The Lambertville record. [volume] (Lambertville, N.J.) 1872-1968, 1886-01-13
REFINING OF pErRoLEu,r.
The Process by Which Our White Lamp
Oil Is Obtained.


Oil Is Obtained.
Processes vary in different establishments,
but they are essentially as follows The
crude oil is emptied into stills made OF
heavy boiler iron, either in o cylindrical
form placed horizontally, or with oval top
and corrugated bottom. underneath which
is the furnace fire. Every refinery has
series of these stills, each containing from
800 to 1 800 barrels The former are twelve
and a half feet in diameter and thirty feet
vapors to rise from the most volatile por-
tons of the oil within three hours after fir
ing up. This vapor enters coil, or worm,
of iron pipe submerged in cold water. The
water cools or condenses the vapor into a
liquid called distillate." This condensa-
ton in some re6neries is effected by permit
ting the yapor to escape into confined boxes
Of water, or condensers In this box or
condenser the vapor is converted into dis
tillate which passes through pipe to the
receiving-room, and the water sinks to
the bottom of the condenser, and is with
drawn.
All distillate is sent to the receiving room.
where separation is made according to its
density. All that is below Coz B. (Baume,
standard of density. and down to 40o b.,
is turned into tank for kerosene distillates.
The lighter portions, or the earlier runs
from the still, go into naphtha, gasoline, or
benzine tanks, while the heavier oils, below
49, b., go into the manufacture of parafine
md lubricating oil. The Eighties vapor is
JAILED rhigolene," ranging from 1l50 to
l05' B., though it and the second run are
usually turned into the naphtha tanks.
When saved it is used as an anesthetic.
The next product is known as "cymogene,n
ranging from 1862 to 950 B., and is some.
times used in ice-machines. Below this il
gasolene, 90 to 800 b., used largely in
country houses for manufacturing gas. The
Park Avenue Hotel, New York, the Grand
Union, Saratoga, and the Hotel Kaaterskill
are lighted by this kind of gas. Next comes
naphtha, So to 650 B., which is extensively
used in South American towns for street.
amp lighting. and in conjunction with ben
zine, So to 600 B., as substitute for tur-
pentine in mixing yarnishes and paints.
| Tbev ore also nsed ma n solvont % ro,,,,no
stains and prease and for c,eapino woo,s
and for this purnose are of snnaror va,,e
Finally wa come TO that norton of Tho
distillate intended for kerosene 1t is rela.
lively free from the obnoxious and infam.
mable elements that characterized ths
earlier runs from the stills, but it is neces
sary TO subject it to further treatment This
distillate, therefore, is conveyed into still
where live steam is injected into it, the gen.
tie heat driving off through a pipe large
proportion of its remaining inflammable in.
gradients. The method of one of the lead
ing manufactures in producing their high
test oil is to introduce the oil in the lower
part of tank of water heated to tempera-
ture of 206o F., or just below the boiling
point. The oil rises through the water, and
the vapor which is thus generated is carried
away; the remaining portion of the improy.
ed distillate Is conveyed to a large TANK call.
ell the "agitator."
In this agitater the distillate is treated
With one and half to two per cent. of sui
phuric acid. Meanwhile current of air is
forced down II tube submerged in the distil-
late. The air escapes from perforations at
its lower extremity, breaking up the acid
into minute particles or atoms, which in.
sures the closest commingling and admix.
ture of the oil and acid. The pitch which
g held in susnension in the distillate has a
greater affinity for the sulphuric acid, and
consequently flies to its embrace. When the
,urrent of air ceases. the acid in combina.
lion with the pitch ia precipitated to the
bottom and drawn of The acid acts as