AN IMPROVED METHOD OR PROCESS OF AND APPARATUS FOR PURIFYING MINERAL OILS
Year: 1883

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to William Robert Lake, of the firm of Haseltine, Lake
& Co., Patent Agents, Southampton Buildings, London for an Invention
of "AN IMPROVED METHOD OR PROCESS OF AND APPARATUS FOR PURIFYING
MINERAL OILS" communicated to him from abroad by Alexandre André
junior, of Paris, France
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said William Robert Lake at the
Office of the Commissioners of Patents on the 20th July 1883.
!
WILLIAM ROBERT LAKE, of the firm of Haseltine, Lake, and Co, Patent Agents,
Southampton Buildings, London "AN IMPROVED METHOD OR PROCESS OF, AND
APPARATUS FOR, PURIFYING MINERAL OILS" [a communication to him from abroad
by Alexandre André junior, of Paris, France]
-
This invention relates to an improved method or process of, and apparatus for,
purifying mineral oils.
The production of mineral oils, such as petroleum, naphtha, boghead oil, schist
oil, and the like comprises two distinct operations, that of distillation and that of
refining or purifying.
Distillation is effected by means of fire or superheated steam according to the
specific gravity of the products which are operated upon. As a rule after the
distillation of light oils and oils used for lighting purposes, a residuum is obtained
of more or less importance and more or less rich in heavy oils from which have
heretofore been extracted lubricating oils which are very much appreciated for
industrial purposes.
The refining or purifying of all the above mentioned oils if effected by first
treating the same with sulphuric acid and subsequently washing them with water
and caustic soda. Crude mineral oils, and particularly petroleum from the
Caucasus do not yield, when distilled, more than from 28 to 35 per cent of light
oils or oils for lighting purposes; the residues of this first distillation by means of
superheated steam yield about 35 per cent of lubricating oils which are purified in

page_text: the usual manner there being left in the retorts a fluid tar very rich in lubricating
products which cannot be extracted by distillation without being decomposed.
This process especially as regards the treatment of the residues from naphtha and
petroleum yields very little, barely one third of the lubricating products, besides
being long and expensive.
According to the present invention the process employed obviates these defects,
is much simpler, more expeditious, and yields nearly 4th of the crude material.
In carrying this invention into practice the crude material is treated by sulphuric
acid in the ordinary manner but the distillation is dispensed with especially in the
case of the residues from .naphtha or petroleum used in the manufacture of
lubricating oils. A meclianical action is substituted for the distillation, this action
being that of centrifugal force developed by a hydro-extractor or turbine analogous
to those employed in the manufacture of sugar or for dyeing purposes but
appropriate to the results to be obtained.
I effect some modifications in the hydro-extractor in order to adapt the same for
the treatment of mineral oils.
As above stated I use sulphuric acid which is poured upon the mineral oil
contained in a leaden vessel provided with an agitator with paddles or an apparatus
provided with wings and actuated by the wind.
The proportion of acid employed varies from 10.to 25 per cent according to the
quality of the oil which is operated upon, or of the, oil which is to be extracted.
After sufficient agitating the mixture is allowed to rest in order to permit the
resinous matters formed by the action of the sulphuric acid to partly deposit,
the oil is subsequently' decanted and placed in a turbine. The body or reservoir
of this turbine is formed with solid sides and the lid is, made of two or more
parts joined together so as to close the said body bermetically and be easily
taken off when the apparatus is being charged; this lid however is not indis-
pensable. The lower part of the body is provided with two curved flanges or
edges.
The oil which has been treated with sulphuric acid is introduced into the said
body or reservoir, and by reason of the difference between the specific gravity of
the pure oil, and that of the resinous matter which contaminates it the latter
accumulates in consequence of the rotation of the turbine against the sides of the
reservoir, the oil becoming purer the nearer it is to the centre of the reservoir.
10
I provide the centrifugal apparatus with a flange or edge which facilitates the
projection of resinous matters and the flange or edge is designed to hold the same
together. After the rotation of the turbine, the purified oil may be drawn out by
means of a pipe connected to a gutta Hercha tube or can be drawn out by a pump
or any other suitable means.
The resinous matters accumulated in the annular channel the turbine are
withdrawn by means of spatulas or other suitable contrivances after the removal of
the clear liquid, should this resinous matter be liquid it may be removed by means
of a pump. If it is desired to use the oil still contained in the resinous matter, the
latter can
can be placed in a pressure-filter.
110
197
al mumb
ران
197
"" *1 心结 J
& "
+
+4°1
"1
If
T
pond mortiqyan
bod
of
A
4
:
130
f.
g
1, 5
to an
in
4
"
19
ti boiling aw din gesia 48 and 1.
11
1

page_text: 11
SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent filed
by the said William Robert Lake in the Patent Office on the 19th January
1884.
WILLIAM ROBERT LAKE, of the firm of Haseltine, Lake, and Co, Patent Agents;
Southampton Buildings, London "AN IMPROVED METHOD OR PROCESS OF AND
APPARATUS FOR PURIFYING MINERAL OILS" A communication.to me from abroad
by Alexandre André, junior, of Paris, France.
This invention relates to an improved method or process of, and apparatus for;
purifying mineral oils.
The manufacture of mineral oils, such as petroleum, naphtha, Boghead oil, and
schist oil, comprises two distinct operations namely, that of distillation and that of
refining or purifying.
;
".
The distillation is effected by means of fire or superheated steam according to
the specific gravity of the products which are operated upon. As a rule after the
distillation of light oils and oils used for lighting purposes, a residue is obtained
of more or less importance and more or less rich in heavy oils, from which have
heretofore been extracted lubricating oils which are very much appreciated for
industrial purposes.
The refining or purifying of all the above mentioned oils is effected by first
treating the same with sulphuric acid and then washing them with water and.
caustic soda.
:
Some crude mineral oils, and particularly petroleum from the Caucasus, do not.
yield, when distilled, more than from 28 to 35 per cent of light oils or oils adapted
for lighting purposes; the residues, of this first distillation, when distilled by
means of superheated steam, yield about 35 per cent of lubricating oils, which are
purified by the ordinary processes, and there is left in the retorts a fluid tar very
rich in lubricating products which cannot be extracted by distillation without
being decomposed.
This process, especially as regards the treatment of the residues from naphtha.
and petroleum, yields very little (barely one third) of the lubricating.products,
besides being long and expensive.
According to the present invention, the process employed obviates these defects,
is much simpler and more expeditious than the ordinary processes and yields nearly,
four fifths of the crude material
In carrying the said invention into practice the crude material is treated with
sulphuric acid in the ordinary manner, but the distillation is dispensed with,
especially in the case of the residues from naphtha or petroleum used for the
manufacture of lubricating oils. A mechanical action is substituted for the
distillation, namely that of centrifugal force developed by a hydro-extractor
or turbine analogous to those employed in the manufacture of sugar or for
dyeing purposes, but appropriate to the results to be obtained by the present
invention.
Whilst hereinafter describing the present improved mode of operation, I shall
indicate with reference to the accompanying drawing the modifications which I
effect in the hydro-extractor in order to adapt the same for the treatment of
mineral oils.
As above stated I use sulphuric acid, which is poured upon the mineral oil
contained in a leaden vessel provided with an agitator having paddles, or with an
apparatus having wings or blades and actuated by the wind.
The proportion of acid employed varies from ten to twenty five per cent,
according to the quality of the oil which is operated upon, or of the oil to be

page_text: obtained. After sufficient agitation the mixture is allowed to rest in order to
permit the impure tarry or resinous substances formed by the action of the
sulphuric acid to partly deposit; the oil is subsequently decanted and placed in a
turbine or hydro-extractor, the construction of which is shewn in the accompanying
drawing
-The basket or receptacle A of this turbine is formed with solid sides and the lid
or cover B is made in two or more parts united so that it will tightly close the said
basket and can be easily removed when the apparatus is being charged. This lid
however is not indispensable; the lower part of the basket is provided with two
curved flanges C, D.
The oil which has been treated with sulphuric acid is introduced into the said
basket and by reason of the difference between the specific gravity of the pure oil
and that of the resinous substances which contaminate it, the latter in
consequence of the rotation of the turbine accumulate at E against the sides of
the basket A, the oil becoming purer the nearer it is to the centre of the
basket.
.8.
The flange C facilitates the projection of resinous substances to the point E and
the flange D is designed to hold or retain the same in a body..
After treatment in the turbine, the purified oil may be drawn by means of a
siphon through the pipe H which is connected to a gutta percha tube I; or it may
be removed by a pump or other suitable means
The resinous substances accumulated in the annular channel E of the turbine
are withdrawn by spatulas or other suitable contrivances after the removal of the
clear liquid. Should these resinous deposits be fluid they can be removed by means
of a pump. If it is desired to extract the oil still contained in the resinous
substances, the latter can be placed in a pressure-filter...
Having thus fully described the said invention as communicated to me by my
foreign Correspondent and the manner of performing the same I wish it understood
that I claim:-
"
The above described improved method or process of and apparatus for purifying
mineral oils; the novel' and distinctive features of the said process and apparatus
being as follows, viz ;-
1.
First. The application of centrifugal force to the separation of impure tarry or
resinous substances contained in crude or distilled oils after their treatment with
sulphuric acid as above specified.
Second. The modifications in the construction of a turbine or hydro-extractor,
substantially as, and for the purpose, above set forth.
In witness whereof I the said William Robert Lake have hereunto set my hand.
and seal this Nineteenth day of January in the year of Our Lord One thousand
eiglit hundred and eighty four.