Abstract: Waste lubricating oil, vegetable oil and animal fat are reprocessed into commercially usable diesel fuel and naphtha by thermocracking. A thermocracker unit is fired with sludge removed from the principal pool of oil or fat undergoing vaporization. The vapors are separated from liquids in a primary distillation tower with precisely controlled heating. Resultant vapors are partially condensed. Resultant liquids flow downward through a secondary distillation tower into a reboiler which is heated by a flue gas bypass with an auxiliary burner. Vapors leaving the secondary distillation tower are partially condensed and resultant fluids are passed to a light ends flash tank. Gases from the flash tank fuel the auxiliary burner. Liquids are collected and stored for selling as naphtha. Hot liquids are withdrawn from the reboiler and are immediately cooled to atmospheric conditions. Liquids within specification are stored in a diesel storage tank for further use and sale.

Abstract: A lubricating oil purifying device adapted to be installed in the flow line of lubricating oil passing into an oil filter, comprising a solid body made of acid-reactive material and having a central orifice in which a coupling ring is positioned.

Abstract: Waste lubricating oil is reprocessed into commercially usable diesel fuel and naphtha by thermocracking. A thermocracker unit is fired with sludge removed from the principal pool of oil undergoing vaporization. The vapors are separated from liquids in a primary distillation tower with precisely controlled heating. Resultant vapors are partially condensed. Resultant liquids flow downward through a secondary distillation tower into a reboiler which is heated by a flue gas bypass with an auxiliary burner. Vapors leaving the secondary distillation tower are partially condensed and resultant fluids are passed to a light ends flash tank. Gases from the flash tank fuel the auxiliary burner. Liquids are collected and stored for selling as naphtha. Hot liquids are withdrawn from the reboiler and are immediately cooled to atmospheric conditions. Liquids within specification are stored in a diesel storage tank for further use and sale.

Abstract: Apparatus for reclaiming a useful oil product has an evaporation chamber, including an inlet for the waste oil, and an outlet for the vaporized oil, as a useful oil product. Burners are provided for heating the evaporation chamber to vaporize oil from the waste oil. A pump and a float arrangement are provided for monitoring the level of waste oil in the evaporation chamber, and for pumping additional waste oil into the chamber to maintain the waste oil at a desired level. Continuous operation of the apparatus results in a build up of solid wastes, e.g. heavy metals, in the chamber. After a period of operation, the burners are turned off, and the chamber opened, to enable the solid residue to be removed from the chamber. The vaporized oil can be condensed and collected.

Abstract: An apparatus and a method are provided reclaiming a useful oil product from waste oil, such as used lubricating oil. The apparatus comprises an oil feed means, a boiler, a heater and a separating means. The heater is used to heat the waste oil in the boiler to a temperature such that lighter hydrocarbons remain unvolatilized, trapping contaminants therewith. The separating means separates the volatilized lighter hydrocarbons from the unvolatilized heavier hydrocarbons and contaminants.

Abstract: Apparatus for oil purification comprises a packed column for contacting sour oil with steam from a boiler, a gravity separator for separating the oil and water, a coalescer for coalescing the recovered oil, and a condenser for separating the lighter fraction from the column.

Abstract: A method and system for handling polluted liquids with a mobile sewage vehicle, especially stratified oil products in a petrol or oil tank wherein the contents of the tank normally separates into horizontal layers of useless polluted liquid and fully useable liquid, respectively. The fractions of the polluted and useable liquid are respectively drawn into a sludge tank and an extra tank so that the extra tank receives an immediately reuseable product which may be returned to the petrol or oil tank. The selective filling of the sludge tank and extra tank is obtained by providing an arrangement for enabling an inspection of the suctioned liquid as the suctioned liquid enters the sludge tank and a valve device for facilitating the necessary switching operations.

Abstract: A process and apparatus for effecting liquid-liquid contact in a plurality of stages between heavy and light liquid streams is provided wherein said streams are capable of undergoing mass transfer with one another or constituents in either stream are capable of reaction therebetween and where either of said streams can be intercirculated or intracirculated through each stage.

Abstract: In attempting to upgrade crude oil to pipeline quality, it often proves necessary to treat the oil in more than one apparatus. A simple solution to the problem is to provide an apparatus including a flashing section coupled to a treating section in which the crude oil is desanded and dewatered. The flashing section heats the oil to a temperature in which water can exist only as a vapor, and the vapor thus generated is discharged through a demister.

Abstract: In a process for the treatment of heavy oil, in which a hydrocarbon diluent is added to the heavy oil stream, part of the diluent is substituted by an LPG liquid stream. The LPG stream is added to the heavy oil stream after removal of light components including methane and carbon dioxide to reduce the vapor pressure of the stream, producing a sales oil stream.

Abstract: A tank is suspended in an enclosure and defines therebetween a chamber completely surrounding the tank. A fluid or air within the chamber is heated to create a thermal blanket and an oven-like condition completely around the tank to maintain the tank and used oil and coagulant within the tank at a substantially constant temperature for an extended period of time for settling of contaminants towards the bottom of the tank. Clean oil remaining at the top of the tank is removed for reuse. The invention is particularly useful for heavy users of lubricating oil such as railroads or shipping companies.

Abstract: Apparatus for the treatment of a liquid hydrocarbon charge containing solids or solids-forming contaminants, e.g., inorganic solids, metals and asphaltenes, which includes a contactor vessel having a liquid charge inlet, a vaporizing media inlet above the charge inlet and a vapor-solids outlet. An atomizer is positioned in the charge inlet for forming small particles of the liquid charge and directing the particles of liquid in a substantially horizontal flat pattern into the contactor vessel. A premix downcomer having a dispersion grid positioned therein is located in the vaporizing media inlet for introducing a fluidized mixture of a gas dispersion media and hot circulating solid particles into the contactor vessel in a substantially vertical flat pattern to traverse the path of the liquid particles and intimately contact the liquid particles.

Abstract: A finished oil product is recovered from crude or waste oil contaminated with water and the like by heating the waste oil in a tank with a heating flame which may be gas or oil fired. The waste oil is heated until vapors including light ends and the desired finished oil product are produced from the waste oil within the tank. The vapors are introduced into the heating flame so that additional heat is developed by such afterburning to heat the waste oil in the tank. The finished oil product as recovered from the waste oil is discharged from the tank by a suitable outlet pipe arrangement.

Abstract: In a technique for recovering hydrocarbon values from a heavy hydrocarbon-water mixture, the mixture is first delivered through a sub-assembly to remove solid particulates. Then the mixture is delivered through a series of heat exchanger--kettle arrangements in which the mixture is heated above the boiling point of water. Some of the steam formed is allowed to escape through steam removal devices in the heat exchanger. The inside of the heat exchanger includes a plurality of discrete baffles which are unconnected to the heat exchanger and which can be readily removed therefrom. Heating of the mixture continues in the kettles where the bulk of the water is boiled off the mixture. A heavy hydrocarbon oil is recovered in the liquid outlet from the last kettle. The vapors boiled off are recovered and condensed to recover a light hydrocarbon oil and quite pure water.

Abstract: Contaminants, such as sulphur, sulphur compounds and other pollutants are removed from fossil fuels. The fossil fuel in a liquid medium, such as crude oil or a coal slurry, is exposed to metallic copper to react the sulphur with copper ions and settle out the resulting copper sulphide. Additional additives are also disclosed.

Abstract: A finished oil product is recovered from crude or waste oil contaminated with water and the like by heating the waste oil in a tank with a heating flame which may be gas or oil fired. The waste oil is heated until vapors including light ends and the desired finished oil product are produced from the waste oil within the tank. The vapors are introduced into the heating flame so that additional heat is developed by such afterburning to heat the waste oil in the tank. The finished oil product as recovered from the waste oil is discharged from the tank by a suitable outlet pipe arrangement.

Abstract: A method and an apparatus are provided for removing halogenated polyphenyl materials from used or waste oil supplies. Waste or used lube stock is subjected to rerefining procedures in order to remove many of the impurities found in such waste or used stocks. The rerefined stock which is contaminated with halogenated polyphenyls is continuously pumped under pressure and mixed with highly pressurized hydrogen gas which is heated to a relatively low temperature and passed through a bed of catalyst in order to promote a reaction that forms a hydrogen halide and a polynuclear aromatic material that does not exhibit the environmental and health hazards of a halogenated polyphenyl material such as PCB's.

Abstract: Lewis acid and oxidant impurities are removed from inert fluids by contacting with a high capacity macroreticulate polymer comprising a macroreticulate polymer backbone having a plurality of pendant functional groups or mixtures of functional groups having the general formula: ##STR1## where Ar is an aromatic hydrocarbon radical containing from one to three rings; R.sub.1 and R.sub.2 are the same or different and are selected from the group consisting of hydrogen, alkyl hydrocarbon radicals, methylene-bridged benzophenone radicals, salts of methylene-bridged benzophenone, methylene-bridged fluorenone radicals and salts of methylene-bridged fluorenone; and M is selected from the group consisting of lithium, potassium, sodium, alkyl magnesium, and alkyl zinc.

Abstract: Process and facility for upgrading heavy hydrocarbonaceous materials for making coke suitable for metallurgical purposes comprises mixing the heavy hydrocarbonaceous materials with a diluent having a closely controlled boiling range and subjecting the oil diluent mixture to distillation and careful fractionation so as to maximize liquid yields in the coking step.

Abstract: Apparatus for upgrading heavy hydrocarbonaceous materials for making coke suitable for metallurgical purposes comprises mixing the heavy hydrocarbonaceous materials with a diluent having a closely controlled boiling range so as to facilitate transport, dehydration and desalting of the crude oil. In addition, the diluent aids in controlling temperature and residence time of the crude thereby avoiding premature decomposition.

Abstract: Method and apparatus for treating an oil-in-water, such as a bitumen-in-water emulsion, by premixing the emulsion for a sufficient period of time to permit it to become fully intermixed with emulsion breaking diluents and other additive materials. The modified, bitumen-containing emulsion stream is circulated through a premixer. At least a part of the emulsion stream is recirculated therein to intermix with fresh incoming emulsion flow. Thereafter the now more thoroughly intermixed emulsion, together with the various diluents and additives, is in better condition to be introduced to a separator unit for affecting a quiescent separation of water from the bitumen.

Abstract: A novel process for the purification of used oil comprising removing the ash-forming components, then subjecting the oil to vacuum fractionation. A novel vacuum fractionation column is also disclosed.

Abstract: An oil and water mixture containing a dispersed phase and a continuous phase is passed for treatment through a rotating horizontal tumbler containing free bodies and a hydrocarbon diluent for the purpose of facilitating subsequent separation of the phases of the mixture. The free bodies tumbling with the mixture in the drum have affinity for the dispersed phase particles, and the hydrocarbon diluent reduces the viscosity of the oil phase thereby causing an increase in the particle size of the dispersed phase of the mixture. Some mixtures that may be treated include effluent streams from a hot-water oil sands extraction plant, oil-in-water emulsions from processes that use enhanced oil well recovery and bitumen froth.

Abstract: A device for the continuous separation of crude oil into its major constituent phases has no moving parts and is adapted for attacment to a pressurized conduit conveying said crude oil. The device, which operates in a substantially vertical orientation, is comprised of two concentric cylindrical chambers and an internal tube which conjointly define inner and outer annular spaces. A helical surface disposed within the outer annular space achieves isolation of a water/sand mixture which is expelled from the device. A series of contact surfaces located within the inner annular space separates oil from gas. The gas phase emerges from the internal tube. The oil phase exits from a lower region of the device.

Abstract: A control system controls the temperature of gas oil being charged to a reactor in a hydrotreating unit. The control system includes a heater which heats the gas oil in accordance with a control signal corresponding to a desired temperature. A gravity analyzer senses the API gravity of the gas oil and provides a corresponding signal. A sulfur analyzer senses the sulfur content of the gas oil and provides a representative signal. A boiling point analyzer senses the 50% boiling point temperature, the initial boiling point temperature and the end point temperature of the gas oil and provides corresponding signals. A flow rate sensor provides a signal corresponding to the flow rate of the gas oil entering the heater. A control signal circuit provides the control signal to the heater in accordance with the signals from the gravity analyzer, the sulfur analyzer, the boiling point analyzer and the flow rate sensor.

Abstract: A control system controls the temperature of naphtha being charged to a reactor in a hydrotreating unit. The control system includes a heater which heats the naphtha in accordance with a control signal corresponding to a desired temperature. A gravity analyzer senses the API gravity of the naphtha and provides a corresponding signal. A sulfur analyzer senses the sulfur content of the naphtha and provides a representative signal. A boiling point analyzer senses the 50% boiling point temperature, the initial boiling point temperature and the end point temperature of the naphtha and provides corresponding signals. A flow rate sensor provides a signal corresponding to the flow rate of the naphtha entering the heater. A control signal circuit provides the control signal to the heater in accordance with the signals from the gravity analyzer, the sulfur analyzer, the boiling point analyzer and the flow rate sensor.

Abstract: A control system controls the temperature of kerosine/diesel fuel being charged to a reactor in a hydro-treating unit. The control system includes a heater which heats the kerosine/diesel fuel in accordance with a control signal corresponding to a desired temperature. A gravity analyzer senses the API gravity of the kerosine/diesel fuel and provides a corresponding signal. A sulfur analyzer senses the sulfur content of the kerosine/diesel and provides a representative signal. A boiling point analyzer senses the 50% boiling point temperature, the initial boiling point temperature and the end point temperature of the kerosine/diesel fuel and provides corresponding signals. A flow rate sensor provides a signal corresponding to the flow rate of the kerosine/diesel fuel entering the heater. A control signal circuit provides the control signal to the heater in accordance with the signals from the gravity analyzer, the sulfur analyzer, the boiling point analyzer and the flow rate sensor.

Abstract: An apparatus for reclaiming lubricating oil which includes a housing having an evaporation plate dividing the housing into an evaporation chamber and a filter chamber, passages through the evaporation plate so filtered oil can flow into the evaporation chamber, a heater for heating the evaporation plate to cause volatile contaminants to leave the oil and an ultraviolet radiation source which directs sufficient radiation upon the oil to sterilize it.

Abstract: An apparatus is provided for handling and treating heavy waste hydrocarbons. The device comprises a pit heater for at least partially liquifying the hydrocarbon waste to render it pumpable. A positive displacement pump has its inlet adjacent the pit heater and pumps and partially liquified material out of a pit and into a heater-blender. In the heater-blender, a relatively high gravity crude oil is mixed with the heavy hydrocarbon waste and the temperature of the mixture is elevated by injecting steam thereinto. The blend exiting from the heater-blender is on the order of 200.degree. F. The hydrocarbon component of the blended material is in the range of 15.degree.-25.degree. API. The blend is discharged into a holding tank which has the capacity for reheating the material if necessary. The blend is withdrawn from the storage tank and processed to break the water-hydrocarbon emulsion and remove the water therefrom.

Abstract: A method of and apparatus for re-processing waste oil for the production of a fuel oil substitute are described. The waste oil is passed first to a solids separation zone and then to a three phase separator in which the oil is intimately contacted with water. The plant is preferably operated continuously and the rate of supply of waste oil to the solids separation zone is controlled in dependence on the water content of the oil product from the three phase separator. A system of level controls and pressure switches is described which provide for automatic shut down of the plant in the event of "seal loss" in the separator or other malfunction of the plant.

Abstract: A monitor determines the yields of constituents of a product provided by a fluid catalytic cracking unit (FCCU) receiving fresh feed and recycle feed. The monitor includes sensors providing signals corresponding to sensed operating parameters of the FCCU. Analyzers analyze the fresh feed and the recycle feed and provide signals corresponding to the API gravities of the fresh and recycle feeds and to the viscosities of the fresh and recycle feeds. A circuit provides signals corresponding to the Watson K factors associated with the fresh and recycle feeds and the catalyst in accordance with the signals from the analyzers and sensors. A network provides signals representative of the yields of the constituents of the product from FCCU. Display apparatus provides a visual display of the yields.

Abstract: A waste heat recovery system for a heater treater which elevates the overall energy imparted into crude oil from a finite amount of combustion gases. The system includes a vertical heat exchanger supported from the shell of the heater treater. The exchanger has an outer housing within which a plurality of longitudinally arranged tubes are disposed. Untreated crude flows through the interior of the tubes while waste heat from the fire tube is conducted into the lower end portion of the housing so that the outer surface of the tubes contact and extract heat from the flue gases. The flue gases exit through the upper end of the housing. The temperature elevation of the incoming crude is controlled by a damper assembly located at the lower extremity of the exchanger, which admits atmospheric air into the housing.

Abstract: A refining unit treats light sweet charge oil with an N-methyl-2-pyrrolidone solvent, hereafter referred to as MP, in a refining tower to yield raffinate and extract mix. The MP is recovered from the raffinate and from the extract mix and returned to the refining tower. A system controlling the refining unit includes a gravity analyzer, a sulfur analyzer, and viscosity analyzers; all analyzing the light sweet charge oil and providing corresponding signals, sensors sense the flow rates of the charge oil and the MP flowing into the refining tower and the temperature of the extract mix and provide corresponding signals. One of the flow rates of the light sweet charge oil and the MP flow rates is controlled in accordance with the signals from all the analyzers and all the sensors, while the other flow rate of the light sweet charge oil and the MP flow rates is constant.

Abstract: An MP refining unit treats medium sweet charge oil with N-methyl-2-pyrrolidone solvent, hereafter referred to as MP, in a refining extractor to yield raffinate and extract mix. The MP is recovered from the raffinate and from the extract mix and returned to the extractor. A system controlling the refining unit includes a gravity analyzer, a refractometer and viscosity analyzer, all analyzing the medium sweet charge oil and providing corresponding signals, sensors sense the flow rates of the charge oil and the MP flowing into the refining tower and the temperature of the extract mix and provide corresponding signals. One of the flow rates of the medium sweet charge oil and the MP flow rates is controlled in accordance with the signals from all the analyzers and all the sensors, while the other flow rate of the medium sweet charge oil and the MP flow rates is constant.

Abstract: Apparatus for producing a homogeneous, chemically reactive system of a starting material of highly viscous or pasty consistency, and at least one further reaction partner which is added to the starting material to chemically treat the starting material. The apparatus includes a substantially vertically oriented vessel having a cylindrical interior side wall and a frontal face at the top of the vessel. An inlet opening is provided for the starting material to be treated and an inlet opening is provided for each of the other reaction partners. The inlet openings are disposed in the frontal face of the vessel, are arranged in close juxtaposition when seen in the circumferential direction, and are in the vicinity of the interior wall of the vessel. A driven rotor, studded with a plurality of blades, is coaxially arranged in the interior of said vessel. The rotor has a first ring of blades which is arranged so that it scrapes over the openings of the inlet openings in the form of a knife edge.

Abstract: Equipment used in a substantially water free, but corrosive environment is protected from corrosion by coating only certain welded parts thereof with a metal more base than the metal part coated.

Abstract: High efficiency in extraction operations, such as extracting mercaptans from hydrocarbons with caustic, is obtained over a wide range of flow rates through a single extraction column by the provision of an intermediate product drawoff means located between a downstream section of extraction trays having greatest efficiency at low throughputs and an upstream section of trays having peak efficiency at high throughputs. A second product stream is removed after passing through the low flow rate trays and is blended with the stream from the intermediate drawoff means.

Abstract: A gas phase and a liquid phase pass countercurrently through a reaction vessel, and solid particles move from stage to stage in the reactor concurrently with either the liquid phase or the gas phase. In one embodiment of the invention the liquid phase is a hydrocarbon oil to be treated, for example, desulphurized, the gas phase is hydrogen, and the solid particles are hydrodesulphurization catalyst particles.

Abstract: Resistance of iron, iron-chromium and iron-chromium-nickel alloys to corrosive attack by sulfur compounds at temperatures above 500.degree. F. is improved by pretreating the metal under controlled conditions to form an extremely thin submicroscopic oxide film which serves as a corrosion resistant barrier.

Abstract: The undesirable and damaging reaction heat occurring during the blowing of asphalt is avoided by injecting water into the air inlet pipes of the reactor vessel heated by the hot asphalt surrounding them. During this, the superheated steam produced without expenditure is passed through the liquid asphalt, causing the removal of low molecular hydrocarbons formed during the blowing or stripping.

Abstract: An apparatus for removing vaporizable impurities from lubricating oil, or the like, including: a housing; an oil inlet fitting adjacent the top of and communicating with the housing, such fitting having a downwardly directed, intermediate inlet port, laterally and downwardly directed side inlet ports on opposite sides of the intermediate port, and an external groove interconnecting the side and intermediate ports; an electrical heating element below the intermediate port and having the form of a conical spiral with its larger end uppermost; and a ball in and supported by the upper end of the conical spiral in a position to have impinge thereon oil discharged by at least the intermediate port. The ball serves to distribute the oil impinging thereon uniformly over the inverted conical spiral. When the oil is cold, the external groove interconnecting the ports conducts virtually all of the oil onto the ball for distribution over the inverted conical spiral heating element.

Abstract: Apparatus for processing tar sands to recover bitumen therefrom, and without the use of heat of steam, such apparatus including a processing tank having a concave, upwardly facing bottom constructed for receiving the upper flight of an endless conveyor thereat. Structure is provided for admitting tar sands onto the feed end of such conveyor and for discharging the same at the discharge end thereof. Stirrer means are provided as needed, above the endless conveyor, for maintaining in solution the very fine tar sand particles, this to effect as efficient a recovery of oil therefrom as possible. A baffle is constructed to separate recovered oil, disposed as a layer over the aqueous bath of the tank, from the discharge end of the tank and the spent sands coming upwardly thereat.