Apparatus for the removal of volatile and gaseous components occluded in oils

摘要

Volatile impurities and water are removed from contaminated heavy oils, such as oils separated from oily-water on board ship, by heating the contaminated oil in a settlement chamber, whereby residual water separates out from the oil, and causing the hot oil to flow by gravity in four thin streams down inclined trays 88, 89, 90 and plate 13 (Figs. 1 and 2) or to cascade as a single thin stream down inclined trays 187, 188, 189, 190 (Fig. 8), the apparatus being maintained at a sub-atmospheric pressure, e.g. by a vacuum pump (not shown) attached to a steam-injection extractor at the top of the apparatus. In the apparatus shown in Figs. 1 and 2, the oil is heated in the lower chamber 12 by steam-pipes 30, and the hot oil then rises to the manifold 97 which supplies the upper ends of the trays and the plate 13. In Fig. 8, the trays themselves are heated, by steam-jackets 192; and the oil-to-be-treated is supplied to the top tray via inlet 181. The vessel shown in Figs. 1 and 2 is divided into two chambers 11 and 12 by the plate 13; and the upper chamber is divided by side-plates 14 into a central chamber and two side settlement tanks 15, 16. The latter communicate with the lower chamber 12 via holes 58 and slots 59 (Fig. 4). The oil-to-be-treated is pumped via pipe 27 into chamber 12, where it is heated to about 200 DEG F. The hot oil rises up through holes 58 into tanks 15 and 16, from which it flows via pipes 63, 64, 65 and valve 60 to manifold 97. The oil then flows down pipes 99 which supplies it to the three trays and the plate 13 via orifices 103, 104, 105 and 102. Plates 106 and 107 ensure an even distribution of oil as it flows down the trays and the plate 13. The oil flows off the trays through funnel-tubes 96, and is collected in two chambers. The oil flowing off plate 13 is collected in the same chambers. The treated oil is removed from the apparatus via float-valve 112. Water, which has separated from the oil in chamber 12 and tanks 15, 16, collects in the bottom of chamber 12, and is withdrawn via valve 142. Thick deposits on steam-pipes 30 are dislodged by moving scraper-plates 41 longitudinally along the pipes by means of handle 55, threaded rod 47 and threaded bush 46. In Fig. 8, the jackets 192 are connected in series; and steam is passed through them from the lowest tray to the highest, the steamsupply to the lowest being taken from coil 205 in the oil-receiving space in the lower part of the vessel. The oil running off the lowest tray is collected in chamber 200, and finally withdrawn from the vessel through outlet 204. Air may be introduced into the vessel through perforated ring 206 in order to assist the separation of volatile constituents from the oil. PICT:0974857/C4-C5/1 PICT:0974857/C4-C5/2 PICT:0974857/C4-C5/3 PICT:0974857/C4-C5/4