Hydrocarbon Processing - September 2022 - 31

100th Anniversary
HP Flashback
LEE NICHOLS, VP, Content/Editor-in-Chief
Operations, processes and safety evolve
and advance: Excerpts from the 1930s
The following is a mixture of technical articles, columns and
headlines published in the 1930s by The Refiner and Natural
Gasoline Manufacturer, the forerunner to Hydrocarbon Processing.
This collection of excerpts provides a look into the major
technological advancements and topics/trends in the hydrocarbon
processing industry during that timeframe.
API Division of Refining
January 1930
Through the realignment of American Petroleum Institute
(API) activities to embrace three major departments (Production,
Refining and Marketing), the organization has created the
Division of Refining. This step is essential to improve operating
efficiency and optimize the art of refining. How well the industry
progresses collectively is governed by the willingness to
contribute collectively.
The Division of Refining includes periodic regional conferences
or conventions where tentative solutions of problems peculiar
to a given refining district or, to the industry, may be discussed
by refinery personnel in the various regions throughout any given
year and may be the basis of highly interesting and instructive papers
for presentation at group sessions at the annual API meeting.
Petroleum coke and its utilization
M. E. Schulz, January 1930
In some cracking plants, particularly those in which the
heavier fractions of the crude are processed, a considerable
amount of petroleum coke is formed. A refinery cracking several
thousand barrels of oil per day may soon find itself with a large
supply of coke on hand. What can you do with this product? We
conducted some experimental work and found that coke could
be used as a pulverized fuel. It is quite probable that this means
of utilization will develop an important market for a large percentage
of petroleum coke in some of the favorable localities. In
the future, it is possible that this product will be converted from
a material difficult to dispose of to a valuable byproduct of the
oil refinery business.
Factors affecting the determination of gum in gasoline
C. R. Wagner and J. Hyman, January 1930
One of the more important problems that confronts the
producers of cracked gasolines is that of gum formation. Such
gasolines, if improperly refined, or if allowed to stand for long
periods in contact with the atmosphere, seriously affect the operation
of certain types of gasoline motors. Upon investigation,
these motors show intake valves stuck tightly and the guides
clogged with a black, brittle, carbonized deposit-referred to
as the " gumming " effect of gasoline. The authors have been led
to present the results of their work in the hope that they may
be able to assist somewhat in clearing up the existing confusion
among oil testing laboratories on this subject.
Survey shows need for curtailment of refinery runs
H. J. Struth, January 1930
A preliminary survey shows that refinery runs must be maintained
at a rate not to exceed those of 1929. Forecasts show
that global gasoline demand will increase 7.7% to 472 MMbbls
(nearly 1.3 MMbpd).
Welding plays important part in refinery maintenance
January 1930
In present refining practice, pipe stills are replacing the older
shell stills and the bubble tower or fractionating column has
been adapted from the chemical industries to give clean cut separation
of fractions in a single distillation. All this means that refinery
equipment has suddenly become more complicated. Due
to this trend, fabrication of intricate equipment is done right at
the refinery, and welding has been of incalculable assistance.
Vacuum units lower costs and improve products
G. Reid, February 1930
Fire prevention and protection in oil refineries
F. L. Newcomb, February 1930
Fire prevention in oil refineries has four essentials, which are:
1. Design, which includes a clear conception of the use
or occupancy of the property to obtain a safe layout
with provision for future expansion, adequate strength
for all structures and equipment, and the proper
specification of suitable materials
2. Maintenance of structures and equipment, including
systematic inspection to see that they are in a safe and
fit condition for the service for which they are used
3. Care in all operations where flammable materials
are handled
4. Good housekeeping or the maintenance of the entire
plant in a neat, clean and orderly condition.
Securing maximum recovery from absorption
I. N. Beall, March 1930
Hydrocarbon Processing's Centennial Anniversary | SEPTEMBER 2022 31
Hydrocarbon Processing - September 2022

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