IMPROVEMENTS IN REFINING PETROLEUM OILS AND OTHER OLEAGINOUS SUBSTANCES AND FOR DE-ODORIZING THE SAME
Year: 1882

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to Edward Walworth Bell of 13 North John Street
Liverpool in the County of Lancaster for an invention of "IMPROVEMENTS IN
REFINING PETROLEUM OILS AND OTHER OLEAGINOUS SUBSTANCES AND FOR
DE-ODORIZING THE SAME" A communication from abroad by Edward
C. Kattell of Binghampton in the county of Broome and State of New York
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said Edward Walworth Bell at
the Office of the Commissioners of Patents on the 2nd May 1882.
EDWARD WALWORTH BELL of 13 North John Street Liverpool in the County
of Lancaster "IMPROVEMENTS IN REFINING PETROLEUM OILS AND OTHER
OLEAGINOUS SUBSTANCES AND FOR DEODORISING THE SAME" a communication
from abroad by Edward C. Kattell of Binghampton in the County of Broome and
State of New York
One of the products of the refining of crude petroleum is a thick tarry substance.
commonly known as "petroleum residuum" the vaporizing point of which is very
high frequently as high as 600 degrees Fahrenheit. This residuum contains an
admixture of deleterious substances that impart a very unpleasant taint or odor
and which cannot be eliminated by the action of either heat, steam hot air or air
mingled with steam whether the steam be of ordinary temperature or superheated
when employed at such temperatures and in such quantities as do not raise the
temperature of the mass above 212° Fahrenheit. These deleterious substances are
found in the residuum which results from any of the ordinary methods of refining
and one of the reasons why the substances which produce the taint cannot be
removed by any of the processes heretofore known is that heretofore the mass has
been acted upon by either steam, or steam and air combined under such conditions
that the entire mass was not raised to the boiling point of water. Therefore the
steam which in its passage to the material united with the deleterious substance or
substances was condensed and during such condensation parted with the deleterious
substance or substances which then retained in the intermixed mass of residuum
and water, therefore the material was not deodorized.

page_text: Another reason why the taint or odor cannot be removed by the use of either of
the above mentioned Agents, unless the mass is raised above 212 degrees, is that
the deleterious material will not be oxidised at low temperatures but my foreign
Correspondent has found that by heating the entire body of residuum which is to
be treated to a temperature of above 212 degrees Fahrenheit and below its point
of vaporisation say 400 degrees to 600 degrees Fahrenheit and then subjecting it
whilst at this temperature to the action of superheated steam and atmospheric air
combined, it is possible to effect a thorough deodorization of the mass without loss
in bulk by evaporation.
In carrying the invention into effect any suitable vessel is employed provided
with means for admitting and discharging the matter to be treated and for forcing
superheated steain and air into the lower part thereof and through the said matter
being treated until the entire mass is raised nearly to its vaporizing point which
with petroleum-residuum of the ordinary density will be between 400 degrees and
600 degrees Fahrenheit. After the temperature has been raised to about this
point the supply of air and superheated steam is decreased to such an extent as to
not materially increase the temperature of the mass within the tank and thus
practically avoid any vaporisation of the residuum.
It will be readily understood that as the mingled air and superheated steam
pass upward through the mass it is brought into intimate contact with the particles
of residuum which have by this high temperature been expanded and driven
asunder to such an extent as to greatly facilitate the application of the air and
superheated steam thereto. The operation is continued until the deleterious
substances which impart to the residuum its unpleasant taint and odor have been
thoroughly oxidized and eliminated when the steam and air are turned off and the
mass allowed to cool-Grease lard tallow and other oleaginous substances which
do not vaporise at a point below 212 degrees Fahrenheit can be similarly treated
because they can all be heated to the point which is necessary to prevent con-
densing the steam to water without undue waste by evaporation which is one of
the principle features of operation which distinguish the process constituting this
Invention,

page_text: SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent filed
by the said Edward Walworth Bell in the Great Seal Patent Office on the
1st November 1882.
EDWARD WALWORTH BELL of 13 North John Street Liverpool in the County
of Lancaster. "IMPROVEMENTS IN REFINING PETROLEUM OILS AND
OLEAGINOUS SUBSTANCES AND FOR DEODORIZING THE SAME" a communication
OTHER
from abroad by Edward C. Kattell of Binghampton in the County of Broome and
State of New York
One of the products of the refining of crude petroleum is a thick tarry substance
commonly known as "Petroleum residuum "the vaporizing point of which is very
high frequently as high as 600° Fahrenheit. This residuum contains an admixture
of deleterious substances that impart a very unpleasant taint or odor and which
cannot be eliminated by the action of either heat, steam, hot air, or air mingled
with steam whether the steam be of ordinary temperature or superheated when
employed at such temperatures and in such quantities as do not raise the tem-
perature of the mass above 212° Fahrenheit. These deleterious substances are
found in the residuum which results from any of the ordinary methods of refining;
and one of the reasons why the substances which produce the taint cannot be
removed by any of the processes heretofore known is, that heretofore the Dass
has been acted upon by either steam or steam and air combined under such con-
ditions that the entire mass was not raised to the boiling point of water. Therefore
the steam which in its passage through the material united with the deleterious
substance or substances was condensed and during such condensation parted with
the deleterious substance or substances which then remained in the intermixed
mass of residuum and water, therefore the material was not deodorized.
Another reason why the taint or odor cannot be removed by the use of either
of the above mentioned agents unless the mass is raised above 212° is that the
deleterious material will not be oxidized at low temperatures but my foreign
correspondent has found that by heating the entire body of residuum which is to
be heated to a temperature of above 212° Fahrenheit and below its point of
vaporization say 400° to 600° Fahrenheit and then subjecting it whilst at this
temperature to the action of superheated steam and atmospheric air combined it is
possible to effect a thorough deodorization of the mass without loss in bulk by
evaporation.
In carrying the Invention into effect any suitable vessel is employed provided
with means for admitting and discharging the matter to be treated and for forcing
superheated steam and air into the lower part thereof and through the said matter
being treated.
And in order that the said Invention may be fully understood I shall now
proceed more particularly to describe the same and for that purpose shall refer to
the figure on the annexed sheet of drawings
A represents a tank or reservoir of any suitable material or size provided at its
lower end with a pipe A' and stop cock a through which to draw off the contents
of the tank.
B is a steam pipe leading from a steam boiler and passing through the furnace
beneath the boiler, or other contrivances may be used by which the steam after
leaving the boiler may be superheated to say 1,500° Fahrenheit.
C, C, represent a pipe the lower end c of which opens into the lower part of
the tank A. The upper outer end of the pipe C. C¹ is provided with an opening D
and valve or stop cock d by means of which the admission of air may be
regulated,

page_text: The pipe B enters the pipe C. C'. near the opening D the relative diameters of
the end b of the steam pipe and the part C of the air pipe being such as to form
an injector in such manner that when superheated steam is discharged through the
pipe B it will draw a volume of air through the opening D and discharge the
mingled air and superheated steam into the lower part of the tank; and when
preferred a perforated worm or coil of pipe may be attached to the end of the
pipe c to effect a more uniform distribution of the steam and air throughout the
lower portion of the contents of the tank.
E is a pipe for conducting the residuum into the tank A.
F is a discharging nozzle attached to the top of the tank and provided with a
stop cock at f.
When preferred a pipe may be attached to the outer smaller end of the nozzle F
to conduct to any point the vapors which pass from the tank.
In carrying out the Invention the tank A is partially filled with the petroleum
residuum which is to be treated and there is forced into it through the pipes B. C. C¹
a stream of superheated steam and atmospheric air until the entire mass is raised
nearly to its vaporizing point; which with petroleum residuum of the ordinary
density will be between 400° and 600° Fahrenheit-After the temperature has
been raised to about this point the supply of air and superheated steam is decreased
to such an extent as to not materially increase the temperature of the mass within
the tank and thus practically avoid any vaporization of the residium.
It will be readily understood that as the mingled air and superheated steam pass
upward through the mass it is brought into intimate contact with the particles of
residium which have by this high temperature been expanded and driven asunder
to such an extent as to greatly facilitate the application of the air and superheated
steam thereto
The operation is continued until the deleterious substances which impart to
the residium its unpleasant taint and odor have been thoroughly oxidized and
eliminated when the steam and air are turned off and the mass allowed to cool.
I am aware that steam and air have been employed in refining crude oil and I
am also aware that atmospheric air and superheated steam have been employed for
converting hydrocarbon oils into vapour in the manufacture of illuminating gas.
Hence I do not claim the use of superheated steam and atmospheric air for the
purpose of vaporizing oils or other oleaginous substances but the said process
constituting this Invention differs essentially from any other of which I have
knowledge in treating with air and superheated steam an oleaginous substance
which is raised to and maintained at a temperature above 212° Fahrenheit which
temperature prevents the condensation of the steam to water and secondly in
treating an oleaginous substance with superheated steam and air applied thereto in
such quantities and at such temperatures as to maintain the mass under treatment
permanently at a temperature below its vaporizing point and thirdly in treating an
oleaginous material combined with atmospheric air and superheated steam in
an open vessel in such manner that the substance which causes the taint or
objectionable odor therein is discharged into the open air while all the valuable
portion of the material is retained in the tank without vaporization.
Grease Lard Tallow and other oleaginous substances which do not vaporize at
a point below 212° Fahrenheit can be similary treated because they can all be
heated to the point which is necessary to prevent condensing the steam to water
without undue waste by evaporation which is one of the principal features of
operation which distinguish the process constituting this Invention.
The stop cock f may be closed until the mass within the tank is heated to almost
212° Fahrenheit thereby saving heat which might otherwise be wasted
Having now described and particularly ascertained the nature of the said
Invention and the manner in which the same is or may be used or carried into
effect I would observe in conclusion that I am aware that it has been proposed to
volatilize a portion of the material by the use of steam at a high temperature and
then oxidize the oil by means of currents of heated air whereby is produced a resin

page_text: having certain desirable qualities Hence I do not claim any portion of the said
process but what I claim as the Invention secured to me by the herein before in
part recited Letters Patent is :—
The herein described process of deodorizing an oleaginous substance which
consists in subjecting it to the action of superheated steam and atmospheric air
introduced below the surface of the mass the oleaginous substance being maintained
at a temperature between 212° Fahrenheit and its point of vaporizing to prevent
condensation of steam substantially as set forth.
In witness whereof I the said Edward Walworth Bell have to this my
Specification set my hand and seal this Thirtieth day of October One
thousand eight hundred and eighty-two.
EDWARD WALWORTH BELL. (L.S.)