Improvements relating to the Distillation and Breaking Up of Liquid Hydrocarbons and similar Substances, and to Apparatus therefor.
Year: 1893

page_text: Date of Application, 1st Mar., 1893
Complete Specification Left, 23rd Nov., 1893-Accepted, 28th Feb., 1894
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION.
Improvements relating to the Distillation and Breaking Up of
Liquid Hydrocarbons and similar Substances, and to Apparatus
therefor.
I, FRANK WILLIAM CLARK, of Illawarra, South Norwood Hill, in the County
of Surrey, Engineer, do hereby declare the nature of this invention to be as
follows:-
My invention relates to the distillation and breaking up of liquid hydrocarbons
and other volatile liquids or spirits, and its object is to provide simple and efficient
means for separating and collecting the different grades or specific gravities of
such liquids.
My said invention comprises an improved method of and apparatus for effecting
the fractional distillation, breaking up or separation and collection of the said
liquids.
For this purpose I proceed as follows, viz. :-I introduce the liquid into a suit-
able evaporator or retort in which a vacuum or partial vacuum is created and in
which I vaporize, with the application of heat if necessary, the more volatile
portions of the said liquid. I then couvey the vapor, by means of a carrier such
as air or gas, into a condenser, or successively through two or more condensers,
using a pump or other suitable means for drawing such carrier together with the
vapor from the evaporator or retort and forcing the same into the condenser or
condensers.
In the said condenser or condensers, the vapor is cooled under a suitable
pressure sufficient to ensure the condensation of the said vapor. The air or other
carrier is forced from the condenser or condensers through an outlet-pipe provided
with a loaded or spring valve or other suitable device for regulating the vacuum
in the retort and the pressure in the condenser or condensers, and is conducted
back to the retort. The said air or other carrier is, in this manner, kept
circulating through the apparatus and is used over and over again for conveying
or carrying fresh quantities of the vapor from the retort to the condenser.
The heavier or less volatile portions of the liquid, which are not vaporized by
the heat in the evaporator or retort, are collected therein and drawn off from
time to time. The products of condensation are also from time to time drawn off
from the condenser or condensers. To facilitate this drawing off, I provide
suitable means whereby the pressure may, when desired, be equalized throughout
the apparatus.
It is obvious that, by this treatment, the said liquids may be effectually broken
up or separated into different grades or specific gravities. And, by varying the
temperature, and the vacuum or the pressure in the retort and condenser or con-
densers, and other conditions under which the process is carried on, the specific
gravity of the products of condensation or distillation drawn off from the
condenser or condensers may be increased or diminished as required.
A convenient and advantageous arrangement of apparatus for carrying on the
said process, is constructed as follows, viz. :-
The evaporator or retort is preferably made of cylindrical form, and is divided
into three or more compartments by means of suitable plates. In the central and
larger compartment are arranged suitable tubes which connect the two end
compartments. Or, in place of the tubes, suitable plates may be so arranged as
to form serpentine passages. Or other convenient means may be provided for
ensuring the proper distribution, and, if necessary, the effective heating, of the

page_text: liquid. The central compartment of the evaporator is if necessary connected with
a boiler or heater in such a manner that steam, hot water, or other heating medium
may be circulated through the said compartment.
A tank or reservoir for containing the liquid to be distilled and broken up,
suitably connected with the evaporator or retort and means are provided for
regulating the flow of the liquid into the said evaporator or retort. For instance,
I sometimes provide for drawing the liquid froin an underground tank by the
vacuum produced within the evaporator or retort, through a pipe or pipes provided
with suitable controlling valves or cocks. Or I connect with the said tank,
regulating-boxes designed to be partially filled with water, through which the said
liquid will rise and can be seen rising. There are as many of these regulating-
boxes as there are tubes in the retort, and each regulating-box is provided with a
pipe extending from the space in the said box above the level of the water therein,
into one of the compartments of the retort, so that the liquid which rises through
the water, will flow through the said pipe into the corresponding tube. Suitable
cocks or valves are provided for regulating or controlling the flow of the liquid
from the tank; and for regulating the flow of the liquid through the aforesaid
boxes. I also provide, if necessary, for regulating the quantity of air or gas
flowing through the apparatus.
The condensers are also preferably of cylindrical form, and, like the evaporator,
are divided into three or more compartments, by means of plates, the central and
larger compartment having arranged therein suitable tubes connecting the two
end compartments, or other convenient cooling surfaces.
A pump or fan of any suitable description is provided, the suction-pipe of
which is connected with one of the end compartments of the evaporator or retort
at the top thereof, the delivery-pipe of the said pump or fan being connected with
one or more of the compartments of the condenser or condensers. One of the end
compartments of the condenser is connected with one of the end compartments of
the retort by a pipe which is provided with a loaded or spring valve or other
suitable valve or cock, so constructed that it can be readily adjusted to regulate
the pressure in the condenser or condensers. A bye-pass is provided around the
said valve for the purpose hereinafter explained, and in this bye-pass is arranged
a suitable cock or valve.
Beneath the evaporator or retort is arranged a tank for collecting the liquid
therefrom, which tank is provided with a draw-off cock. This tank is connected
with the end compartments of the retort by pipes provided with suitable cocks or
valves. The evaporator and condensers are also provided with suitable draw-off
cocks.
One or more tanks provided with draw-off cocks are similarly arranged beneath
the condenser or condensers, and are connected with the end compartments thereof
by pipes, provided with suitable cocks or valves. The condensing compartment
or compartments of the condenser or condensers are sometimes connected with
any suitable apparatus for effecting the circulation of cold water, brine or other
cooling medium through the said compartment or compartments.
The evaporator or retort is provided with a vacuum-gauge, and the condensers
are provided with pressure-gauges.
My improved method may be carried into effect in this apparatus as follows,
that is to say-The end compartments of the retort, and of the condenser or
condensers, and the pipes connected therewith, are first charged with a suitable
carrier such as air or gas. The pump or fan is then started and draws the air or
other carrier from the retort and forces it through the condenser or condensers.
At the same time a heating medium, such as steam or hot water, is caused to
circulate through the central compartment of the retort, and cold water, or other
cooling medium through the central compartment of the condenser or condensers.
The cocks are then opened to admit liquid from the tank to the regulating-
boxes and are so adjusted that the flow of the said liquid through the several
boxes is equal or about equal, after which the supply of the liquid to all the tubes

page_text: of the evaporator can be easily regulated. As the liquid passes through these
tubes, the lighter or more volatile portions of such liquid are vaporized by the
heat of the steam or other medium surrounding the said tubes, or by the vacuum
or by both, and the vapor is drawn out of the retort with the air or other carrier
by means of the pump, and forced through the condenser or condensers. The
heavier or less volatile portions of the said liquid flow from the evaporator into
the collecting tank or tanks. Moreover any liquid that may overflow into the first
compartment of the retort, also flows into the said collecting tank or tanks.
The vapor forced into the condenser, in passing through the tubes thereof, is
condensed by the pressure therein, combined with the cooling effect of the medium
surrounding the said tubes, and the liquid of condensation flows from the last
compartment into the collecting tank or tanks. Moreover any liquid of conden-
sation which may collect in the first compartment also flows into the said tank or
tanks.
The air or other carrier is forced from the condenser or condensers through the
pipe connecting the same with the evaporator or retort, the loaded valve controlling
or governing its flow through the said pipe in such a manner as to maintain the
desired vacuum in the retort and the desired pressure in the condenser or
condensers.
In some instances, I provide for passing the air or gas, after it has been forced
through the loaded valve, into the casing of the condenser or condensers, so that,
as it expands, it will serve as the cooling medium for reducing the temperature of
further quantities of vapor, and its own temperature will, at the same time, be
raised before it is again drawn into the evaporator.
11
It is evident that liquids of different specific gravity will be collected in te
tanks. These liquids are drawn off from time to time through the draw-off cooks.
To facilitate this drawing off, the cock in the bye-pass may be opened sō to
equalize the pressure throughout the apparatus.
If desired the liquid which collects in the first compartment of the retort aud
in the first compartment of the condenser may be drawn off, instead of being
allowed to flow into the tanks. In this manner, any desired number of liquids of
different specific gravities may be obtained.
Instead of introducing liquid into the retort as above mentioned, I can, if
desired, introduce hydrocarbon or other vapor directly into the condenser or con-
densers. In this case, the portions of such vapor which are more easily condensed
will fall in the form of liquid into the bottom of the first compartment, whilst the
remaining portion of such vapor will be condensed in the tubes and collected in the
form of liquid in the last compartment.
Dated the 1st day of March 1892
D. YOUNG & Co.,
11 & 12, Southampton Buildings, London, W.C.,
Agents for the Applicant.
COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
Improvements relating to the Distillation and Breaking Up of
Liquid Hydrocarbons and similar Substances, and to Apparatus
therefor.
I, FRANK WILLIAM CLARK, of. Illawarra, South Norwood Hill, in the County
of Surrey, Engineer, 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 :—
My invention relates to the distillation and breaking up of liquid hydrocarbons
and other volatile liquids or spirits, and its object is to provide simple and efficient
means for separating and collecting the different grades or specific gravities of such
liquids.

page_text: An important feature of my said invention is the use of a carrier, such as air or
other gas, which is passed over thin or shallow streams of the liquid in an evaporator
or retort, and is then conducted into one or more condensers for the purpose of
conveying into the same the vapor from the said evaporator or retort.
My said invention comprises an improved method or process which consists
essentially in introducing the liquid in the form of thin or shallow streams into a
suitable evaporator or retort and vaporizing the more volatile portion or portions
of the said liquid therein by the application of heat or by reduction of pressure, or
by both the application of heat and reduction of pressure, conveying the vapor
from the said evaporator or retort by means of a carrier, such as air or other gas,
into a condenser in which it is cooled or subjected to pressure, or is both cooled
and subjected to pressure, so as to ensure the condensation of the said vapor, the
air or other carrier preferably being kept circulating through the apparatus
and used over and over again for conveying or carrying the vapor from the
evaporator or retort to the condenser. In some instances, I convey the vapor
successively through two or more condensers in which it is subjected to different
degrees of cold or of pressure or both. The heavier or less volatile portions of
the liquid, which are not vaporized in the evaporator or retort, are collected
therein and are run into a tank or drawn off from time. to time. The products of
condensation are also from time to time drawn off' from the condenser or condensers.
By this treatment, the said liquids may be effectually broken up or separated
into different grades or specific gravities. And by varying the temperature or the
pressure or vacuum in the evaporator or condenser or condensers, and other
conditions under which the process is carried on, I can obtain products of condensa-
tion or distillation of higher or lower specific gravity or boiling or evaporating
point from the evaporator and condenser or condensers as required. In some cases
it is necessary to create a vacuum or partial vacuum in the evaporator or retort.
When different degrees of pressure or vacuum are to be maintained in the
evaporator and condenser, the air or other carrier is forced into the condenser and
passes thence to the evaporator through a pipe provided with a loaded or spring
valve or other suitable device whereby such difference of pressure may be effectually
regulated.
I find it advantageous to cause the heated air and vapor from the evaporator,
on their way to the condenser, to come in contact with surfaces which are cooled
by the air on its way from the condenser to the evaporator, so that the said air
and vapor will be cooled to any desirable extent before entering the condenser,
the cold air from the condenser being at the same time warmed before it enters the
evaporator.
My said invention also comprises improved apparatus wherein an evaporator or
retort provided with means for supplying the liquid in suitably regulated quantities
thereto, is connected with a condenser or condensers and with a pump or equivalent
device for circulating the air or other carrier through the said evaporator and
condenser or condensers.
My said invention also comprises other improvements hereinafter described.
In the accompanying drawing I have shewn a convenient and advantageous
arrangement of the improved apparatus which I prefer to employ for carrying ou
the method or process above described.
Figure 1 is a plan or top view of one form or arrangement of the said apparatus.
Figure 2 is a longitudinal central section of the evaporator or retort,
Figure 3 is a longitudinal central section of the condenser.
Figure 4 is a plan or top view, partly in horizontal section, showing another form
or arrangement of my said apparatus.
Figure 5 is a front elevation, partly in vertical section, and
Figure 6 a transverse section, showing a modified arrangement of the feed-
-regulating box hereinafter described.
Like letters indicate corresponding parts throughout the drawing.
A is the evaporator or retort, which is preferably of cylindrical form, and which

page_text: is divided into compartments A', A2, A³ by means of plates a, a². In the central
and larger compartment A², are arranged tubes b, which extend at their upper end
through the plate a into the compartment A', and at their lower end through the
plate a¹ into the compartment A³. Steam, hot water or other suitable heating
medium is to be introduced into, or circulated through the compartment A² outside
the tubes b, whilst a suitable carrier, such as air or other gas, is circulated through the
said tubes as hereinafter described. The compartment A' is divided by a horizontal
plate or partition a² so that there are as many tubes b above as there are below the
Said plate or partition.
B is a tank or reservoir for containing the liquid to be distilled and broken up.
This tank is connected by a pipe cand branch-pipes & with a regulating-box e
hereinafter described. There are as many of these branch-pipes d as there are
tubes below the partition a' in the evaporator or retort, and, in combination with
each branch-pipe, is provided a pipe fextending from the space in the upper part
of the regulating-box e into one of the said tubes b, so that the liquid which enters
the
regulating-box through either branch-pipe d will flow through the corresponding
pipe into the corresponding tube . The pipe c is provided with a cock or valve c
for regulating or controlling the flow of the liquid from the tank B; and each of
the branch-pipes d is provided with a cock or valve for regulating the flow of
the liquid through the corresponding compartment or section of the box c. The
evaporator or retort A is preferably inclined, as shown in Figure 2, so that the
liquid entering the tubes will flow by gravity towards or into the compartment A³.
C is the condenser which is also preferably of cylindrical form, and which, like
the evaporator, is divided into compartments C', C³, C³ by means of plates g, g', the
central and larger compartment C³ having arranged therein tubes h, which extend
at their upper end through the plate g into the compartment C¹ and at their lower
end through the plate into the compartment C³. The condenser C, like the
evaporator, is preferably inclined as shown in Figure 3.
Cold water or other suitable cooling medium is to be introduced into, or circulated
through the compartment C2 outside the tubes h, the air or other carrier with the
hydrocarbon vapor being passed through the said tubes as hereinafter described.
The compartment C3 is divided by a horizontal partition g² in such a manner that
there are as many tubes above as there are below the said partition. The said
partition may have one or more holes formed therein to permit the flow into the
space below it, of any liquid that may be carried over into the space above it.
D is an air-pump of any suitable description, the suction-pipe D' of which is
connected with the compartment A' of the evaporator or retort below the partition a²,
the delivery-pipe D2 of the said pump D being connected with the compartment C'
of the condenser C below the partition 92. The space above the said partition g
in the condenser is connected with the compartment A' of the evaporator or retort
above the partition a² by a pipe E, which is, if necessary, provided with a loaded or
spring valve F so constructed that the load on the valve can be readily adjusted or
regulated at will. A bye-pass G is provided around the said valve for the purpose
hereinafter explained, and in this bye-pass is arranged a stop cock or valve G¹.
The compartment A³ of the evaporator or retort is provided with a pipe j and a
draw-off cock j; and the compartment C³ of the condenser is provided with a pipe k
and a draw-off cock k¹.
If necessary or desirable, the evaporator or retort A is provided with a suitable
vacuum-gauge and the condenser C with a suitable pressure-gauge.
In the arrangement of my apparatus shown in Figure 4, I provide an equalizer
or temperature-exchanger H consisting of a cylindrical chamber provided with
tubes supported in tube-plates m, n, which divide the said chamber into compart-
ments H, H, H. The compartment H' is connected by a pipe D' with the
compartment A of the evaporator below the partition a²; whilst the compartment H'
is connected by the suction-pipe D' with the pump D, the delivery pipe D' whereof
is connected, as above described, with the compartment C³ of the condenser below
the partition 7. The compartment H2 of the equalizer is connected at one end by

page_text: the pipe E to the compartment C³ of the condenser, above the partition g³, and at the
other end by a pipe E with the compartment A' of the evaporator above the
partition a². Therefore the heated air and vapor from the evaporator will be drawn
through the tubes l, whilst the cooled air from the condenser passes through the
compartment H outside the said tubes 1, and an equalisation or exchange of
temperature will take place, the air and vapor from the evaporator being somewhat
cooled before passing into the pump D and condenser C, and the air from the
condenser being warmed before passing into the evaporator.
My improved method or process is carried into effect in the apparatus above
described and shown in the drawing, as follows, that is to say:-The compart-
ments A', A³ of the evaporator or retort A, and the compartments C', C³, of the
coudeuser, and the pipes and tubes connected therewith, are first charged with a
suitable carrier such as air or other gas. The pump D is then started and draws
the air or other carrier from the evaporator or retort and forces it into the
condenser. At the same time, steam or hot water is caused to circulate through the
compartment A" of the retort, and cold water or other cooling medium through
the compartment C2 of the condenser.
The cock c! and the cocks d' are then opened to admit liquid from the tank B to
the regulating-box e, and the said cocks are so adjusted that the flow of the said
liquid through the several compartments of the box e is equal or about equal, and a
thin or shallow stream of the liquid will flow, through the tubes, into each of the
tubes & below the partition a². The supply of the liquid to all of these tubes can then
be simultaneously increased or diminished by means of the cock e. As the liquid
passes through the said tubes, the lighter or more volatile portion or portions of
such liquid are vaporized by the heat of the steam or hot water surrounding the
said tubes, and the vapor is drawn or carried out of the evaporator or retort by
means of the air or other carrier and forced into the condenser by the pump D.
The heavier or less volatile portions of the said liquid pass through the
tubes into the compartment A³. The vapor thus forced into the condenser, in
passing through the tubes thereof, is condensed by the pressure therein, combined
with the cooling effect of the cold water surrounding the said tubes, and the liquid
of condensation collects in the compartment C³. The air or other carrier is forced
from the condenser through the pipe E, the loaded valve F controlling or governing
its flow through the said pipe in such a manner as to maintain the desired low
pressure or vacuum in the retort and the desired higher pressure in the condenser.
It is evident that liquids of different specific gravity or boiling or evaporating
point will be collected in the compartments A and C³. These liquids are drawn
off from time to time into barrels or other receptacles through the pipes, k. To
facilitate this drawing off, the cock G' in the bye-pass G may be opened so as to
equalize the pressure throughout the apparatus.
In the arrangement shown in Figures 1, 2 and 3, each pipe d extends downward
in a separate compartment of the box e and is turned upward at its extremity.
The various compartments of the said box are filled nearly up to the orifices of the
pipes with water, through which the liquid entering through either pipe d into the
box e will rise and can be seen rising, a window of glass or other suitable material
being provided for the purpose as shewn, for example, at e¹, Figures 5 and 6.
In the modification of my regulating-box shown in Figures 5 and 6, the branch-
pipes d are connected through the cocks d' with the top of the box e and deliver the
liquid into shallow compartments in the lower part of the said box. With each of
these compartments is connected a pipe f for conducting the liquid into one or other
of the tubes of the evaporator or retort. The cocks c and should be so adjusted
that as nearly as possible equal quantities of the liquid shall flow through the
several pipes finto the corresponding tubes b.
My improved apparatus may, if desired, be so constructed that air will be drawn
into the evaporator from the external atmosphere and will be forced through the
condenser and allowed to escape through a suitably loaded valve. It is, however,
preferable to charge the apparatus in the first instance with air or other gas and to

page_text: circulate this air or gas continuously through the apparatus as above described,
because loss of the hydrocarbon vapor is thus avoided.
Instead of employing tubes in the evaporator and condenser as above described,
I sometimes use suitable plates over which the liquid will flow in thin or shallow
streams and beneath which the heating medium may be circulated. Or I provide
other suitable heating surfaces over which the streams of liquid may be caused to
flow. Or, in cases where only reduction of pressure is required to effect the
volatilization of the liquid, I dispense with the means for applying heat to the
liquid.
In some instances I evaporate the whole of the liquid in a suitable retort and
convey the vapor by means of the air or other carrier successively through a series
of condensers in which it is subjected to different degrees of cold or pressure or
both so that the different grades or specific gravities will be condensed and collected
in the several condensers."
I sometimes use coal or other gas as the carrier for conveying the vapor from the
evaporator or retort. In this case, I can, if desired, conduct the gas enriched by
the hydrocarbon vapor, directly from the evaporator or retort through a pipe or
main, to be used for lighting or other purposes, instead of conducting it through a
condenser or condensers as above described.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of my said
invention and in what manner the same is to be performed I declare that what I
claim is :-
First. The distillation and breaking up of liquid hydrocarbons or similar sub
stances, by a method or process such as I have hereinabove described, in which air
or other gas is passed over the liquid in an evaporator or retort and conveys the
vapor from the said evaporator or retort into a condenser or condensers, for the
purposes above specified.
Second. The improved method or process of distilling and breaking up liquid
hydrocarbons or similar substances, which method consists in passing the liquid
in thin or shallow streams through a suitable evaporator or retort wherein the more
volatile portion or portions of the liquid are vaporized, and at the same time
circulating through the said evaporator and through a condenser or condensers, a
carrier, such as air, substantially as hereinbefore described and for the purpose
specified.
Third. The combination, with an evaporator or retort constructed with tubes or
the like substantially as hereinbefore described, of means for feeding the liquid to
be evaporated in regulated quantities into the said tubes or the like, one or more
condensers connected with the said evaporator, and means for circulating a carrier,
such as air, through the said evaporator and condenser or condensers, for the
purpose above specified.
Fourth. The combination of an evaporator or retort, a condenser, a pipe
connecting the said evaporator and condenser and provided with a loaded or spring
valve (with or without the bye-pass) and a pump or equivalent device for drawing
the air or other carrier from the evaporator or retort and forcing it into the
condenser, substantially as, and for the purposes, above specified.
Fifth. The improved evaporator or retort provided with the means for feeding
the liquid in thin or shallow streams through the same, substantially as, and for the
purpose, above specified.
Sixth. The employment of an equalizer or temperature-exchanger in combination
with the evaporator or retort and the condenser, substantially as, and for the purposes,
set forth.
Seventh. The improved device comprising the regulating-box, the pipe and
branch-pipes provided with cocks or valves for conducting thereto the liquid to be
evaporated, and the pipes for conducting the liquid therefrom into the evaporator
or retort, substantially as, and for the purposes, set forth.
Eighth. The improved apparatus constructed (with or without the equalizer or

page_text: temperature-exchanger) substantially as described with reference to the accompany-
ing drawing and operating as, and for the purpose, above specified.
Ninth. The modification of my invention wherein I vaporize the whole of the
liquid and convey the vapor successively through a series of condensers in which it
is subjected to different degrees of cold or of pressure, or both, substantially as,
and for the purpose set forth.
Tenth. The modification of my invention wherein I provide for the enrichment of
coal or other gas by employing the same as the carrier for conveying the vapor
from the evaporator or retort, substantially as, and for the purpose, set forth.
Dated the 23rd day of November 1893.
FRANK W. CLARK,
D. Young & Co.,
11 & 12, Southampton Buildings, London, W.C.,
Agents for the Applicant.