Abstract: A dividing wall column for separating a mixture into 3 or more fractions by distillation is described, where at least one dividing wall is detachably attached within the dividing wall column.

Abstract: A distillation column suitable for the separation of a three component feed mixture is provided wherein the fractional distillation column utilizes a vertical partition and a baffle to prevent feed mixture from taking a direct flow path from the feed inlet to the sidedraw exit. The use of the vertical partition increases the separation purity of the middle boiling fraction and lower boiling fraction.

Abstract: To compensate the bypassing, at the edges, of the liquid flowing downward in a distillation column, in order to achieve optimum mass transfer with the ascending vapor, a specific nonuniform distribution of the liquid trickling density over the column cross-section is established including the steps of establishing a nonuniform distribution of the liquid trickling density over the column cross-section in the distillation column and adjusting the liquid trickling density in the wall regions, said nonuniform distribution being achieved bya) arranging a number of outlet orifices or the diameter of the outlet orifices of a liquid distributor orb) arranging baffles in the stripping sections at height intervals from 0.1 to 2 m, in the case of dumped packings with baffles which project into the column space from the wall by about from 0.

Abstract: A method for reducing the viscosity of a liquid heavy hydrocarbon feedstock comprising the steps of bringing said feedstock to a temperature capable of cracking of at least a portion of the hydrocarbons present in said feedstock and introducing said feedstock into a bottom portion of a maturation device (i.e. a "soaker"), where the feedstock is displaced from the bottom upwards, to get evacuated from a top portion of the soaker towards a fractioning unit. The invention also relates to an apparatus comprising a soaker in which are located, transversely to the direction of displacement of the feedstock to be treated, a plurality of annular discs spaced apart from one another, each disc comprising a circular central passage substantially coaxial to the soaker, the treated feedstock circulating from the bottom portion upwards in the soaker through the central passages of the various annular discs.

Abstract: An improved oil reclamation device for removing contaminates from lubricating oils and hydraulic fluids. A first feature of this oil reclamation device an improved utilization of space, which provides the benefit of a compact installation. Another benefit of this design is an efficient design of the second chamber, which virtually eliminates cold spots and vapor condensation. Another benefit of this design is the efficient use of operating oil to heat the evaporation surface evenly and effectively without the need of any additional heat source. This design eliminates cold spots on the evaporation surface and the need for potentially dangerous heating elements. A further benefit of this design is an oil metering system which is highly resistant to clogging and easily serviced.

Abstract: The treating apparatus and method of the present invention improve the efficiency and reliability of flash treating crude oil by including a recycled oil pumping loop that takes crude oil from a flashing section of a vessel and feeds it to either the inlet of a treater section or through a heater into a connecting pipe between the treater section and the flashing section, thereby eliminating the need of a fired heater in the flashing section.

Abstract: A device for intercepting liquid obtained from a stream of mixed fluids contains an enclosure having an upper opening and a lower opening. The upper opening is connectible to a source of suction while the lower opening is connectible to a source of the mixed fluids. A partition between the openings divides the enclosure into a liquid collecting section which includes the upper opening and a liquid discharging section which includes the lower opening. The partition has a liquid flow passage at the lower end thereof and an orifice at the upper end thereof, and the orifice provides a pressure drop between the two openings. A liquid collecting basin is formed at the bottom of the enclosure, and the lower opening is provided with an overflow for the basin. In operation, the suction source draws a stream of mixed fluids from the mixed fluid source. Liquid is derived from the stream in or above the liquid collecting section and forms a pool in the liquid collecting basin.

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: A method for rectification includes steps of supplying raw materials to a rectifying column from a raw material feed pipe; returning a refluent fluid from a refluxing pipe to the column; leading a hold-up liquid from a bottom tank having a higher surface to a bottom tank having a lower surface of a liquid in a bottom portion of the column; heating the hold-up in each of bottom tanks; exchanging heat by bringing a vapor produced by heating the bottoms into counter-current contact with the reluent liquid returned to the rectifying column on plates arranged in the rectifying column, taking out a vapor from the top of the rectifying column, and taking out bottoms from the bottom tank.

Abstract: A fractional distillation column and method for its use are provided which employ n sets of trays, where n is an integer and n.gtoreq.2. An equivalent number n of separate liquid streams are passed generally downwardly through the column so that each liquid stream flows onto and between individual trays of its corresponding set of trays.

Abstract: In a gas dehydration system utilizing glycol a condensate skimming reflux column separates and skims natural gas condensate off glycol by a settling tank-type reservoir having a syphon-type glycol outlet to a reflux section spaced a predetermined distance below a condensate outlet pipe.

Abstract: A circular section column with helical liquid flow is divided by a vertical wall 10 into two gas and vapor tight sectors A and B, each sector housing a series of trays.The trays disposed are designated respectively 1a, 2a and 3a for sector A and 1b, 2b and 3b for sector B.The distance D separating each two successive half trays of a given series is constant.On the other hand, the half-trays of one series are each staggered in the axial direction of the column with respect to the half-trays of the other series by a spacing d which is less than half the distance D.This arrangement allows a greater number of half-trays to be housed in a column of a given height, or the height of a column for a given number of trays to be decreased.

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: An apparatus for treating carbonaceous material, e.g. waste oil by effecting the gasification thereof to produce a relatively high BTU content gas to supplement or substitute for natural gas. This is attained by a furnace in which the products of combustion are utilized to separately generate steam and to preheat a supply of carbonaceous material which may be mixed with water. The generated steam is mixed with the preheated carbonaceous material and passed through a premixing and/or a primary dynamic mixer wherein the preheated carbonaceous material and steam mixture is further heated to a temperature ranging between 1600.degree.-1800.degree. F. to effect a partial gasification of the carbonaceous material. The partially gasified material is thereafter directed through one or more secondary dynamic mixing chambers to be further heated in the presence of additional steam to complete the gasification thereof.

Abstract: An apparatus and method are provided for the fractional distillation of liquids in a fractionation column wherein cool liquids from the bottom tray of the column are effectively prevented from passing out directly with bottoms product before first passing through a reboiler. The column is of the type which includes a hollow shell having a surge baffle plate which divides a bottom portion of the shell interior into a first region and a second region. A separation baffle plate is provided which extends into the first region. At least one seal pan whose bottom is closely adjacent to the upper edge of the separation baffle receives liquids flowing from the bottom tray by means of a downcomer.

Abstract: A distillation method and apparatus which comprises (a) a distillation zone adapted for the countercurrent contact of liquid and vapor, (b) a reboiler feed liquid compartment (c) means for directing distillation zone liquid into the reboiler liquid feed compartment, (d) a thermosyphon reboiler for partial vaporization of liquid thereto to produce reboiled vapor and liquid flows, (e) a conduit for the flow of liquid from the reboiler liquid feed compartment to the reboiler, (f) a reboiler return liquid compartment, (g) a conduit for the flow of reboiled liquid from the reboiler to the reboiler return compartment, (h) a conduit for the flow of reboiled vapor from the reboiler to the distillation zone, (i) means for communication of liquid by gravity flow between the reboiler feed compartment and the reboiler return compartment to provide substantially equal liquid levels in the two reservoirs, (j) a distillation zone liquid product compartment, (k) means for overflow of liquid from the reboiler return compartme

Abstract: Mass transfer apparatus such as a distillation or rectification column which is divided so that the vapor flow is in two streams each in a separate zone, and wherein in each zone the liquid/vapor contacting stages have an inlet and an outlet disposed on opposite sides of an active area but to the same side of the division and such that liquid flow from the inlet across the active area to the outlet is generally rectiliner and parallel to the plane of the division, the locations of the stages in one zone being staggered axially relative to those of the stages in the other zone along the column and the liquid from each outlet being directed to an inlet of the next lower stage in the column whereby the liquid flow down the column is directed alternately from one zone to the other as it is passed successively from stage to stage down the column.

Abstract: Mass transfer apparatus such as a distillation or rectification column which is divided so that the vapor flow is in two streams each in a separate zone, and wherein in each zone the liquid/vapor contacting stages have an inlet and an outlet disposed on opposite sides of an active area but to the same side of the division and such that liquid flow from the inlet across the active area to the outlet is generally rectilinear and parallel to the plane of the division, the locations of the stages in one zone being staggered axially relative to those of the stages in the other zone along the column and the liquid from each outlet being directed to an inlet of the next lower stage in the column whereby the liquid flow down the column is directed alternately from one zone to the other as it is passed successively from stage to stage down the column.

Abstract: A distillation method and apparatus which comprises (a) a distillation zone adapted for the countercurrent contact of liquid and vapor, (b) a reboiler feed liquid compartment (c) means for directing distillation zone liquid into the reboiler liquid feed compartment, (d) a thermosyphon reboiler for partial vaporization of liquid thereto to produce reboiled vapor and liquid flows, (e) a conduit for the flow of liquid from the reboiler liquid feed compartment to the reboiler, (f) a reboiler return liquid compartment, (g) a conduit for the flow of reboiled liquid from the reboiler to the reboiler return compartment, (h) a conduit for the flow of reboiled vapor from the reboiler to the distillation zone, (i) means for communication of liquid by gravity flow between the reboiler feed compartment and the reboiler return compartment to provide substantially equal liquid levels in the two reservoirs, (j) a distillation zone liquid product compartment, (k) means for overflow of liquid from the reboiler return compartme

Abstract: A continuous process for thermal cracking of heavy hydrocarbon oil feed to residual products having improved stability comprises passing the feed under specified conditions through a thermal conversion zone having at least two mixing stages.

Abstract: A shaft furnace for the thermolytic distillation of solid hydrocarbon fuel comprises a vertically disposed cylindrical casing whose upper part accommodates at least two vertical gratings which divide the casing into a heat carrying distributing chamber, a semi-coking chamber and a vapor-gas mixture chamber with a gasification chamber located underneath the three above-mentioned chambers. The lowermost edge of at least one of the gratings is provided with opposing cutouts such that the middle section of the edge is substantially lower than the sides of the edge adjoining the casing. In this manner, the solid fuel is more evenly distributed in the gasification chamber and a more uniform distillation of the fuel is achieved.

Abstract: In a deodorizing apparatus, at least the lower part of a column is surrounded at least partly by compartments which are not connected together, each compartment having means for supplying treatment fluid and means for discharging the treated material with separate control but opening into a common duct. The duct for discharging the treated material from the central column is divided into separate ducts the outlets of which open into the compartments and which are provided with separately-controlled means for carrying the material to the respective compartments.