IMPROVEMENTS IN TREATING MINERAL AND OTHER OILS AND IN APPARATUS THEREFOR.
Year: 1871

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to Robert Scott, Manager of the Addiewell Chemical
Works, West Calder, in the County of Mid Lothian, North Britain,
for the Invention of " IMPROVEMENTS IN TREATING MINERAL AND OTHER
OILS AND IN APPARATUS THEREFOR.'
"
Sealed the 30th January 1872, and dated the 8th August 1871.
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said Robert Scott at the
Office of the Commissioners of Patents, with his Petition, on the
8th August 1871.
I, ROBERT SCOTT, Manager of the Addiewell Chemical Works, West
Calder, in the County of Mid Lothian, North Britain, do hereby declare
the nature of the said Invention for "IMPROVEMENTS IN TREATING MINERAL
AND OTHER OILS AND IN APPARATUS THEREFOR," to be as follows, that is to
say :-
This Invention relates to the treatment of mineral and other oils by
acids and alkalies in the processes of purifying or refining them; and it
consists in effecting such treatment in a continuous manner and by
improved apparatus, so that the treatment may be better regulated, and

page_text: the case.
In carrying out the Invention according to one modification a con-
nected series of vessels is employed for effecting the proper mixing of
the acid with the oil; and into the first of these the acid and oil are led
continuously in suitable proportions by a funnel or pipe entering at, or
dipping down to, the bottom of the vessel. The mixture rising in the
first vessel overflows thence by a pipe or funnel leading it to the
bottom of the second vessel, and it similarly passes to the others in
succession. Each vessel has working in it a revolving or other suitable
agitator to ensure the thorough intermixing of the acid and oil; and the
rate of flow through the series of vessels is adjusted so that the oil may
be undergoing the process for the proper length of time. The acid and
oil may be passed through suitable valves, by which their relative pro-
portions and rates of flow may be regulated prior to entering the first
mixing vessel, or they may be fed in by bucket wheels, screws, or pumps,
or equivalent apparatus, and their proper relative proportions and rates
be obtained by regulating the speeds of the apparatus.
By a second modification a single mixing vessel is used, but is pro-
portionally deeper, and whilst the agitator shaft is provided with two or
more sets of agitating blades, partitions or diaphragms are fixed to the
sides of the vessel to cause the mixture in rising to take a tortuous
course, and so be the better intermixed. From the mixing vessel, or
from the last, when there is a series, the mixture overflows into a
depositing tank. This tank is divided into compartments by vertical
transverse partitions extending close down to the bottom, and in cach
compartment there is an intermediate partition extending across and
higher than the other partitions, but not reaching quite to the bottom.
The intermediate partitions are by preference set nearer the entering
sides of each compartment, and the mixture descending through the
narrower space thus formed rises up the wider space and overflows from
compartment to compartment in succession. Whilst the mixture flows
through the compartments in this way the tarry matter and acid separate
from the oil and portions descend to the bottoms of the several com-
partments, whence they are drawn off by pipes communicating with the
bottoms, which last are made inclined to lead the deposited matter to the
pipes. The supernatant oil flows off from the last compartment; or if
it is sufficiently freed from the tar before it reaches the last one, one of

page_text: a number of overflow outlets at the side is opened, and it passes out into
a duct without going through the last compartment, or it may be two or
more of the compartments.
Apparatus arranged and worked as herein-before described is also be
used for treating the oil with alkali, or for washing it to remove acid
or alkali.
SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent,
filed by the said Robert Scott in the Great Scal Patent Office on
the 7th February 1872.
TO ALL TO WHOM THESE PRESENTS SHALL COME, I, ROBERT
SCOTT, Manager of the Addiewell Chemical Works, West Calder, in the
County of Mid Lothian, North Britain, send greeting.
WHEREAS Her most Excellent Majesty Queen Victoria, by Her
Letters Patent, bearing date the Eighth day of August, in the year of
our Lord One thousand cight hundred and seventy-one, in the thirty-
fifth year of Her reign, did, for Herself, Her heirs and successors, give
and grant unto me, the said Robert Scott, Her special licence that I,
the said Robert Scott, my executors, administrators, and assigns, or
such others as I, the said Robert Scott, my executors, administrators,
and assigns, should at any time agree with, and no others, from time to
time and at all times thereafter during the term therein expressed,
should and lawfully might make, use, exercise, and vend, within the
United Kingdom of Great Britain and Ireland, the Channel Islands, and
Isle of Man, an Invention for "IMPROVEMENTS IN TREATING MINERAL AND
OTHER OILS AND IN APPARATUS THEREFOR," upon the condition (amongst
others) that I, the said Robert Scott, my executors or administrators, by
an instrument in writing under my, or their, or one of their hands and
seals, should particularly describe and ascertain the nature of the said
Invention, and in what manner the same was to be performed, and cause
the same to be filed in the Great Seal Patent Office within six calendar
months next and immediately after the date of the said Letters Patent.
NOW KNOW YE, that I, the said Robert Scott, do hereby declare
the nature of my said Invention, and in what manner the same is to
be performed, to be particularly described and ascertained in and by the

page_text: following statement in writing, reference being had to the accompanying
Drawings, that is to say :-
My said Invention relates to the treatment of mineral and other oils
by acids and alkalies in the processes of purifying or refining them, and
it consists in effecting such treatment in a continuous manner and by
improved apparatus so that the treatment may be better regulated and
more expeditious, and the apparatus employed may be less extensive
than has been previously the case.
In purifying or refining oils by treating them with chemical reagents,
as, for example, in treating shale oil with sulphuric acid, the quality and.
quantity of useful products are very much influenced by slight variations
in various conditions or circumstances in the treatment; and these con-
ditions and circumstances also require to be varied in order to obtain
the best results with different qualities or kinds of oil, whilst it is of
great importance for every part of the oil dealt with at one operation to
be equally acted upon. Thus the quantity of sulphuric acid must be
accurately proportioned to the oil, the mixing of the two together must
be as thorough and complete as possible, and the duration of the mixing
action must be nicely regulated. The mixing having been properly
effected, it is next of the greatest importance to obtain the separation of
the tarry matter and acid from the oil in as rapid a manner as possible
to prevent injury to the oil by the continued contact of the acid with it.
My improved apparatus is designed to meet the various requirements
I have indicated, and in it uniformity of action is secured by rendering
the processes continuous, the oil flowing gradually through successive
compartments, in each of which each part of it receives the treatment
proper to the respective stage of its progress.
And in order that my said Invention and the manner of performing
the same may be properly understood, I hereunto append three Sheets
of explanatory Drawings to be hereafter referred to and representing
examples of my improved apparatus. In these Drawings the same
reference numerals are used to mark the same or like parts wherever
they are repeated.
Figure 1, on Sheet 1 of the Drawings, is a side elevation, and Figure 2
is a plan of one modification of my apparatus as arranged in two sets,
one set for treating the oil with sulphuric acid, and the other for treating
it with alkali. Enlarged and sectional views of the apparatus are shown
on Sheet 2, Figures 3 and 4, being vertical sections as at right angles to

page_text: each other of the acid mixing part of the apparatus, whilst Figures 5 and
6 are a corresponding horizontal section and a plan. A connected series
of vessels 1, 2, 3, 4, is employed for effecting the proper mixing of the
acid with the oil, and into the first 1 of these the acid and oil are led in
a practically continuous manner in suitable proportions by a funnel or
passage 17, entering at or dipping down to the bottom of the vessel.
The mixture rising in vessel 1 overflows thence by a passage 18 leading
it to the bottom of vessel 2, and it similarly passes by the passage 19 to
vessel 3 and by the pipe 20 to vessel 4. In each vessel the mixture is
violently agitated to insure a uniform contact of the acid with every
particle of the oil. Any suitable agitating appliance may be used, but
that which I prefer to employ is a blast of air, the air being led from any
convenient blowing apparatus by a main pipe 21, from which branches
22 with stop-cocks lead it to spaces 23 formed in the bottom of each
vessel 1, 2, 3, 4. The air passes from the spaces 23 into the vessels
through perforated plates which cause it to be uniformly distributed.
The rate of flow of the mixture through the vessels is adjusted to corre-
spond with the length of time during which it is considered desirable
that the acid should be in contact with the oil. The acid and oil may
be passed through suitable valves by which their relative proportions and
rates of flow may be regulated prior to entering the first mixing vessel 1,
or they may be fed by bucket wheels, screws, or pumps, or equivalent
apparatus, and their proper relative proportions and rates be obtained by
regulating the speeds or sizes of the apparatus. In the modification
shown in Figures 1 to 6, the oil is fed by a bucket or compartment wheel
21, shown in vertical section in Figure 3, and separately in horizontal
section in Figure 7. This compartment wheel 24, which is fixed on a
vertical spindle 25 is of a conical form and is fitted to revolve in a conical
casing 26, being held in its place by a bracket 27 through the top of
which a centre pin is screwed to bear on the top of the spindle 25. The
oil is admitted to the casing by a branch pipe 28, and leaves it by a
diametrically opposite pipe 29 leading it to the inlet passage 17 of
vessel 1. The wheel 24 is made with four separate compartments each
having an opening at the side, and each compartment becomes filled
when in turning the side opening is made to coincide with the inlet,
whilst similarly each compartment empties on its side opening getting
round to the outlet. A pulley 30 is fixed on the spindle 25 to receive
a driving belt from any convenient motive shaft and the rate of feed is
varied by altering the rotative speed imparted. A similar bucket or

page_text: compartment wheel is used for feeding the acid, being fitted in a conical
casing 31 supplied by a pipe 32 and delivering the acid by a pipe 33 to
the inlet passage 17 of vessel 1. This acid feeder is shown separately
in horizontal section in Figure 8 and enlarged and in vertical section in
Figure 9. It is driven by means of a pulley 34 by a cord from a pulley
35 on the spindle 25 of the oil feeder, the arrangements shown being
such as to give both feeders the same speed, whilst the feeders are made
of the same proportions relatively to each other as it is considered the
quantities of acid and of oil should have. It being desirable in some
cases to aid the action by a little heat, provision is made for blowing a
little steam into the vessels 1 to 4 by a pipe 36 having branches 37
with stop-cocks leading to the several vessels.
Figure 10 on Sheet 1 of the Drawings is a vertical section showing a
connected series of mixing vessels 1, 2, 3, 4, each having as an agitating
appliance a species of centrifugal pump 38 worked by a vertical shaft
and arranged to draw the mixture downwards at the centre and to
discharge it towards the sides so as to produce a vigorous circulation
and intermingling. This modification is shown in plan in Figure 11
combined with settling vessels to be herein-after referred to. The series
of mixing vessels may consist of two or more, or there may be only one
such vessel provided that the sizes and rates of flow through are pro-
portioned to suit the proper duration of contact of the acid and oil. When
a single mixing vessel is used I prefer to make it comparatively deeper
and as shown in vertical and horizontal section in Figures 12 and 13 on
Sheet 1 of the Drawings. Inclined diaphragms or partitions 39 are fixed
to the sides of the vessel at different heights to cause the mixture in
rising to take a tortuous course and so be the better intermixed. The
vessel is shown as having a perforated bottom and space 23 beneath for the
introduction of air as the agitating means, but paddle or other agitators
may be employed if preferred. From the mixing vessel or from the last
4 when there is a series, the mixture overflows into a depositing or
settling tank 5 to 16, Figures 1, 2. This tank is divided into compart-
ments 5 to 16 by vertical transverse partitions extending close down to
the bottom, and in each compartment there is an intermediate partition
extending across and higher than the other partition but not reaching
quite to the bottom. This construction will be best understood from
Figures 14 and 15 on Sheet 2 of the Drawings, these Figures being a
longitudinal vertical section and a sectional plan of a modification of the

page_text: various parts distinguished by numerals each differing by 50 from the
numerals marking the corresponding parts already described. A large
receiving tank 67 is shown, into which the oil overflows from the last
settling compartment 66. The oil is to be passed through the combined.
apparatus shown in Figures 1 and 2 after each distillation to which it is
subjected, excepting the last, but after the last distillation I prefer to
pass the oil through à modification of my improved apparatus shown
upon Slicet 3 of the Drawings and having arrangements for washing the
oil with water in addition to treating it with acid and with alkali.
Figure 20 is a sectional plan; Figure 21, a vertical section as at the line
A, A, in Figure 20, and Figure 22, a vertical section as at the line B, B,
in Figure 20. The oil is first mixed with acid as before in vessels 1, 2,
3, 4, but the rate of flow is made more rapid so that the acid may be a
shorter time in contact with the oil. The mixture passes through
settling compartments 5 to 12 wherein the most of the tarry matters and
acid separate from the oil, which flows onwards to a compartment 67.
In this compartment 67 the oil is washed with water (supplied by an
overhanging pipe not shown), and is well agitated by means of air
admitted from the air main 21 by a branch 68 with a stop-cock, and
entering beneath a perforated bottom. The oil passes on to another
similar washing compartment 69, and thence to a settling compartment
70, from which the water passes from beneath the oil by a side passage
71 into a large central tank 72. The oil next flows in succession through
two compartments 73, 74, in each of which it has water added to it and
air blown through it to wash it, and it proceeds to a separating compart-
ment 75, whence the water passes off by the passage 76 into the central
tank 72. In the next three compartments 77, 78, and 79, through
which the oil passes in succession it is mixed with an alkaline solution;
air being blown in beneath perforated bottoms by the branch pipes 68 to
effect the requisite agitation. In compartment 80 the alkaline solution
separates from the oil and flows by the passage 81 into the centre tank
72; in compartments 82, 83, the oil is subjected to additions of water
and agitation by air, the water separating in compartment 84 and
flowing by the passage 85 into the centre tank 72, and in compartments
86, 87, the oil is again washed with fresh water which separates from it
in compartment 88 flowing off by the passage 89, whilst the oil is finally
withdrawn by the stop-cock 91. Throughout its treatment in this
apparatus the oil overflows from cach compartment through a passage
leading it down to the bottom of the next compartment.

page_text: Having thus particularly described my said Invention, and the manner
of performing the same, I have to state that I do not restrict myself
to the precise details herein described or delineated; but that what I
believe to be novel and original and claim as the Invention secured to
me by the herein-before in part recited Letters Patent is,—
1. The combining together of the parts of apparatus for treating oils
with acid, with alkali, or with water, substantially in the improved
mauner herein described and delineated.
2. The passing of oil and acid or alkali in measured proportions in
a continuous or practically continuous manner through mixing or
agitating apparatus, substantially as herein-before described.
3. The passing of a mixture formed by treating oil with acid or alkali
in a continuous or practically continuous manner, or successively through
a series of settling vessels or chambers, substantially as herein-before
described.
4. The arranging of the inlets and outlets of any of the compartments
or vessels through which the oil or mixture passes in such manner that
the flow is upwards therein, as herein-before described.
In witness whereof, I, the said Robert Scott, have hereunto set my
hand and seal, this Sixth day of February, in the year of our Lord
One thousand eight hundred and seventy-two.
Witness,
EDMUND HUNT,
Patent Agent,
Glasgow.
R. SCOTT. (L.S.)