Search results
Results from the WOW.Com Content Network
The hot crude oil is then passed into a distillation column that allows the separation of the crude oil into different fractions depending on the difference in volatility. The pressure at the top is maintained at 1.2–1.5 atm [ 2 ] so that the distillation can be carried out at close to atmospheric pressure, and therefore it is known as the ...
Petroleum refinery in Anacortes, Washington, United States. Petroleum refining processes are the chemical engineering processes and other facilities used in petroleum refineries (also referred to as oil refineries) to transform crude oil into useful products such as liquefied petroleum gas (LPG), gasoline or petrol, kerosene, jet fuel, diesel oil and fuel oils.
While not used as commonly as other techniques today, distillation is used in the process of refining petroleum. It involves the dividation of the crude oil into hydrocarbon categories, and products are recovered from the heated material. [17] A distillation tower is used in separation of the oil, with anywhere between 2 and 300 theoretical plates.
The crude oil is fed to a stabilizer which is typically a tray or packed tower column that achieves a partial fractionation or distillation of the oil. [4] The heavier components, pentane (C 5 H 12 ), hexane (C 6 H 14 ), and higher hydrocarbons (C 7 +), flow as liquid down through the column where the temperature is increasingly higher.
[1] [2] [41] Below is a schematic flow diagram of a typical crude oil distillation unit. The incoming crude oil is preheated by exchanging heat with some of the hot, distilled fractions and other streams. It is then desalted to remove inorganic salts (primarily sodium chloride). Following the desalter, the crude oil is further heated by ...
Due to the great surge in American production of oil, natural gas, and natural gas liquids since 2008, those products have been cheaper in the North American market than worldwide, giving American refiners a major cost advantage. [19] The discount on US crude is partially attributed to the long-standing federal ban on exports of American crude oil.
All unrefined crude oil has some water entrained within it. During transportation by ship, separation occurs naturally and water collects at the base of the tank below the oil, this is known as free water (FW). [4] Sales contracts for crude oil will typically specify the BS&W and FW to ensure the cargo meets quality standards.
[12] [13] [14] The refining of crude oil begins with distilling the incoming crude oil in a so-called atmospheric distillation column operating at pressures slightly above atmospheric pressure. [10] [12] [13] Vacuum distillation can also be referred to as "low-temperature distillation". [citation needed]