Arizona republican., 1922-06-25
GOVERNMENT To
STOP ENORMOUS
GASOLINE LOSS
Tests Reveal Huge Loss
From Improper Method
Of Refining - Experts
Delving Into Matter

WASHINGTON, June 24.-Possi-
bility of increasing the output of
gasoline by 120,000,000 gallons
through more complete condensation
of still vapors at the petroleum re-
fineries was suggested today by the
bureau of mines after an investiga-
ton by d. B. Dow, the bureaus pc
troleum engineer.
Mr.. Dow estimated that 50,000,000
gallons were recovered from uncon-
densed still vapors at refineries in
1921.
Application Of the system to all
refineries would give possible gaso-
line recovery by this method of no.
10000 gallons yearly" the bureau
said in a statement.
1.-THE calculations of the bureau of
mines are based on results obtained
in refineries whose general methods
are more efficient than those en-
ployed in the hundreds of smaller
skinming plants that have no recov-
cry systems. 1t is assumed that in
the less efficient skimming plants, To-
Gated in sections where the supply of
cold water so essential for condenser
use, is scarce, greater recoveries could
be made than in the large refineries
studied. This should be especially
true of Oklahoma, North Texas and
Louisiana skimming plants, where
summer temperatures are high and
where cold water is scarce. A sur
yey of these plants, it is believed,
would show that their losses in un-
condensed still vapors would be much
higher than in the plants where the
studies of the bureau of mines were
conducted.
1.-The magnitude of the loss from
non condensation of these vapors has
been realized only by q few refiners,
judging by the number of plants that
have recovery systems. The 13 re-
fineries studied by the bureau of
mines are obtaining 128,651 gallons of
gasoline daily from uncondensed still
vapors. These plants are situated In
the various refining centers other
than the Pacific coast and are rum
ming crude representatives of the pro-
ducing fields east of the Rocky noun
tains. In addition several are run
ming Mexican crude. Information
from California refineries indicates
that on account of the smaller gaso-
line content of the California crude
there are no recovery plants of i'm
portance in that state. The average
investigated by the bureau of mines
amounted to four -tenths of gallon
barrel of crude oil charged.
"Unless preventive measures are
adopted, losses of gasoline from fail
ure to condense still vapors Will IN
crease in the future, because crudes
are being handled in the field with
more and more care to avoid evapo-
ration and will therefore contain
much lighter and more volatile frac-
tions than at present.
CONDENSATION of the 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
Iiquified, but a certain amount of
vapor, due to insufficient time for
proper cooling or the fact that its
condensing point is lower than the
temperature of the water, will remain
uncondensed Also certain other
fractions will not be condensed, for
the reason that their liquification
points are affected by the presence
of other hydrocarbons. A small part
Of this uncondensed vapor Is dis
solved in the liquid that has con-
densed.
"Condensation of the vapors COM
| ing from the still into liquid is ac-
| complished 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
| important factor in the production
| of gasoline from uncondensed refin-
cry vapors. 1t is found that during
winter months, due to more COM
plete condensation of the vapors, the
| production of the gas plant will
| fall off to some extent. An unusual
example of this is a certain skimmine
plant which produces about 5000 gal
| Ions of compression gasoline daily
| through the summer months, but
drops to as low as 500 gallons day
in the winter. Ordinarily the differ
ence 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
of gas, especially in regard to sui
phur content, and the plant eff
cheney. However, a cost of approxi-
mately SIS a gallon of gasoline (daily
| cana cityl should be sufficient. The