Chapter Four
Chapter Four
Chapter Four
PETROLEUM
REFINING
4.1. Why the oil industry is important
The oil industry is important because it is the major source of the
world's energy and chemicals. The products of this industry range
from petrol and other fuels for transport and oil heating systems to
polymers and detergents. Millions of tons of oil are extracted each
year and processed in refineries and other chemical plants.
First, you should know the origin of oil. Essentially, it is the decay
products of countless tiny sea creatures that have been trapped
under layers of rock. Usually the oil is accompanied by methane,
otherwise known as natural gas.
Once the oil is taken from the wells, it is transported to the
refineries this is best done by pipelines; however the transport
generally involves the use of massive, oil tankers. Once the oil
arrives at the refineries, the interesting chemistry begins.
Crude oil can be split into a number of fractions ranging from tarry
substances of very high boiling points to gaseous molecules of low
boiling point. Some of the fractions could be used immediately but
most require further treatment. The demand for the different
fractions is not uniform.
Kerosene (Paraffin),
LOWER BOILING POINT
C11 – C14
LOWER MOLAR MASS
PETROLEUM FRACTIONATION
4.3.2. Naphtha
This fraction has some solvents with boiling point range from 70-
200oC and Carbon atom number from C6-C11. The main applications
of naphtha are to produce solvents and some components are used
in gasoline.
4.3.3. Kerosene
Kerosene or "paraffin ", is a petroleum fuel consists of fractions
have boiling point between 200-250oC, it has an illuminating flame
and used in aviation jet engine. Kerosene, or kerosene blended with
gasoline, is used as fuel for turbine-driven aircraft, and this fraction
is consequently now rated an important product of the petroleum
industry.
4.3.4 Diesel Oil
The diesel engine is a compression- ignition engine which uses
petroleum fuels that is distilled between about 250 and 300oC. The
process of injecting oil into a combustion chamber needs an
efficient atomization (make the fuel in the form of very small
droplets) which is necessary in a compression – ignition engine if
combustion is to be complete. For diesel fuels, viscosity is an
important factor in determining ease of atomization.
4.3.5. Fuel oils
Fuels that is distilled between about 300 and 400oC. While the light
petroleum fractions we have been considering are generally used as
sources of heat and power, the term "fuel oil" is reserved for viscous
oils which are used in furnace combustion as alternatives to coal or
gaseous fuels. Liquid fuels have a higher thermal storage capacity
than the solid fuel, (fuel oils have a gross calorific value of about
19,000 Btu per pound where as a good quality coal about 15,000 Btu
per pound.
4.3.6. Other petroleum products
From the heavy residues of crude petroleum a number of valuable
products are extracted. Some of these products include:
(1) Lubricating oils which are a valuable range of petroleum waxes and
greases obtained by extensive refining.
(2) Bitumen which is used chiefly as a road-making material, but has
many other applications.
(3) Petroleum coke, the ultimate solid residue of petroleum distillation,
its very low ash content makes it a suitable source of electrode
carbon, and like coal, it may also be used as a solid smokeless fuel.