Improvements in Extracting Paraffine from Petroleum Distillate.
Year: 1886

page_text: Improvements in Extracting Paraffine from Petroleum Distillate.
I JOHN THOMSON KING of 4 Clayton Square Liverpool in the County of
Lancaster Patent Agent do hereby declare the nature of the said invention and in
what manner the same is to be performed, to be particularly described and
ascertained in and by the following statement :-
Paraffine which exists in Petroleum in an amorphous condition, becomes by the
process of distillation, capable of being separated from the lighter and liquid
hydrocarbons of the distillate by a process which consists substantially in subjecting
the distillate to a sufficient degree of refrigeration to harden the entire mass, which
is then subjected to pressure, which causes the petroleum, which had been asso-
ciated with the paraffine to run off in liquid form, leaving the solid particles of
paraffine in a separate mass or cake. The paraffine thus obtained requires however
further treatment to produce the paraffine of commerce.
My present invention consists in certain improvements in the various steps of
the process, and in the combination of these improved steps, in a continuous pro-
cess of extracting paraffine from petroleum distillate and in apparatus employed
therefor.
The hot paraffine distillate containing usually about 18 per cent of paraffine as
it comes from the stills, is run into a freezing box, in which it is gradually
cooled by means of a refrigerating liquid until the whole mass is frozen into a
solid cake. The gradual cooling of the distillate is important, as the crystallization
of the paraffine would be impaired if the distillate were exposed at first to a too
great degree of cold. In order to secure this gradual refrigeration I first employ
fresh water at about 52° Fahrenheit, then a saline water or brine cooled to from
45° to 10° Fahrenheit, and lastly brine cooled from 20° fahrenheit to 10° below
zero, until the distillate is rendered quite hard and solid. If desired the use of
fresh water at the beginning of the process may be dispensed with, and refrigerated
brine may be used exclusively. As the cooling of the distillate requires a con-
siderable length of time I use a series of cooling boxes, which are filled with hot
distillate at intervals of time, depending on the number of freezing boxes in the
series, so that the contents of each will become frozen and ready for the sub-
sequent step of subiecting the frozen distillate to pressure at suitable intervals to

page_text: enable the entire process to be carried on continuously and so that the contents of
each box may be removed as soon as it is sufficiently frozen.
The freezing boxes which I employ are specially adapted for the easy and speedy
removal of the frozen cakes of distillate as well as for the prompt action of the
refrigerating liquid upon the distillate, so that the rapidity with which the freezing
operation is conducted may be regulated by the temperature of the freezing
medium.
In the accompanying drawings, forming part of this specification :-
Figure 1 is a side elevation, partly in section, of the apparatus for cooling the
brine freezing the paraffine distillate and cutting it up when in a frozen condition.
Figure 2 is a plan view of part of the main pipes and supply pipe, which connect
the brine tanks with the circulating pumps and freezing boxes.
Figure 3 is a perspective representation of a pair of brine tanks, showing the
arrangement of coils for cooling the brine.
Figure 4 is a vertical section showing the arrangement and connection of coils in
a pair of brine tanks.
Figure 5 is a longitudinal vertical section of one of the partitions in the boxes
'for chilling the paraffine distillate.
Figure 6 is a perspective representation of a pair of cooling boxes.
Figure 7 is a front elevation of the cooling boxes and cutting apparatus, the
front of the cutting box being removed to exhibit the interior.
These several figures are not made to an uniform scale, but the same letters of
reference are used to designate the same parts of the apparatus in each of them.
In the drawings, figures 1 and 6A represent one of the freezing boxes, the others
of the series being similarly constructed and placed side by side, preferably with
suflicient space between them to enable them to be approached on both sides if
necessary. They are in an clevated position above the floor of the factory for
convenience in removing their frozen contents as hereinafter described.
These boxes are preferably constructed of wrought iron. The top of each box
is horizontal and the bottom inclined downwards from the rear end to the front.
The front and rear ends may be parallel, but the sides are not so, and the box is
narrower at the rear than at the front end: The purpose of the inclined bottom
and tapering sides being to facilitate the discharge of the frozen distillate. The
box may be covered at the top when in use by a foor of loose boards, so as to
be gradually removed or shifted. When the frozen contents are being discharged,
affording standing room for the workmen. The front end of each box constitutes
the door, a, which is binged to the frame of the box at the top as shown at a¹ in
figure 1, so that, when opened it may serve as a guide for the lumps of frozen
distillate as they pass into the cutting boxes B placed below and in front of the
freezing boxes as shown in figure 1. When the boxes are to be filled with hot
distillate, and during the freezing operation, the door is closed, as shown in figure 6,
and is secured in place against the front end of the box by a number of bolts b
which are hinged to the front end of the sides of the box. These bolts b when
parallel to the sides of the box enter corresponding notches e¹ in the vertical
edges of the door a and a nut screwed onto the projecting end of each bolt is
screwed down against the face of the door and thus holds it securely in place. One
such such hinged bolt only is shown in the drawing, but it will be understood that
there are a number of such hinged bolts corresponding in number and position
with the notches e¹ in the vertical edges of the door a. Any suitable packing may
be used to prevent the escape of the distillate while hot and. in a liquid condition..
This packing is inserted and held in place in a recess or stuffing box 6", formed at
the front edge of the side pieces of each box by means of a strip of angle iron
rivetted to the outside of the side pieces of the box near the front edge, as shewn
in figure 6. Inside the box are a number of vertical partitions c placed preferably
at uniform distances apart, and dividing the box into a series of compartments,
which are narrower at the rear than at the front end of the box. These par-
titions are attached to the rear end bottom of the box and at the front end arę.

page_text: flush with the inside of the door a when closed but spaces may be left at the
bottom of each partition, so that the liquid contents may in filling the boxes pass
from one compartment to another. These partitions c are hollow, being constructed
of two side pieces of sheet metal, rivetted to a skeleton frame d which constitutes
the top, bottom, and end pieces of each partition, as shown in figure 5. A pipe e
is introduced through, or screwed into, a hole bored through the bottom of each
skeleton frame d and another pipe f is introduced through or screwed into a hole
at or near the top of each skeleton frame: the pipes e at bottom being the inflow
branch pipes from the main pipe E which conducts the refrigerating liquid into
the partitions c, and the pipes fat top being outflow pipes for the escape of the
liquid from each partition c (see fig. 5).
In order to secure a more perfect circulation of the refrigerating liquid through
the partitions, each is furnished with longitudinal strips of iron g attached to or
forming part of the skeleton frame, these strips g g¹ are of the width of the skeleton
frame d, and consequently of the same width as the cavity of the partition. Each
alternate strip g extends from the front end of the hollow partition o near to, but
not touching the rear end, while the other strips g¹ are attached to the rear end or
bottom of the partition, as the case may be, and extend towards but do not reach
the front end of the partition c (see figure 5) thus forming a circuitous passage in
each partition for the brine, or other refrigerating liquid from the bottom to the
top, causing it as it enters the bottom of the partition to flow backwards and
forwards, gradually rising until it reaches the outflow pipe f, whence it runs into
a horizontal trough h, from which the brine flows back to the tank, from which it
came, as hereinafter described.
I will now describe the tanks for refrigerating the brine used for freezing the
paraffine distillate, in the freezing boxes just described. For this purpose, two or.
more brine refrigerating tanks are used in connection with each distillate freezing
box, but if the brine tanks are of sufficient capacity, it is not necessary to have a
separate pair of brine tanks for each freezing box, the tanks for refrigerating the:
brine used for freezing the paraffine distillate, in the freezing boxes just described.
For this purpose two or more brine refrigerating tanks are used in connection with
each distillate freezing box, but if the brine tanks are of sufficient capacity it is
not necessary to have a separate pair of brine tanks for each freezing box, the
number of tanks used with a series of freezing boxes being a matter of detail
which may be regulated at pleasure, but by having several brine tanks, brine may,
be obtained of various degrees of temperature, if this is desired. The object of
connecting each distillate freezing box with two brine tanks is that the condensed
ammonia gas or other medium used for refrigerating the brine may be first used in
one tank, and then passed into the second tank, the result of which will be that
the brine in the first tank will be much colder than the brine in the second tank,
and the warmer brine in the second tank may be first used in the distillate freezing.
boxes until the distillate is partially cooled and then the colder brine from the first:
tank may be used to complete the operation. By this means a great saving is
effected, as the condensed ammonia gas, when it has been partially expanded in the-
first tank, is still sufficiently unexpanded to be utilized in producing a lesser degree
of refrigeration of brine in another tank, the warmer brine being sufficiently cold.
for the first stage of the operation of freezing the distillate.
In the drawings, figures 1 and 3, C and D are pair of brine tanks, one of
which C I call for convenience the cold tank, and the other D the warmer tank,
but it must be noticed, that the word warm as tbus used is merely a relative.
term to distinguish the second tank from the first. These tanks are constructed of.
iron, wood, or other suitable material. The shape and size which I have found
convenient for the purpose being a rectangular box of about sixteen feet in length,
six feet in height and five feet in width.
The first or cold tank C is furnished with a series of vertical rows of pipe i-j,
the pipe being placed substantially horizontally, each pipe in each vertical row.
being connected with the pipe immediately below it, by a return bend k, and the
I

page_text: lowest pipe i, of each alternate vertical row being similarly connected with the
lowest pipe j of the adjacent row, so that every pair of vertical rows of pipe forms
a separate coil, the several coils in the first or cold tank not being connected
together. The uppermost horizontal pipe in the first vertical row i of each coil is
connected by an elbow with a horizontal main or feed pipe F. furnished with a
valve or stop cock 7 through which main the condensed ammonia gas is introduced
into the apparatus, and the uppermost horizontal pipe H in the second vertical
row of each coil is connected with a horizontal transverse pipe m, which extends
across the top of the cold tank C to the second or warm tank D where it connects
with the topmost horizontal pipe ¹ of the first row of the corresponding coil in
the warm tank D. The warm tank D is also furnished with similar coils of pipe,
each coil consisting of two vertical rows and ¹ arranged and connected as in the
cold tank, but the front end of the topmost pipe in the second row j¹ of each
coil in the warm tank D is extended out through the end of the tank and connects
with a horizontal main G (see figure 3) through which the spent ammonia gas
passes back to a pump or any suitable gas condensing apparatus to be prepared by
recondensation for repeated use. Each of the brine tanks C and D is furnished
with an outflow pipe H through which the refrigerated brine passes to a force
pump pQ, by which it is forced into a horizontal main pipe placed under the
freezing boxes A (figures 1 and 2) from which it is admitted by a valve into the
bottom of the hollow positions c of the freezing boxes A, and circulating through
the partitions, passes out at the outflow pipe f, and is returned through a pipe into
the brine tank C or D from which it came, to be again refrigerated for repeated
There are two such mains under the freezing boxes, one supplying brine
from the warm tank, and the other from the cold tank as will be hereafter more
fully explained.
use.
The operation of these brine tanks is as follows:-
The tanks C and D being filled with brine to be refrigerated, the condensed
ammonia gas (or other condensed refrigerating medium) is introduced into the top
pipe of the first half of each coil in the tank C, directly from the main pipe F
by means of a valve b or into so many of the coils as it may be found advisable to
use, depending upon the degree of temperature to which it is desired to lower the
brine in the cold tank. If a very low temperature is desired, all the coils may be
used, but if a less degree of cold is required, one or more of the coils may be kept
closed to the access of the gas. The condensed ammonia gas being forced through
the main F into the coils i of the first tank C passes downwards through the
first half of each coil, and then up through the second half j of the same coil,
expanding as it passes, and emerges from the coils of the first tank through the
horizontal pipe m and enters at the top of the first half of the corresponding coil i¹
in the second tank D, and thence downwards through the first half, and upwards
through the second half j¹ of each coil, and finally passes from the second tank in
a spend or expanded condition to the outlet main pipe G through which it is drawn
by a pump or other device to the condensing apparatus to be again condensed for
repeated use.
It is evident that the brine in the first or cold tank C which surrounds the coils
or pipes therein will be reduced to a much lower temperature than the brine in the
second or warm tank D, because the ammonia gas when it reaches the coils in the
second tank, is already partially expanded. or spent, and it is only by its further
expansion that it can produce a refrigerating effect on the brine in that tank. In
the practice of my process I cool the brine in the cold tank C from 20° Fahrenheit
to as low as ten degrees below zero Fahrenheit, and in the second or warm tank D
from 10° to 45° Fahrenheit, but this may be regulated as before described by the
bringing into use of a smaller or greater number of coils.
The arrangement of the pipe in the brine tanks in vertical coils, as I have
described, is very advantageous in the cooling of brine by means of condensed
ammonia gas.
When the condensed gas enters the top pipe of each coil, if the
surrounding brine in the tank is comparatively warm, the ammonia rapidly absorbs

page_text: caloric, expands freely, and readily passes down one half of the coil, and up through
the pipes of the other half to the point of exit, but as the environment of the coils
of pipe becomes colder, the expansion of the condensed ammonia gas becomes
sluggish, and the caloric is less rapidly absorbed from the brine: Under these
circumstances, when the condensed gas reaches the bottom of one half of the coil,
it cannot pass upwards through the other half, otherwise than in an expanded or
gaseous condition, so that it will not traverse the second half of the coil without
being more or less expanded, as it might do if the exit from each coil were at the
lower end or bottom of the coil, even when drawn through by an exhaust pump.
Hence the advantage of arranging the gas expansion tubes in coils, one half of
which descend and the other half ascend, and making the exit and entrance of the
condensed gas at the top of both coils, so that the condensed gas, which has only
partially expanded in the descending balf of the coil, is fored to expand into a
gaseous condition in order in order to rise through the ascending portion of the
coil to its point of exit. A similar advantage results from the use of two tanks,
the second one of which is cooled by the partially spent gas from the first
because brine in the first tank becomes so cold, that the gas will not freely expand,
and would be returned to the condensing engine in a half spent condition; were
it not that the brine in the second tank, being much warmer, furnished the caloric
necessary for the further expansion of the gas, and thus secures a more perfect
utilization of the condensed ammonia gas.
The continuous circulation of the brine cooled in the brine tanks, as just
described, and thereby the continuity of the operation, requires that the brine from
the warm tank D. should first-be circulated through one or more of the freezing
boxes, newly filled with the hot distillate and that after the distillate has been
partially cooled, the colder brine from the hot tank C should be substituted, the
flow of brine from the warm tank D being then turned into another freshly charged
distillate box. This is readily effected and the complete control of the operation is
secured by means of an arrangement of apparatus, pipes, and valves which I will
proceed to describe.
As shewn in the drawings, see figure 1. the distillate boxes A are placed on a
higher level than the brine tanks, which may be conveniently placed beneath the
distillate boxes. Figure 1. shews a side view of my apparatus, partly in section,
and therefore only shows one distillate box, but as before stated, a number of them
may be placed in a row, side by side, or otherwise arranged in convenient proximity
to each other. A short transverse brine supply pipe E is arranged horizontally
under the front end of each distillate box A extending only the width of the box,
but each such supply pipe is connected with both the cold tank C. and the warm
tank D. by means of two horizontal mains L and M (see figures 1 and 2.) Small
banch pipes e from the supply pipe E. enter the bottom of the cavity of the parti-
tions c. in the freezing boxes as before described. The mains M and L run
horizontally under the series of freezing boxes parallel with the supply pipes E.
and each supply pipe E is seperately connected by a stop cock or valve n with the
cold main M and by a stopcock or valve n¹, with the warm tank L The cold
main M. is connected by a pipe q. with the pump p. which draws the cold brine
through the pipe H. from the cold tank C. while the warm main L is similarly
connected by a pipe r. with the pump Q which draws the warmer brine from the
tank D. (see figure 1.) By the arrangement of pipes and valves just described a
circulation of either cold or warm brine may be established through any number
of the freezing boxes A by closing the valve n', and opening the valve n. or
vice versa.
The brine from either of the tanks C. or D. entering the partitions of the
freezing boxes A through the pipes e. traverses the partitions and passes out at
the top through an outflow pipe f. (see fig. 1 & 5) and flows into a transverse
trough h. from which return pipes S & T. pass downwards to the tanks C. & D
respectively, the pipe, S. returning to the cold tank C. the brine which came from
it and the pipe returning to the warm tank D. the brine which came from it,

page_text: The trough h. is divided by partitions or there may be a seperate trough for each
brine tank, so as to prevent the commingling of the cold brine from one freezing
box, with the warm brine from another. In each trough h. is a hinged diaphragm u.
which may be inclined in either direction, and a partition V extending longi-
tudinally through the trough and vertically, from the hinged centre of the
diaphragm u. to the bottom of the trough, divided into two waterways, with
One of which the pipe S to the cold tank C. is connected, and with the other the
pipet to the warm tank D. Now if the diaphragm u. is inclined in the direction
as shown in figure 1. the brine overflowing from the freezing box A. through
the pipe f. is conducted by the diaphragm u. into the return pipe S. connecting
with the cold tank C. but if the inclination of the diaphragm is reversed, the
brine is returned through the pipe t, to the warm tank D. The diaphragm is
readily shifted into either position by means of a rod or rope, led to any convenient
point.
By using a series of distillate freezing boxes and brine refrigerating tanks, and
filling them with hot distillate successively, when the contents of each preceding tank
in the series has been partially cooled by means of the partially cooled brine from
the warm tank and and following the use of the warm brine, in each freezing box,
with the use of the cold brine from the cold tank, the process may be continued
without intermission, effecting a good saving of time, as the several freezing boxes
will be ready to be discharged in succession and the operation of emptying one
tank will be attended to, while the process is going on in other freezing boxes of
the series.
After the first freezing of the distillate has been effected, it is necessary to cut
up the large cakes of frozen distillate, which are removed from the partitions
of the freezing boxes. This I accomplish by means of cutting boxes, the con-
struction and operation of which I will proceed to describe, with reference to
figures 1 and 7.
Immediately in front of each of the freezing boxes A is placed a cutting box B,
the top of the cutting box, being on a level with, or a little, below the bottom of
the freezing box, and the length of the cutting box being preferably somewhat
greater than the width of the freezing box as shown in figure 1. The cutting box B
may be made of wood, or other material and of any convenient dimensions in heigth
and width denpending on the capacity of the freezing box, connected therewith.
In the bottom of the cutting box are slides X, which may be closed or opened at
pleasure, and are placed a sufficient height above the floor of the factory to permit
of a wheeled truck, or other vessel N, being run under the cutting box to receive
the frozen distillate, after it has been cut into small pieces. A horizontal shaft Y,
extends lengthwise through the interior of the cutting box B which is rotated by
a steam engine or other motor. On the shaft are placed a series of short cast iron
sleeves Z. which are flanged at their ends and fastened together by bolts passing
through the flanges. Attached to these cast iron sleeves (or preferably cast in one
piece with them) are circular iron disca.b¹, of about two feet diameter, more or less
which serve to the knives or cutters C¹. These discs 61, may be about two feet
apart, and if the sleeves are shorter than that length, each alternative sleeve Z¹,
may be made without a disc b¹. The cutters C¹, are strips of wrought iron or
steel, of about two inches in width and tapering from about three eighths of an
inch at the back, to an edge at the front; the edges however do not need to be
sharp. If the discs are about two feet in diameter, teu such cutters will suffice,
but the number of cutters is not very important. The cutters extend lengthwise
of the cutting box to within a short distance of each end, and are screwed or
otherwise removably attached to the peripheries of the discs b¹.
If the freezing boxes are placed side by side, in a straight row, the cutting
boxes will also be so placed, and in this case a single shaft Y. may extend through
the entire length of the series of cutting boxes. When so arranged, a clutch is
keyed to the shaft Y. between each pair of cutting boxes, with a sliding crab
connected with the end of the outermost sleeve Z. of each cutting box, so that any
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page_text: of the cutters of the series may be started in motion, when the freezing box
connected there with is being emptied of its contents independently of others or
they may all be rotated simultaneously. A portion of the floor of the platform K¹
above the cutting boxes and on a level with the bottom of the freezing boxes, is
hinged at m³, at a point above the edge of the cutting box furthest from the front
end of the freezing box, as shown in figure 1, so that that portion of the floor of
the platform, which is immediately over the top of the cutting boxes, may be
conveniently removed or turned over on hinges to permit of the free discharge of
the frozen distillate from the freezing boxes, into the cutting boxes, the hinged
door of the freezing boxes serving as a guide to the mass of distillate in the descent
to the cutting boxes, and the floor of the platform K¹, serving as a stop to prevent
the hinged door a. being opened too far.
By means of these cutting boxes, much time is saved in preparing the frozen
distillate for the presses, and the cutting up of the larger cakes of the frozen
distillate is effected so rapidly as to prevent to a great degree the absorption of
caloric and the subsequent softening of the frozen mass befor it is removed to
the hydraulic press.
as
The apparatus before described may be modified in minor details of construction
and arrangement, but the process to be conducted threwith is substantially
follows: The saline water or brine (by which the freezing of the paraffine distillate
is accomplished) is refrigerated in a pair of tanks C. D. In the former or cold
tank by means of the condensed ammonia gas, as it comes from the condensing
apparatus and in the latter or warm tank by means of the waste or partially
spent ammonia gas which passes from the coils of the cold tank, as before
described.
Paraffine distillate containing as it comes from the stills, usually about 18 per
cent of paraffine, is run at a temperature of about 100° Fahrenheit into one or more
of the freezing boxes, in which the first chilling is to be effected; the freezing
boxes being filled, if desired, to the top: brine from the warm tank D at a
temperature varying from 10° to 45° Fahrenheit (which when the process is being
carried on continuously, is constantly drawn from the warm tank D. and circulated
by the pump Q is turned on from the horizontal main L. by means of the valve n¹,
into the supply pipe E from which it passes through short branch pipes e. into the
hollow partitions C. of the freezing boxes, the brine circulating through these
partitions for a period of five or six hours, gradually cools the paraffine distillate;
bringing the temperature down to a temperature of about 65° Fahrenheit, more or
less. The brine from the warm tank during this part of the operation, continuously
flows back to the warm tank as before described. The distillate is now sufficiently
cold to permit of its being subjected to a lower temperature in order to cool it,
with greater rapidity, down to the required temperature, to freeze it into a solid
mass. For this purpose, the brine from the warm tank D. (figure 1) is shut off
from the supply pipe E by closing, the valve n¹, and the cold brine from the cold
tank C. is admitted into the partitions of the freezing box A by opening the
valve n; and at the same time the diaphragm u. in the trough h. is shifted as to
return the outflowing brine from the freezing box A. through the pipe S. to the
tauk C. The brine coming from the cold tank will be at a temperature varying
from 10° below zero to 20° below Fahrenheit. The flow of this cold brine is then
continued for about 18 hours longer, when the distillate will be brought down to a
temperature of about 26° to 38° F heing entirely frozen and in a solid mass.
Of course the temperature above stated will vary at different stages of the
operation, and both terperatures time will be modified by the initial temperature
of the paraffine distillate when introduced into the freezing boxes, by the degree to
which the brine is refrigerated (varying with the number of coils brought into use
in the brine tanks) and by the rapidity with which the brine from the tanks) is
turned off from one of the freezing boxes, in order to introduce the cold brine as
above described, another freezing box should be ready filled with hot distillate from
tle stills, so that the brine from the warm tank can be immediately turned into it;

page_text: and so of the cold brine when the contents of the freezing box are frozen and ready
to be removed, another freezing box containing partially frozen distillate will be
prepared to receive the cold brine; and thereby a continuous operation is carried
on with great efficiency and saving of time.
When the paraffine distillate in one of the freezing boxes is fully frozen, the
door of the freezing box is opened by removal of the bolts and swinging it out on
its hinges; the floor of the platform in front of the door being removed and turned
over as shown in figure 1, exposing the top of the cutting box B the lower edge of
the door pressing against the edge of the platform. An iron rod or other instrument
is then inserted into the mass of frozen paraffine distillate, to start the cakes out
of their compartments; which owing to the inclined floor of the freezing box, and
the tapering shape of the compartments, is easily effected, the frozen cakes sliding
down and out of the freezing boxes by their own gravity, as soon as loosened. As
the pass out they are broken into large fragments by a slice bar, operated by a man
standing on the loose flooring on top of the freezing box; and these fragments of
distillate fall down into the hopper of the cutting box placed immediately below
and in front of the freezing box the door of which guides the fragments and
secures their passing at once into the cutting box, these fragments are soon cut up
into small pieces by the revolving cutter C³, and fall into a barrow N or other
movable receptacle placed under the freezing box, the slide X being drawn out to
allow the contents of the cutting box to pass out. The frozen distillate is then
removed to the hydraulic press, placed in canvas bags and subjected to pressure to
remove as far as possible, the oil with which the paraffine is associated; but the
paraffine after this pressure still retains a large amount of oil, usually about 40 per
cent. In order to remove this oil, the paraffine is then melted, and is run into one
of the freezing boxés A where it is subjected to a second freezing process. In
the second freezing it is only necessary to chill the paraffine down to about
65° Fahrenheit. For this purpose, either the brine from the warm tank or water
at a temperature of 52° is used-the cold water being preferable. When sufficiently
hard, the paraffine is then removed from the freezing box and passed into a cutting
box, as before described, and then inclosed in canvas bags, and as before described
is subjected to a second pressure of a hydraulic press to remove the oil which
remains admixed therewith.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of the said
invention, and in what manner the same is to be performed I declare that what
I claim is :-
1. The continuous process of freezing petroleum distillate for the extraction of
paraffine, herein before described, consisting of refrigerating the brine or other
freezing liquid by means of condensed ammonia gas (or other similar refrigerating
agent) passed through coils of pipe, placed in a cold brine tank, so that the gas
may partially expand therein passing the partially spent condensed gas through a
second or warm brine tank (so as partially to refrigerate the brine therein) and
thence back to the gas condenser; passing the partially cooled brine (from the
warm tank) in a continuous stream into a freezing chamber containing hot paraffine
distillate, in which the distillate is gradually and partially cooled then turning off
the stream of partially refrigerated brine into a second freezing chamber, containing
hot distillate, and turning on to the first freezing chamber, containing the partially
frozen distillate, a continuous stream of cold brine from the first or cold brine tank,
until the distillate is completely frozen; and successively treating the hot distillate
in each of a series of distillate freezing chambers, first with brine partially refri-
gerated by the partially spent gas, and then with brine more thoroughly refrigerated
by means of the condensed gas passing more directly from the gas condensing
pump into the coils of the cold brine tank:-substantially as and for the purpose
described.
2. The continuous process of freezing petroleum distillate for the extraction of
paraffine therefrom by means of a series of freezing boxes or chambers successively

page_text: filled, at suitable intervals, with hot distillate, and treating such distillate in each
cooling box successively, first with brine or other refrigerating liquid cooled in a
seperate tank, to from 10° Fahrenheit to 45° Fahrenheit, until the distillate is
partially frozen, and then with brine or other refrigerating liquid cooled in another
tank to from 10 degrees below zero Faherheit to 20 degrees Fahrenheit, until the
distillate is completely frozen; the brine from each tank being kept at the proper
temperature by circulating constantly through the tank in which it is cooled and
the freezing box; and the brine from each of the tanks when it has circulated for
a sufficient length of time, through one freezing box, being turned off and circulated
through another freezing box of the series charged with paraffine distillate, and so
on through other freezing boxes successively; substantially as described.
3. The process of extracting paraffine from petroleum distillate-which consists
in the following successive steps-
(a) Partially cooling the distillate by placing it in a freezing box through
which brine or other refrigerating liquid cooled to from 10° Fahrenheit to 45°
Fahrenheit is circulated :
4
(b) Completing the freezing of the distillate, by the circulation through the
freezing box of colder brine or other refrigerating liquid cooled to from 10 degrees
below zero Fahrenheit to 20 degrees Fahrenheit;
(c) Discharging the frozen cakes of distillate directly from the freezing box.
into a box or trough having a rotating cutter for cutting up the mass into pieces
suitable for
(d) Subjecting the frozen particles of distillate to pressure for the extraction of
the petroleum which is mechanically associated with the paraffine; substantially
as hereinbefore described.
4. In the process of freezing paraffine distillate subjecting the hot distillate
first to a temperature ranging from 45° to 10° Fahrenheit and after it has become
thereby partially congealed, subjecting it to a lower degree of temperature, ranging
from 20° above to 10° below zero Fahrenheit; substantially as described.
5. In the process of freezing or refrigerating liquids by means of the expansion
of condensed volatile gas passing the partially spent or expanded gas which passes
from one refrigerating or freezing tank or vessel into a second refrigerating tank
or vessel for the purpose of effecting the partial refrigeration of the liquid contained
in the second refrigerating tank or vessel by the more complete expansion of the
condensed volatile gas.
6. In the process of refrigerating or freezing liquids by means of the expansion
of condensed gas or volatile liquids, passing the condensed gas or other refrigerating
substance, first downwards through a vertical coil of pipe, and then upwards
through another and connecting vertical coil, to its point of exit, for the purpose
of securing the more complete expansion of the condensed substance, and thus
encreasing its efficiency as a refrigerating agent:-substantially as described.
7.--As an apparatus for freezing paraffine distillate, two or more distillate freezing
chambers, furnished with hollow partitions, or passages traversing the interior of
the chamber, for the flow of refrigerated brine or other refrigerating liquid, in
combination with two or more refrigerating tanks (for cooling the refrigerating
liquid) furnished with coils for the passage of condensed ammonia gas, or, similar
refrigerating agent, the coils of one tank being connected with corresponding coils
in the other tank or tanks of the series, so arranged substantially as described, as
that the partially spent ammonia gas from the coils of one tank may pass into and
be more fully expanded in the corresponding coils of the other tank or tanks;-
the coils being connected with a gas condensing and circulating apparatus and the
brine tanks being connected with the hollow partitions or passages of the distillate
freezing chambers by pipes, or valves, or cocks, for shifting the flow of brine from
any of the brine tanks into any of the distillate freezing chambers; substantially
as and for the purposes described.
8. As an apparatus for refrigerating brine or other liquids, two or more tanks
for holding the liquid to be refrigerated, each tank being furnished with a coil or

page_text: series of coils of pipe, each coil consisting of two vertical rows of horizontally laid
pipe, connected at their ends with return elbows; the top pipe of the first vertical
row of each coil in the first tank of the series being connected with the inflow gas
main, from a gas condenser, and the top pipe of the second vertical row of the
same coil being connected by a branch pipe, with the top pipe of the first vertical
row of the corresponding coil in the next succeeding tank, each seperate coil of
one tank being similarly connected with the corresponding coil in the next tank
of the series, and the second half of each coil in the last tank of the series being
connected with an outflow gas main connecting with the gas condenser, substantially
as described.
9. The combination with a freezing chamber for paraffine distillate, having an
inclined bottom to facilitate the discharge of the frozen mass, of a hopper or box
having a revolving cutter ;-subtantially as described.
10. The paraffine distillate cutter, consisting of a box adapted to receive the
frozen distillate as it passes from the freezing chamber, and a revolving wheel
furnished with a series of longitudinal knives and placed within the cutting box;
substantially as described.
11. The combination of a freezing chamber having inclined bottom and a door
in front hinged at top with a box or hopper having a rotary cutter and placed in
front of and below the freezing chamber, so that the front or door of the freezing
chamber shall serve as a guide to the frozen distillate as it enters the cutting box ;
substantially as described.