IMPROVEMENTS IN CONTINUOUS DISTILLING APPARATUS FOR DISTILLING PETROLEUM AND OTHER KINDS OF OILS
Year: 1870

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to Thomas Harvey, of Saint Clements House,
Clements Lane, in the City of London, Gentleman, for the
Invention of "IMPROVEMENTS IN CONTINUOUS DISTILLING APPARATUS FOR
DISTILLING PETROLEUM AND OTHER KINDS OF OILS." -A communication
from abroad by Henry Francis Howell, of Saint Catharines, in the
COMPLETE SPECIFICATION filed by the said Thomas Harvey at the
Office of the Commissioners of Patents, with his Petition and
Declaration, on the 12th September 1870, pursuant to the 9th
Section of the Patent Law Amendment Act, 1852.
TO ALL TO WHOM THESE PRESENTS SHALL COME, I, THOMAS
HARVEY, of Saint Clements House, Clements Lane, in the City of
London, Gentleman, send greeting.
WHEREAS I am in possession of an Invention for "IMPROVEMENTS
IN CONTINUOUS DISTILLING APPARATUS FOR DISTILLING PETROLEUM AND OTHER

page_text: KINDS OF OILS," and have petitioned Her Majesty to grant unto me,
my executors, administrators, and assigns, Her Royal Letters Patent
for the same, and have made solemn Declaration that the same is a
communication to me from abroad by Henry Francis Howell, of Saint
Catharines, in the County of Lincoln, Province of Ontario, Canada.
NOW KNOW YE, that I, the said Thomas Harvey, do hereby declare
that the following Complete Specification, under my hand and seal,
fully describes and ascertains the nature of the said Invention, and in
what manner the same is to be performed, in and by the following
statement:-
The_object_of_my_Invention is to distil petroleum and other kinds
of oils, but more particularly crude petroleum and other oils of inferior
quality, in a continuous manner that admits of separately obtaining the
naphtha and the lighter oils therefrom, and at the same time separating
the heavier oil, grease, or gum from the crude material into separate
grades or qualities, by which. I am enabled to obtain or utilize from
90 to 95 per cent. of the crude oils. This is effected by the mode
employed of constructing and working the distilling apparatus here-
after more fully described as will be seen when reference is made to
the accompanying Drawings. At the same time my improvement
admits of distilling oils with more safety and economy and much less
offensive odour than any other process heretofore employed for the
same purposes.
First. A part of my improvement consists in employing one, two,
or a scries of tank stills, for first vapourizing the naphtha and light oils
from the crude by steam of a proper temperature under pressure. The
vapour and oil thus produced in these stills is made to pass into one,
two, or a series of condensers or dividers, and thereby the different
gravities of naphtha and light oils are obtained by causing the vapour
of naphtha and oil to pass through a sufficient quantity of condensing
water of the proper temperature in the bottom of each condenser for
condensing and collecting naphtha and oils of different qualities and
gravities due to the temperature of the condensing water in each
divider.
Second. Another portion of my improvement is in the structure of
the still in which the oil receives its final distillation or vapourizing.
The still is constructed for arranging in a boiler, by preference an upright
boiler, the outer surface of the still is acted on by the heat from the

page_text: water and steam contained in the boiler; the fire for heating the boiler
is applied to its lower end in a suitably constructed furnace, or if desired
the steam can be generated in a separate and detached boiler, at a safe
distance from the distilling apparatus and carried to the boiler still by
suitable pipes, this would avoid all danger by fire being used under the
boiler still. This still is economical in construction and working, and
prevents any heat getting to the oil except through the medium of the
water and steam in the boiler.
Third. Another portion of my improvement consists in destroying the
molecular condition, or atomizing the oil while undergoing the last
distillation to cause a sudden and instantaneous vapourizing of it as
herein-after stated; any mechanical force may be employed for this
purpose. I prefer the use of steam, which is applied in the following
manner-As the stream of oil enters the still through a suitably
constructed pipe or orifice it is brought into forcible contact with a jct
or jets of steam taken from the boiler which destroys the molecular
condition of the oil, thereby causing it to pass instantly into vapour
by the heat in the steam and from the still. To aid this process, in
addition to the current of steam made to strike against the oil as it
enters the still, the oil supply pipe leading from the tank to the still
is provided with a jet or jets of steam by suitably constructed nozzles
arranged in the inside of the oil supply pipe for the purpose of assisting
in atomizing or destroying the molecular condition of the oil in its
passage from the supply tank into the still.
Fourth. Another portion of my improvement consists in using a vacuum
in the still, constructed in connection with the boiler, which vacuum is
made by any suitably constructed air pump and condenser. By the use of
the vacuum the oil in the still is vapourized at a lower temperature and
with more economy than could be done under atmospheric pressure, and
admits of extracting or vapourizing nearly all the remaining oil, grease,
and other products from the crude oil. It also greatly prevents the
vapourizing of the sulphur, arsenic, and any other odourizing and injurious
ingredients the crude oil may contain, which ingredients require a higher
temperature to vapourize them than is necessary for the oil, therefore
an oil is obtained by this method of distillation comparatively pure and
deodorized. The vapourizing stills are provided with a suitable system
of steam pipes, and cocks or valves for supplying the proper quantity
and pressure of steam to the stills, and likewise the stills and condensers

page_text: are connected by a system of piping and cocks or valves for conveying
the vapour of naphtha and oil from the stills into the condensers or
dividers, and from condenser to condenser for producing any quality
of naphtha or, oil required.
To give a fuller understanding of my said Invention reference will be
made to the accompanying Drawings forming a part of this Specification,
and to the letters and figures marked thereon.
The boiler still and all its appendages are placed in connection on the
Drawings, so as to shew the working of the whole apparatus by one
general view. In practice the different parts may be arranged in other
positions to suit the convenient working of the Invention or for any
other purpose.
C is a metal tank in which the crude oil is placed preparatory to
distilling. This tank is furnished with coils of steam piping for heating
the oil to precipitate the foreign matter it may contain as much as
possible before the distilling process is commenced. A is a still into
which the crude oil from the tank C is passed through the pipe c¹. The
still is furnished with steam from the boiler B₁ by the pipe d for
naphthalizing the crude oil. The vapour of naphtha is taken from the
still A by the pipe a and passed through the condensers or dividers
Nos. 1, 2, 3, and 4 for the purpose of separating and obtaining different
gravities of naphtha in the following manner:-The bottom of each
divider is provided with a suitable quantity of water W (excepting
divider No. 4) of a proper temperature for condensing naphtha of the
gravity required in each divider. The condensed naphtha floats on the
water in the dividers, and when it reaches a given height at o it is drawn
off by the syphone into the tank D as represented in connection with
divider No. 1. The stills A and B will be made of sheet iron or other
metal of suitable strength and shape to resist the pressure of steam
employed in them for vapourizing the oil. The top of the stills are
provided with man-holes M, M, to enter them for cleaning and other
purposes. are cocks or valves connected to the various pipes for letting
on or shutting off the steam or oil, or the vapour of naphtha and oil, as
may be required in working the apparatus. Each divider will be furnished
with a syphon and separate tank for receiving the naphtha condensed in
it. S is a syphon (which will be attached to each divider) for regulating
the proper quantity of condensing water; T are thermometers arranged
to the sides of the dividers for ascertaining the proper temperature of the

page_text: condensing water W. The vapour of naphtha from the still A first
passes into the divider No. 1, and through the water which condenses
that portion of it due to the temperature of the water it contains. The
uncondensed vapour then passes into divider No. 2 by the pipe g and
through the condensing water, which condenses that portion of the
vapour due to the temperature of the water in No. 2. Again the uncon-
densed vapour from the divider No. 2 passes into divider No. 3 by the
pipe when that portion of it is condensed due to the temperature of
the water in No. 3. Finally, the remaining vapour from the divider No. 3
passes through the coil of tubing in the refrigerating condenser No. 4,
by which the whole of it is condensed and received into a tank suitably
placed for that purpose. The condensing water in each tank is kept at
a proper temperature by steam taken into them by the pipes i, i, i, from
the steam pipe D. The temperature of the water in No. 1 divider is
about 130 Fahrenheit, which condenses and retains naphtha of a gravity
of from 60 to 70. The temperature of the water in No. 2 divider is
from 50° to 60°, which condenses and retains naphtha at about 80 gravity.
The temperature of the water in No. 3 divider is from 40° to 50°, which
condenses and retains naphtha of about 90 gravity. The temperature of
the refrigerating condenser No. 4 is from 32° to 35°, and produces naphtha
of about 100 gravity. After the naphtha has been vapourized from the
crude oil in the still A it is then forced out of the same by the pressure
of steam acting on its surface into the still B through pipe b, the
temperature of the oil in still B is raised from 300° to 400° Fahrenheit
by pressed steam of that temperature or superheated steam. The vapour
of oil produced in this still is carried through the pipe i into the light
oil condenser L, where it is condensed in a similar manner by the process
described in one of the dividers, and is drawn off or discharged into a
tank, as may be desired. When the light oil is vapourized from the oil
in still B it is then forced out of the still B by the pressure of steam
through the pipe into the closed supply tank H preparatory to re-
distilling it in the boiler still I. Pipe t attached to the closed tank H
is for giving vent to the air it may contain when being supplied with oil
from the still B. Steam pipe d' carries steam into the top of the supply
tank H to prevent a vacuum in the supply tank when the oil is passing
from the tank into the still I. The oil in the tank H is increased in
density by evaporating the naphtha and light oil from it in stills A and B,
and is now subjected to a special treatment as it passes into the still I
for vapourizing it at a comparatively low temperature, which at the

page_text: samme Lime prevents the vapourizing or suipnur, arsenic, and other
odourizing or injurious ingredients, thereby producing a comparatively
pure and deodorized carbon oil, with other advantages before stated.
This object is effected by atomizing or destroying the molecular condition
of the oil by any suitable mechanical means or processes as it enters the
still, and vapourizing the oil in its atomized condition in a vacuum in
the still I, which vacuum is produced by the condenser R and air pump P
suitably constructed for the purposes intended.
B', B', is an upright boiler with a still I suspended in it, as repre-
sented; F, F, are furnaces under the end of the boiler for generating
_steam_;_m, m, is the water and steam space between the boiler and the
still shells, as represented, for practical purposes; the shells of the still
and boiler will be stay bolted together to increase their strength. The
products of combustion from the boiler fire will be conducted through a
horizontal flue under ground to a safe distance from the boiler into a
chimney to avoid all danger by fire from the boiler furnace. As before
stated the steam may be generated in a separate boiler placed at a safe
distance from the distilling apparatus and supplied to the still or
boiler B¹, B¹, by pipes. The oil from the tank H is let into the still I
through the pipe V, while a vacuum is formed in the still, as before
stated, by pump P, and as the oil enters the still it is met by a jet or
jets of steam from the boiler taken through the pipe J, causing the oil
and steam to impinge or strike each other, thereby atomizing the oil,
and causing a rapid vapourizing of it by the heat from the steam and
radiated heat from the walls of the still, owing to the increased surface
of the atomized oil exposed to the action of the heat, and also vapourizing
it in a vacuum, which causes an increased distillation with a lower
temperature. It will be observed that all the heat that enters the still
passes through the medium of water or steam, consequently all danger
of fire igniting the oil or its vapour is avoided, which is a common danger
in the ordinary process of distilling. The oil supply pipe V connecting
the still I and tank H is provided with a steam pipe n for taking steam
from the boiler into the supply pipe V for assisting in atomizing the oil
as it passes from the tank into the still. The ends of the pipe V and J
in the still are made of any suitable shape to cause the jets of steam
and oil to impinge or act with the greatest possible force on each other
as they enter the still to destroy the molecular condition of the oil.
the present case the end of the pipe V is furnished with a circular concave
In.

page_text: disc N, against which the oil is dashed or forced, and the end of the
steam pipe J, with a rose-shaped outlet for the steam corresponding in
size to the disc N.
Other means besides the use of steam may be employed for atomizing
the oil. For instance, by pumping or forcing it into the still I under
pressure causing it to dash or strike against the side of the still or any
object placed therein, thereby destroying its molecular condition. Steam
in the meantime would be admitted into the still for vapourizing it. The
condensed water and oil is drawn from the still by the pump P through
the pipe in the condenser R, and is discharged into the receiver K,
where the oil is separated from the water, and passes into the tank Z
through the tube X. The still I is provided with a glass gauge Y to
indicate the height of the residuum in the still. X is a steam pipe for
carrying steam into the still I for agitating the residuum therein, and
blowing it through the piper into a closed tank preparatory to re-
distilling the residuum.
The distilling process of the crude oil herein-before described produces
or utilizes about 60 per cent. of the naphtha and oil, and in order to
obtain a further yield of 30 or 32 per cent. of oil and other products
from the residuum I again pass the residuum into a second still of a
similar structure, and likewise atomize and distil it in a vacuum. In
the last-mentioned process of distilling the condensing apparatus will
be larger in its parts to prevent choking by naphtholine and other
substances and to facilitate the cleaning of the different parts of it, the
oil in the last distillation is condensed at a temperature of 90° to 100°
Fahrenheit.
Having now fully described the nature and manner of constructing
and working the said Invention what I claim is,—
Firstly. One, two, or a series of condensers or dividers Nos. 1, 2, 3,
and 4 and L for condensing and collecting different qualities of naphtha
and light oils as herein-before stated, arranged with each other and the
tank stills A and B and connected by means of pipes as represented, or
constructed, arranged, and connected in any other equivalent manner by
which the same results can be obtained in distilling naphtha and oil from
crude petroleum and other inferior kinds of oils as stated in the
foregoing Specification.
Secondly. Still I, constructed and arranged in the inside of a boiler, by
preference an upright boiler or its equivalent, for the purpose of distilling

page_text: petroleum and other kinds of oils in the manner and for the purposes
stated in the foregoing Specification.
Thirdly. The use of a vacuum in the still I as proposed to be con-
structed for obtaining the advantages stated in the foregoing Specification
in distilling petroleum and other kinds of oils.
Fourthly. Atomizing or destroying the molecular condition of the oil
by a jet or jets of steam which are made to strike or impinge against the
stream of oil as it enters the still I in the manner represented and stated
in the foregoing Specification, or by the use of steam in any other
equivalent manner, or any other means by which the molecular condition
of the oil can be destroyed or atomized in the still I for the purposes
stated in the foregoing Specification.
Fifthly. The arrangement or any part of the arrangement or any other-
equivalent arrangement of the tanks C and H, still tanks A and B,
dividers Nos. 1, 2, 3, and 4, tanks L and K, still I, condenser R, air
pump P, and the piping as represented by the accompanying Drawings
for connecting the different parts of the apparatus together for con-
veying the vapour of naphtha and oil, or oil, naphtha, and steam from
one portion of the apparatus to another as herein-before specified and
for the purposes stated in the foregoing Specification.
In witness whereof, I, the said Thomas Harvey, have hereunto
set my hand and seal, this Eighth day of September, in the year
of our Lord One thousand eight hundred and seventy.