Atlantic Richfield Company

Stanley Ohlswager

Thorpe Dresser

Robert R Edison

Lee G Peterman

Albert G Plys

Disclosed is an analyzer for determining volatile composition changes of a distillable material which comprises: (a) a first device for causing at least a portion of said material to be at a temperature and at a pressure so that a difference in temperature of said portion of said material across an isenthalpic expansion at critical flow conditions would be at least about 5.degree. F.; (b) a second device for carrying out said isenthalpic expansion on said at least a portion of said material; (c) a third device for measuring at least two temperatures of said material where said at least two temperatures are a first and a second temperature, said first temperature being measured upstream of said expansion and said second temperature being measured downstream from said expansion; and (d) a fourth device for maintaining pressure downstream of said expansion to a value which does not vary by an amount in excess of about 20% of said pressure downstream of said expansion. The disclosed analyzer can be used in conjunction with equipment useful for processing distillable material into various boiling fractions. Disclosed also is a particular application for the analyzer in an online configuration for refining of petroleum crudes.

Analyzer for distillable materials

An apparatus for distributing a liquid-vapor mixture into two or more separate streams or paths involving a hollow vessel having a fluid inlet means; at least two pipe means each of which have one end extending into the vessel, each pipe means being in fluid communication with a different pass of a heat-exchanger system having at least two passes, each pipe means providing a different path for liquid-vapor flow from the hollow vessel; at least one aperture in that part of each of the pipe means extending into the vessel and restrictive means located in the vessel to restrict fluid flow directly into the top openings of the pipe means. In an additional embodiment, each of the pipe means is in fluid communication with a different chemical reaction zone. Improved methods of distributing a liquid-vapor mixture are also disclosed.

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Olympia Fields, IL, United States of America

Stanley Ohlswager