Patent US4352469A successfully refreshed from Google Patents.
Patent USRE38366E1 successfully refreshed from Google Patents.
USRE38366E1
Expired / Lapsed
US
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Oil re-refining method and apparatus
Assignee: Avista Resources Inc
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Filing: 2000-09-19
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Granted: 2003-12-30
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Expires: 2020-09-19
Abstract
Abstract A method and apparatus for re-refining used oil, in which the used oil is processed in at least one cyclonic vacuum evaporator comprising a void evaporation chamber ( 4 ) into which feedstock is tangentially injected, and in which a fraction of the feedstock is condensed in a spray condenser ( 7 ) communicating with the evaporation chamber ( 4 ).
Inventors
- 👤 Kalevi John Kenton
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-08 19:14
CPC Classifications
B; B01; B01D; B01D3/00; B01D3/42; B01D1/00; B01D1/0094; B01D3/10; B01D5/00; B01D5/0027; B01D5/0033; B01D5/0036
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 37
Claim 1
Independent Claim
50 words
A method of re-refining used oil wherein the used oil is processed in at least one cyclonic vacuum evaporator comprising a substantially void evaporation chamber into which feedstock is substantially tangentially injected, and wherein a fraction of the feedstock is condensed in a spray condenser communicating with the evaporation chamber.
Claim 2
Independent Claim
50 words
A method of re-refining used oil wherein the used oil is processed in at least one cyclonic vacuum evaporator comprising a substantially void evaporation chamber into which feedstock is substantially tangentially injected, and wherein a fraction of the feedstock is condensed in a spray condenser communicating with the evaporation chamber.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
44 words
A method according to claim 1 , wherein a portion of the feedstock is recirculated to the evaporation chamber at a higher temperature and a greater flow rate than the original feedstock by way of a recirculation circuit including a pump and a heater.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
32 words
A method according to claim 2 , wherein distillate obtained from the spray condenser is recirculated to the spray condenser by way of a recirculation circuit including a pump and a heater.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
32 words
A method according to claim 1 , wherein distillate obtained from the spray condenser is recirculated to the spray condenser by way of a recirculation circuit including a pump and a heater.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
43 words
A cyclonic vacuum evaporator provided with temperature and pressure control and comprising a substantially void evaporation chamber, means for injecting feedstock substantially tangentially into said evaporation chamber, and a spray condenser in communication with said evaporation chamber in which a distillate is obtained.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
43 words
A cyclonic vacuum evaporator provided with temperature and pressure control and comprising a substantially void evaporation chamber, means for injecting feedstock substantially tangentially into said evaporation chamber, and a spray condenser in communication with said evaporation chamber in which a distillate is obtained.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
37 words
An evaporator as claimed in claim 5 , further comprising a feedstock recirculation circuit including a pump and a heater for recirculating the product collected at the bottom of said evaporation chamber back into said evaporating chamber.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
24 words
An evaporator as claimed in claim 6 , wherein the evaporator is provided with a distillate recirculating circuit including a pump and a heater.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
36 words
An evaporation according to claim 6 wherein said feedstock injected into said evaporator has a first temperature and wherein said heater heats the recirculated product to a temperature higher than the temperature of the original feedstock.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
20 words
An evaporator as claimed in claim 5 , further comprising a distillate recirculation circuit including a pump and a heater.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
95 words
A plant suitable for re-refining used oil, the plant comprising at least two cyclonic vacuum evaporators each provided with temperature and pressure control and each comprising a substantially void evaporation chamber into which, in use, feedstock is substantially tangentially injected, and each being provided with a spray condenser in communication with the evaporation chamber in which spray condenser a distillate may be collected, wherein the evaporators are linked together such that feedstock which has been processed in a first evaporator may be passed as feedstock to the at least one other evaporator for further processing.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
95 words
A plant suitable for re-refining used oil, the plant comprising at least two cyclonic vacuum evaporators each provided with temperature and pressure control and each comprising a substantially void evaporation chamber into which, in use, feedstock is substantially tangentially injected, and each being provided with a spray condenser in communication with the evaporation chamber in which spray condenser a distillate may be collected, wherein the evaporators are linked together such that feedstock which has been processed in a first evaporator may be passed as feedstock to the at least one other evaporator for further processing.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
24 words
A plant as claimed in claim 10 , wherein each evaporator and its associated spray condenser comprises a modular unit mounted in a frame.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
61 words
A cyclonic vacuum evaporator provided with a temperature and pressure control and comprising an evaporation chamber defining an interior space substantially void of baffles or other means to impart a cyclonic motion to the feedstock, means for injecting feedstock substantially tangentially into said evaporation chamber, and a spray condenser in communication with said evaporation chamber in which a distillate is obtained.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
61 words
A cyclonic vacuum evaporator provided with a temperature and pressure control and comprising an evaporation chamber defining an interior space substantially void of baffles or other means to impart a cyclonic motion to the feedstock, means for injecting feedstock substantially tangentially into said evaporation chamber, and a spray condenser in communication with said evaporation chamber in which a distillate is obtained.
Claim 17
Independent Claim
366 words
A method of re- fining used oil wherein the used oil is processed in at least one cyclonic vacuum evaporator, the cyclonic vacuum evaporator comprising an evaporation chamber which is substantially free of moving parts and/or labyrinthine structures, said method comprising ( a ) tangentially injecting a primary feedstock into a first evaporator, the first evaporator having a temperature of from 160 to 180 ° C. and a pressure of from 400 mbar to atmospheric, wherein a fraction of the feedstock is condensed in a spray condenser communicating with the first evaporation chamber, and a further fraction of the feedstock is collected as a first bottoms product at a lower end of the first evaporating chamber; ( b ) tangentially injecting a proportion of the first bottoms product into a second evaporator, the second evaporator having a temperature of from 260 to 290 ° C. and a pressure of from 40 to 100 mbar vacuum, wherein a fraction of the first bottoms product is condensed in a spray condenser communicating with the second evaporation chamber, and a further fraction of the first bottoms product is collected as a second bottoms product at a lower end of the second evaporation chamber; ( c ) tangentially injecting a proportion of the second bottoms product into a third evaporator having a temperature of from 290 to 330 ° C. and a pressure of from 15 - 25 ± 10 % mbar vacuum, wherein a fraction of the second bottoms product is condensed in a spray condenser communicating with the third evaporation chamber, and a further fraction of the second bottoms product is collected as a third bottoms product at a lower end of the third evaporation chamber; and ( d ) tangentially injecting a proportion of the third bottoms product into a fourth evaporator having a temperature of from 320 to 345 ° C. and a pressure of from 5 to 15 mbar vacuum, wherein a fraction of the third bottoms product is condensed in a spray condenser communicating with the fourth evaporation chamber, and a further fraction of the third bottoms product is collected as a fourth bottoms product at a lower end of the fourth evaporation chamber.
Claim 18
Independent Claim
366 words
A method of re- fining used oil wherein the used oil is processed in at least one cyclonic vacuum evaporator, the cyclonic vacuum evaporator comprising an evaporation chamber which is substantially free of moving parts and/or labyrinthine structures, said method comprising ( a ) tangentially injecting a primary feedstock into a first evaporator, the first evaporator having a temperature of from 160 to 180 ° C. and a pressure of from 400 mbar to atmospheric, wherein a fraction of the feedstock is condensed in a spray condenser communicating with the first evaporation chamber, and a further fraction of the feedstock is collected as a first bottoms product at a lower end of the first evaporating chamber; ( b ) tangentially injecting a proportion of the first bottoms product into a second evaporator, the second evaporator having a temperature of from 260 to 290 ° C. and a pressure of from 40 to 100 mbar vacuum, wherein a fraction of the first bottoms product is condensed in a spray condenser communicating with the second evaporation chamber, and a further fraction of the first bottoms product is collected as a second bottoms product at a lower end of the second evaporation chamber; ( c ) tangentially injecting a proportion of the second bottoms product into a third evaporator having a temperature of from 290 to 330 ° C. and a pressure of from 15 - 25 ± 10 % mbar vacuum, wherein a fraction of the second bottoms product is condensed in a spray condenser communicating with the third evaporation chamber, and a further fraction of the second bottoms product is collected as a third bottoms product at a lower end of the third evaporation chamber; and ( d ) tangentially injecting a proportion of the third bottoms product into a fourth evaporator having a temperature of from 320 to 345 ° C. and a pressure of from 5 to 15 mbar vacuum, wherein a fraction of the third bottoms product is condensed in a spray condenser communicating with the fourth evaporation chamber, and a further fraction of the third bottoms product is collected as a fourth bottoms product at a lower end of the fourth evaporation chamber.
Claim 19
Dependent Claim
32 words
The method according to claim 13 wherein the cyclonic vacuum evaporators used in steps ( a ) to ( d ) are different cyclonic vacuum evaporators connected to one another in series.
Claim 20
Dependent Claim
30 words
The method according to claim 13 wherein the cyclonic vacuum evaporator used in steps ( a ) to ( d ) is the same evaporator operated in a blocked manner.
Claim 21
Dependent Claim
60 words
The method according to claim 13 wherein at least one of the bottoms products provided by steps ( a ) to ( c ) is recirculated to the evaporating chamber from which it was provided at a higher temperature and a greater flow rate than the original feedstock by way of a recirculation circuit including a pump and a heater.
Claim 22
Dependent Claim
32 words
The method according to claim 16 wherein the first bottoms product is heated to 180 to 200 ° C. and mixed with the primary feedstock supply for reinjection into the first evaporator.
Claim 23
Dependent Claim
35 words
The method according to claim 16 wherein the second bottoms product is heated to a temperature of about 280 ° C. and mixed with the first bottoms product supply for reinjection into the second evaporator.
Claim 24
Dependent Claim
35 words
The method according to claim 16 wherein the third bottoms product is heated to a temperature of about 330 ° C. and mixed with the second bottoms product supply for reinjection into the third evaporator.
Claim 25
Dependent Claim
38 words
The method according to claim 16 wherein the bottoms product provided by steps ( a ) to ( c ) is recirculated at a flow rate of 5 to 10 times greater than the initial feedstock flow rate.
Claim 26
Dependent Claim
31 words
The method according to claim 13 wherein the primary feedstock is heated to about 80 ° C. in a heat exchanger ( 3 ) prior to injection into the first evaporator.
Claim 27
Independent Claim
69 words
A method for re- fining used - oil, comprising: injecting a primary feedstock into at least two cyclonic vacuum evaporators connected in series, the evaporators comprising a substantially void evaporation chamber, a substantially tangential inlet, and a spray condenser in communication therewith, passing a distillate from each of the at least two cyclonic vacuum evaporators to the spray condensers; and controlling a temperature and pressure of each evaporator independently.
Claim 28
Independent Claim
69 words
A method for re- fining used - oil, comprising: injecting a primary feedstock into at least two cyclonic vacuum evaporators connected in series, the evaporators comprising a substantially void evaporation chamber, a substantially tangential inlet, and a spray condenser in communication therewith, passing a distillate from each of the at least two cyclonic vacuum evaporators to the spray condensers; and controlling a temperature and pressure of each evaporator independently.
Claim 29
Dependent Claim
19 words
The method of claim 22 , wherein the at least two cyclonic vacuum evaporators comprises four evaporators in series.
Claim 30
Dependent Claim
25 words
The method of claim 23 , further comprising maintaining a higher vacuum in the third and fourth evaporators than in the first and second evaporators.
Claim 31
Dependent Claim
29 words
The method of claim 22 , further comprising changing the temperature and pressure of at least one of the at least two evaporators to obtain an alternative oil fraction.
Claim 32
Independent Claim
104 words
A method for re- fining used - oil, comprising: injecting a primary feedstock into a first cyclonic vacuum evaporator having a substantially tangential inlet and a spray condenser in communication therewith, the first evaporator comprising a substantially void evaporation chamber; injecting at least a portion of a bottoms product of the first evaporator into a second cyclonic vacuum evaporator having a substantially tangential inlet and a spray condenser in communication therewith, the second evaporator comprising a substantially void evaporation chamber; passing a distillate from the first and the second evaporators to the spray condensers; and controlling a temperature and pressure of each evaporator independently.
Claim 33
Independent Claim
104 words
A method for re- fining used - oil, comprising: injecting a primary feedstock into a first cyclonic vacuum evaporator having a substantially tangential inlet and a spray condenser in communication therewith, the first evaporator comprising a substantially void evaporation chamber; injecting at least a portion of a bottoms product of the first evaporator into a second cyclonic vacuum evaporator having a substantially tangential inlet and a spray condenser in communication therewith, the second evaporator comprising a substantially void evaporation chamber; passing a distillate from the first and the second evaporators to the spray condensers; and controlling a temperature and pressure of each evaporator independently.
Claim 34
Dependent Claim
19 words
The method of claim 26 , wherein the distillate from the spray condensers are refluxed to their respective evaporator.
Claim 35
Dependent Claim
18 words
The method of claim 26 , wherein the first and second cyclonic vacuum evaporators are connected in series.
Claim 36
Dependent Claim
39 words
The method of claim 26 , further comprising injecting at least a portion of a bottoms product of the second evaporator into a third cyclonic vacuum evaporator having a substantially tangential inlet and a spray condenser in communication therewith.
Claim 37
Dependent Claim
39 words
The method of claim 29 , further comprising injecting at least a portion of a bottoms product of the third evaporator into a fourth cyclonic vacuum evaporator having a substantially tangential inlet and a spray condenser in communication therewith.
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USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 2006-12-29 | 2007-06-30 | 2007-12-30 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 2010-12-29 | 2011-06-30 | 2011-12-30 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 2014-12-29 | 2015-06-30 | 2015-12-30 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |