, 1922-06-12
SAVING IN
GASOLINE seen
Condensation of Still Vapors
Adding Millions of Gal
Ions to Output.

WASHINGTON. June 1..-Poszfbis-
ity of increasing the output OF gaso
line by 10000. 900 gallons through
more complete condensation of still
vapors at the petroleum refineries.
was suggested today by the bureau
OF mines after an Investigation by
d. r. DOW. the bureaus petroleum
engineer.
Mr.. Dow estimated tina so. ooo. 900
gallons were recovered IRON uncon-
densed still vapor at refinsrics in
1891.
Application of the system 10 ali
r~efineries would give a possible gaso-
line recovery by this method OF no.
900 gallons yearly" the bureau said
in n statement
THE calculations OF the bureau OF
mines arc based On results obtained
in ~refineries whose general methods
are more efficient than those en-
ployed in the hundreds of smaller
skimming plants that have no recov-
cry systems. It is assumed hat in
tho less efficient skimming plants. To-
Gated in sections where the supply of
cold water. 80 essential for condenser
| uots 10 EtdA1GE kit@AA1
| could be made tina in the large re
fineri.s studied. This should be es-
peclally true OF Oklahoma. north
Texas. and Louisiana skimming plants,
where summer temperatures are high
and where cold water is scarce. A
survey of these plants, it is believed.
would show that their losses in uncon-
densed still vapors would be much
higher than in the plants where the
studies OF the bureau OF mines were
conducted.
THE magnitude OF tho loss from
non. condensation of these vapors has
been realized only by few refinsrs.
Judging tho number of plants that
have recovery systems. The 10 re-
flneries studied by the bureau OF
mines are obtaining 1873 .651 gallons of
gasoline daily from uncondensed stiIl
vapors. These plans are situated in
the various refining %centers. other
than the Pacific coast. and are run
ming crude representative OF all the
producing fields east of the Rocky
mountains. In addition. several are
running Mexican crude. Information
frim California refiners indicates that
on account of the smaller gasoline
content of the California crude, there
are no. recovery plants of Importance
in that state. The average recovery
of gasoline at the refineries invesu-
gates by the bureau of mines amount
ed to fourtenths gallon per barrel
of crude oil charged.
"Unless preventive measures s.e
adopted, losses of gasoline from fail
ure to condense stin vapors will in
crease in the future. because crudes
are being handled in the field with
more and more care to avoi evapora-
ton and win therefore contain much
lighter and more volatile fractions
than at present.
CONDENSATION of h vapors formed
by heating crude oil is effected in the
refinery by leading vapors through
coils of pipe submerged in water. On
cooling. most of the vapor becomes
liquefied. but n certain amount of
vapor. due to insufficient time for
proper cooling or the fact that its con-
densing point is lower than the tenn
p~erature of the water. will remain un-
condensed Also. certain other frac-
tons WIN not be, condensed, for the.
reason that their Iiquefaction points
are affected by the presense Of other
hydrocarbons. A small part of this
uncondensed vapor is dissolved in the
liquid that has oondensad.
Condensation OF the vapors coming
from the still into liquid is accom-
pIished either by passing them
through pipes or shells having large
surfaces exposed to the air or through
coils submerged in water.
atmospheric temperature is an I'M
portant factor in the production of
gasoline from uncondensed refinery
vapors. It is found that during win
ter months. due to more complete con.
densation of the vapors. the produc-
ton of the gas plant win fall off to
ON extent An unusua example of
is a certain skimming plant
which produces about 5000 gallons of
compression gasoline daily through the
summer months, put drops to rs lew
500 gallons per day in the winter. |
Ordinarily, the difference is far less.
but there is always a tendency for
production to drop in cooler weather.
THE cost of installing recovery
plants Will necessarily vary, depend
ing on local conditions such as the
distances between different stills /
which are sources of gas. the nature
gas, especially in regard to sulphur
content: n the plant efficiency.
a-cost of approximately SIS
per gallon Of gasoline daily capacity)
should be sufficient. The operating
cost ofthe gas plants relatively low"
n United Home Builders associ.
alton is hero to assist You. 10 make