union, Saratoga, and the Hotel
Kaatcrskill are lighted by this kind of
gas. Next comes naphtha, 80 degrees
to IS degrees g., which is extensively
used in South American towns for
street-lamp lighting, and in conjunction
with benzine, 60 degrees to 60 degrees
g., as a substitute for turpentine in
mixing varnishes and paints. They
are also used as a solvent to remove
stains and grease and for cleaning
woods, and for this purpose are of
superior value.
Finally we come to that portion Of
the distillate intended for kerosene 1t
is relatively free from the obnoxious
and infiammable elements that char
acterized the earlier runs from the
stills, but it is necessary to subject it to
further treatment. This distillate,
therefore, is conveyed into a still,
where live steam is injected into it, the
gentle heat driving off through q pipe
a large proportion of its remaining in
tlammabIe ingredients. Tee method
CT one of the leading manufactures in
producing their highest oil is to in
troduce the oil in the lower part of
tank of water heated to temperature
of 2O6 deg. F., or just below the boil
The oil rises through the
water, and the vapor which is thus gen
Grated is carried away; the remaining
portion of the improved distilatc is
to large tank called the
"agitator'. +
In this agitator the distillate is treat
ed with one and a half to two per cent.
of sulphuric acid. Meanwhile a cur
rent of air is forced down tube SUBJ
merged in the distillate. The air es-
capes from perforations at its lower
extremity, breaking up the acid into t
minute particles or atoms, which in
sures the closest commingling and adj
mixture of the oil and acid. The
pitch which is held in suspension in
the distillate has a greater affinity for
the sulphuric acid, and consequently
flies to its embrace. When the cur
rent of air ceases, the acid in COM
with the pitch is precipitated
~ VlC OOtIUul dIlu uIdW Ou. L uc tCiu
acts as scavenger, ''sweetening'' the
oil. 1t goes into the agitator as white
md clear as water, and comes out
hick, black, and tarry substance,
Known as "sludge' or spent acid. This
'ludge, which has very offensive
DIOR, is either dumped in deep ocean
u sent to Barren Island to be used in
he manufacture of artificial fertilizers.
The next process is to give the dis
illate water bath, for which purpose
/ large quantity of water is pumped to
he top of the agitator, and falling to
he bottom, cleanses it's contents, re-
moving the light films of acid that may
lttach to the oil globules. A solution
# caustic soda is next applied in like
manner to ncutralize any remaining
races of acid. and to complete the de-
,dorization of the oil. This distillate
las now become refined oil, but to
tighten and brighten its color it Is with
lrawn into settling pans, where it is
'leached from twelve to forty-eight
tours. 1t is then barreled or packed in
tin cans, and made ready
or shipment to consumers at home OF
broad.-George R. Gibson, IN Harpsr's
Magazine.