Petroleum

In its cruile state, as extractad fnmi Lhe groiind, ptroleni is of lililí or no valüe, but on account of the niany and useful oils that can be obtáined from it by distillation and rclining, it has )(- become one of ■ the great staples of the country, and besides the large aniount used at home, immense quaiilities are yearly exportal from the United States Ui ;ill parra öf the world. The separation of the different oils of petroleum requires far more detail and complicated machinery than is needed in puniping it from the ground, for each fluid must be treated distinctively and kept by itself during the whole process. A Budget inprmMifniiiiTfi visited recently one oí the large oil rehneries m the vicinty of Boston, and was shown the entire operation of reQning crude petroleum, a gentleman connected with the establishment giving him a clear explanation of the different machines, tanks, etc., besides f urnishing any inforniation on the subject that was required. CRUDE l'ETKOLEUM. Most of the oil which arrivés in the city is brought in oil cars direct from the wells and landed at the Grand Junction wharves, East Boston. The oil is emptied into' scows or lighters, holding from 300 to 500 barrels, and they are towed to the doek of the retinery. Crude petroleum is of a dark olive-green color, about the consistency of molasses and emite a rat her strong odor. In cold weather it tliickens so that it will scarcely run, while in the warm season it often becomes as thin a.s water. On the arrival of the ere at the wharf, a hosepipe is placed into the hold and the contenta are transferred to an underground eistern eajable of holding many hundred barrels. From tliis eistern are pipes leading to the heating still, which sonsists of two concentric tanks, the inner one containing the il intended for reflning. A steam pump forces tl. e oil from the cistern to this still, which is kept heated by the exhaust of steam from the different pumps, and the temperatura of the petroleum is raised to nearly the boiling point, causing it to throw off the lighter gases and vapors, thus putting itin readiness for future treatment. From this tank are pipes leading to the different retorts where the distillation takes place. There are several of them, the largest being a huge irón tank encased in a brick building and heated by a number of f urnaces. In this still the petroleum is brougjit to a very high temperature, that causes it to throw ff vapors which are allowed to pass through a long serpentine coil of copper pije, surrounded by water. Connected with this coil are two conducting pipes which lead into THE RECEIVING ROOM. This room is located a short distance from the still, and in the centre of the apartment is a sinall iron tank, furnished with three compartments. From the bottom of each of these compartments is a pipe leading to a cistern, and the different oils produced by distillation can be carried to their respective receptacles by merely placingthenozzle of the pipe into the section connecting wit h the required cistern. The thst vapora that arise and become condensed by passing througli the coil run out into the receiving room in the forin of naphtha. In appearance it greatly resembles water, and emits a very gtrong and unpleasant odor. Por sometime this oil will flow, when it begins to grow thicker and darker colored, and it is then classed as kerosene or buming oil. The nozzle of the pipe is changed to the compartment intended for this oil, and the flow continúes. After a while this, in turn, bec'omea of a darker hue and the pipe is again changed, the fluid being termed lubricating oil. Jiy knowing the quantity of petroleum in the retort, and by observation, the time can be calculated for the running of the naphtha before it changes to kerosene, so that but little care is required, and one man can opérate severa stills at a time. After the contenta of the retort have been reduced to about twenty barrels, the fires are drawn, theremaining oil is taken out, and the tar and refuse matter that is always found in a petroleum still are removed, the tar being purchased by gas companies to be used in enriching their gas. When the retort is cleaned it is again filled with criule petroleum, and the same procesa is repeated. RE-DISTILLATION. All the three oils produced by distillation, with the exception of kerosene, are re-distilled by stoani, before they can .be refined. ïhe process is similar to the one just described, except that the heat is generated by steam, instead of by furnaces. Naphtha, on being distilled a second time, gives off a light, volatile oil, known as gasoline. This fluid is yery inflamable, and also exceedingly sensitive tg heat, it being easily brought to the boiling-point. It is quite inexpensive and is much used in the manufacture of gas for street lamps, private dwellings and the like, affording an excellent illumination. After gasoline is given off, benzine and a higher grade of naphtha are produced, and are much used by painters as a dryer; also for lighting purposes and for cleansing cloths. When lubricating oil is re-distilled a better quality is produced, the substanee remaining in the retort, after being distilled a third time, gives the clear, white parafflne used in making candles, chewing-gum and certain kinds of co'nfectionery. Mineral oils are much used for machinery, in preference to other kinds, there being no danger of spoHtaneous combustión. After the distillation is completed there is still another process to which the oils must be subjected before they are salable, as they are dark colored, have ea unpleasant odor, and contain impurities whicli it is necessary to remove. KEKINING is the last treatment of the different products of petroleum before tliey are ready for market. The oil is puniped into a large iron tank, called an agitator, and to every 100 barrels of oil flve carboys of sulphurio acid or vitriol are added. The mixture is thoroughly stirred for several hours by means of a powerful blast pump, and then allowed to settle. The acid eats up all impurities in the oil, giving it a clear, transparent color and removing the larger part of the strong odor. The greater weight of the vitriol causes it to sink, and it is easily drawn off, after whlch the oil is w&shed with water, it being again agitated by the air blast. Wkeu most of the acid is removed and the water withdrawn, caustic soda, or some other alkali, ia put into the oil to neutral i ze, any acid that may remain, and after being once more stirred it is ready for the bleaching-room. In this building are large tanks or vats, which are chiefly used for kerosene. The soda in the oil gives it a whitish, milky appearance, .ind after being pumped into the bleaching rooms it is slowly heated by stern n and allowed to settle. The soda descends to the bottora of I the tank, leaving the oil transparant and giving il i blueish-purple tint. In different States there are certain lave regiilatiug the test of kerosene, and for whatever part of the country the oü is to )' slïfpped it is brought to the required test in tliisroom. ln"Massacliusetts the limit is 115; that is, the kerosene must reach that temperat me before it will ignite iroin ;i llasli. In New ilampshire and Kimde lsland it is 120, and in Canada and the Pro im-cs 150 . High test or safety-oil 'm required to be 150 , but it is geaerally brought to a higher point. Kerosene is brought into this condition by gradtlally raising the temperalure and i is tested in adelicately-contrived machine, manufacturad for the pmpose. 'l'he oil is now ready for barrelleis and is pumped to thedilïerent ruc-civing tanks, and irom tliem the ca.sks are lilled Gasoline, owing to its exceedingly inflamable nature, is kept constantly under ground, and when wanted is putnped out by hand. THE PUMPS. The handling of the oil is done entirely by steam pumps, so that l'roin the time the crude petroleum leaves the ligliters until it comes out in a refined state in the bleaching house, it is kept covered in pipes and cisterna. . The largest pump handles all the crude petroleum, hut distillation hegins, a separate pump for each oil must lic used. In the pump room are numbers of these machines iïom a diminutive pump for naphtha to the huge air Mast used in the agitators. There ture quatititiesof piping leading in all directions, and furnished witli numberleás valvas for directing tlie oil into the proper iccepticle. Through the yards the pipes are laid underground, forming a perfect net-work, and requiring a complete diagram to afford the necessary inforination in repairing a pipe, should il break or become leaky. To a noviee the nuniber oL valves, pumps, piping, etc, is very bewildering, but the operators become so accustomei tothem that in the dark tlicy can easily find the proper valve, rarely making a mistake. There is one danger that is most carêfully guardcd against, nainely, lire. The inflammable nature of the manufactures renders the greatestcaution imperativo, for a eonüagration once started sooo gets beyond all control. Smoking is strictly forbidden, and mi lanterns are earried by tlxi wateliinaM. the yard n the vicinity of the still being ligbted by a powerful retlector. The furnaces in tlie large still and under the boilers are in buildings by themselves, aiid eveiy precaution is used to prevent a catastropfce; The reflnery is srapplled witli a oheinir-al engine, a hydrant connected witli the water inain, and extingiiisluTs are localcil in different parts of the pretnises. Oil relining lias been jicrlVclcd so lliat it is no w done witli greater casi; and less expense thun ever befare. This has tended to reduce the cost. of the different oils, thongli like many other kinds of merchandise the price varíes according to the supply and desuind Of late years benzine and different mixtures, of whieh this oil is the cliief ingrediënt, have been used for cleansing, and large quantities are soW Id dye-houses, and for like puiposes. Tn short, by the refining prooess every product of otherwise uselèss petroleum is rendered valuable and tüarketable.-