Improvements in the Distillation of Petroleum.
Year: 1893

page_text: Date of Application, 24th Feb., 1893
Complete Specification Left, 19th Dec., 1893-Accepted, 24th May, 1894
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in the Distillation of Petroleum.
JAMES ALFRED WANKLYN of 6 Derby Villas New Malden Surrey Professor of
Chemistry and WILLIAM JOHN COOPER of 6 Derby Villas New Malden Surrey
Analytical and Consulting Chemist do hereby declare the nature of this invention
to be as follows:-
:-
Our invention is an improved still in which (instead of a single exit pipe to
convey the vapour to a worm immersed in cold water) there is a multitude of exit
pipes to convey the vapour into the cooling tank. Furthermore (instead of using
water for cooling) we use petroleum which thereby becomes heated preparatory
to being employed in charging the still.
The advantages are great economy of fuel and an improved product.
JAMES ALFRED WANKLYN.
WILLIAM JOHN COOPER.
COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in the Distillation of Petroleum.
JAMES ALFRED WANKLYN of 6 Derby Villas New Malden Surrey Professor of
Chemistry and WILLIAM JOHN COOPER of 6 Derby Villas New Malden Surrey
Consulting and Analytical Chemist do hereby declare the nature of this invention
and in what manner the same is to be performed, to be particularly described
and ascertained in and by the following statement :―
Our Improvements in the Distillation of Petroleum relate to the use of a new
and improved still and are described as follows:-
Our still may be best explained by comparison with the common apparatus
hitherto employed for distillation. This consists of a boiler in which the liquid is
boiled and converted into vapour, the still-head in which the vapour rises, the
exit-pipe passing from the still-head into and through the condenser and the receiver
into which the liquid-result of distillation (termed the distillate) flows. An example
illustrating the mode in which we construct our improved still is shewn in the
aunexed drawing, which is on the scale of half inch to the foot, a portion of the
back end of the boiler is represented and marked B, and this drawing relates to a
boiler which for the purpose of illustration is taken to be about 14 feet in length and
6 feet broad, and for the greater part of its length, 4 feet in height, the smaller
parts of its length the back end-being much taller viz.: 14 feet in height as shewn
in the drawing. This raised portion of the boiler corresponds to the still-head,
which (instead of being perforated by one or a few large holes to give egress to
one large exit pipe) is perforated by very numerous, say about 35, holes and say
about 3 inches in diameter and arranged in three fows the top row of twelve holes,
the middle row of eleven holes, and the lowest row of twelve holes. From these
holes issue forth 35 exit pipes which enter the condenser and then pass through.
the condenser and ultimately reach the receiver. Vide the drawing.
In the ordinary still cold liquid is made to run into the bottom of the condenser C
But we find it better and more
and run out near the top of the condenser.
economical to employ as the cooling liquid not water but the liquid upon which we
propose to operate and the overflow pipe instead of conveying the liquid away is
ID...
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page_text: made into a feeding pipe and employed to feed the boiler with hot liquid. There
is a stop-cock in this feeding pipe, as shewn in the drawing. When required the
liquid employed for cooling may when it becomes heated, be drawn off and be
replaced by like liquid at a lower and cooling temperature.
The receiver R is a closed metallic box. It receives the liquid (distillate) which
flows into it through the very numerous pipes, and it has an air tube Y with stop
cock and another pipe Z through which it is emptied into the tank which ultimately
stores purified distillate.
The pipe Z is much prolonged and furnished with a stop-cock and has another
function beyond its use as an exit-tube as will presently become apparent.
In the drawing the incline of 35 exit-pipes is exhibited as 9 inches in 14 feet
and the ratio of the total area of the 35 exit pipes to the area of the surface of the
liquid in the boiler is about 1 to 50.
These numerical relations are advantageous but they may be considerably
varied as may be required according to the materials operated upon as will be
obvious to persons acquainted with distilling operations.
The scale of the distilling plant is also obviously capable of variation as will
be well understood by persons of experience. The boiler and also the condenser
should be coated with a material that will not readily conduct heat.
We find in practice that a great economy of fuel attends the entire
arrangement.
An important feature of our improved still is that it admits of the easy
performance of the distillation at pressures below the ordinary pressure of the
atmosphere.
If the pipe Z be so prolonged as to furnish a vertical column of liquid
40 feet in perpendicular height then the distillation may be so managed as to be
distillation in approximate vacuum. And if the receiver R be furnished with a
suitable pressure gauge or manometer the distillation may be conducted at any
desired degree of reduced pressure by proper manipulation of the two stop cocks in
Y and Z. Our still creates and maintains its own vacuum.
We find that a marked improvement in the quality of the product is obtained by
working our improved still at reduced pressures.
When heating petroleum liquid say for example "Russian kerosene" the liquid
is boiled in the boiler "B" and the condenser "C" is filled with that liquid in a
cold condition.
The distillate is received in the receiver "R" and conveyed through pipe Z
into a storage tank, and the liquid employed for cooling is drawn off and replaced,
all in the manner herein before described.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of this invention
and the manner in which the same is to be performed we declare that what we
claim is.
1. The production of improved distillates such as petroleum distillates and in
particular the distillate of that kind of petroleum known as Russian kerosene by
the use of our improved still constructed and used substantially as described.
2. The combination of parts forming our improved distilling apparatus substantially
as described.
3. The use of crude petroleum or other liquid proposed to be distilled as a
cooling fluid so as to effect economy of heat and consequently of fuel substantially
as described.
4. The production of distillates at reduced and also at prescribed pressures by
the means of our improved apparatus substantially as described.
Dated this 19th day of December 1893.
JAMES ALFRED WANKLYN..
WILLIAM JOHN COOPER.