US3902071A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Apparatus for electrically cracking petroleum crude
Assignee: Individual
•
Filing: 1973-12-18
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Granted: 1975-08-26
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Expires: 1993-12-18
Abstract
Abstract A method and apparatus for electrically cracking crude oil comprised of injecting a mixture of petroleum crude and an energy transfer medium into a cracking chamber in a continuous flow, supplying an electrical discharge into the energy transfer medium which, in turn, consecutively transmits the energy to the petroleum crude for cracking, and extracting and storing the component hydrocarbon fractions while separating out the energy transfer medium.
Inventors
- 👤 Martin Horowitz
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-01 19:32
CPC Classifications
C; C10; C10G; C10G15/00; C10G15/08; B; B01; B01J; B01J19/00; B01J19/08; B01J19/087; B01J19/088
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 8
Claim 1
Independent Claim
83 words
An apparatus for cracking crude comprising a cracking chamber means for the introduction of a continuous flow of crude and energy transfer medium into said chamber, means for applying a high frequency electric discharge, from a single electrode, to the flow of crude and energy transfer medium, means for removing cracked crude fractions and the energy transfer medium from said chamber, means for separating the cracked crude from the energy transfer medium, and means for separating the cracked crude into its component fractions.
Claim 2
Independent Claim
83 words
An apparatus for cracking crude comprising a cracking chamber means for the introduction of a continuous flow of crude and energy transfer medium into said chamber, means for applying a high frequency electric discharge, from a single electrode, to the flow of crude and energy transfer medium, means for removing cracked crude fractions and the energy transfer medium from said chamber, means for separating the cracked crude from the energy transfer medium, and means for separating the cracked crude into its component fractions.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
43 words
The apparatus of claim 1 wherein the means for the introduction of said continuous flow of crude and energy transfer medium includes means for mixing crude and energy transfer medium and means for particalizing said mixture prior to injection into the cracking chamber.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
32 words
The apparatus of claim 1 wherein the means for the introduction of said continuous flow of crude and energy transfer medium into said chamber includes an electrode projecting into said cracking chamber.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
32 words
The apparatus of claim 3 wherein said electrode is hollow and forms an injection nozzle through which said continuous flow of crude and energy transfer medium is injected into the cracking chamber.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
71 words
The apparatus of claim 1 wherein the means for supplying an electric discharge includes a hollow electrode projecting into the cracking chamber, and a frequency generator which supplies a generally constant average power to said hollow electrode at an uncontrolled frequency generally between 50MHz and 150MHz whereby an electrical discharge occurs between the hollow electrode and energy transfer medium in a region immediately proximate to the end of the hollow electrode.
Claim 7
Independent Claim
177 words
AN APPARATUS FOR CRACKING PETROLEUM CRUDE OIL COMPRISING A GENERALLY SPHERICAL COPPER CRACKING CHAMBER HAVING AT LEAST TWO OPENINGS, AN INSULATOR HAVING A CENTER BORE HERMETICALLY SEALED IN ONE OF SAID OPENING IN SAID CRACKING CHAMBER. A GENERALLY CYLINDERICAL HOLLOW ELECTRODE DISPOSED THROUGH AND HERMETICALLY SEALED IN THE BORE IN SAID INSULATOR AND EXTENDING INTO THE CRACKING CHAMBER, SAID HOLLOW ELECTRODE FORMING AN INJECTION NOZZLE THROUGH WHICH THE CRUDE OIL IS INTERDUCED INTO THE CRACKING CHAMBER. MEANS FOR MIXING AN ENERGY TRANSFER MEDIUM WITH THE CRUDE OIL BEFORE IT IS INJECTED INTO THE CRACKING CHAMBER. MEANS FOR APPLYING A GENERALLY CONSTANT VOLTAGE TO SAID HOLLOW ELECTRODE AT A FREQUENCY GENERALLY BETWEEN 50MHZ AND 150MHZ WHEREBY AN ELECTRICAL DISCHARGE OCCURS BETWEEN THE HOLLOW ELECTRODE AND THE ENERGY TRANSFER MEDIUM. MEANS FOR CONTINUOUSLY REMOVING THE MIXTURE OF CRACKED CRUDE AND THE ENERGY TRANSFER MEDIUM FROM THE CRACKING CHAMBER THROUGH THE OTHER OF SAID OPENINGS, MEANS FOR SEPARATING THE ENERGY TRANSFER MEDIUM FROM THE FRACTIONS OF CRACKED CRUDE, AND MEANS FOR SEPARATING THE FRACTIONS OF THE CRACKED CRUDE FOR STORAGE.
Claim 8
Independent Claim
177 words
AN APPARATUS FOR CRACKING PETROLEUM CRUDE OIL COMPRISING A GENERALLY SPHERICAL COPPER CRACKING CHAMBER HAVING AT LEAST TWO OPENINGS, AN INSULATOR HAVING A CENTER BORE HERMETICALLY SEALED IN ONE OF SAID OPENING IN SAID CRACKING CHAMBER. A GENERALLY CYLINDERICAL HOLLOW ELECTRODE DISPOSED THROUGH AND HERMETICALLY SEALED IN THE BORE IN SAID INSULATOR AND EXTENDING INTO THE CRACKING CHAMBER, SAID HOLLOW ELECTRODE FORMING AN INJECTION NOZZLE THROUGH WHICH THE CRUDE OIL IS INTERDUCED INTO THE CRACKING CHAMBER. MEANS FOR MIXING AN ENERGY TRANSFER MEDIUM WITH THE CRUDE OIL BEFORE IT IS INJECTED INTO THE CRACKING CHAMBER. MEANS FOR APPLYING A GENERALLY CONSTANT VOLTAGE TO SAID HOLLOW ELECTRODE AT A FREQUENCY GENERALLY BETWEEN 50MHZ AND 150MHZ WHEREBY AN ELECTRICAL DISCHARGE OCCURS BETWEEN THE HOLLOW ELECTRODE AND THE ENERGY TRANSFER MEDIUM. MEANS FOR CONTINUOUSLY REMOVING THE MIXTURE OF CRACKED CRUDE AND THE ENERGY TRANSFER MEDIUM FROM THE CRACKING CHAMBER THROUGH THE OTHER OF SAID OPENINGS, MEANS FOR SEPARATING THE ENERGY TRANSFER MEDIUM FROM THE FRACTIONS OF CRACKED CRUDE, AND MEANS FOR SEPARATING THE FRACTIONS OF THE CRACKED CRUDE FOR STORAGE.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1978-08-25 | 1979-02-24 | 1979-08-26 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1982-08-25 | 1983-02-24 | 1983-08-26 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1986-08-25 | 1987-02-24 | 1987-08-26 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |