K.L.

N COLLEGE OF ENGINEERING,POTTAPALAYAM
DEPARTMENT OF ELECTRONICS AND INSTRUMENTATION ENGG
EI-1003 INSTRUMENTATION IN PETROCHEMICAL INDUSTRIES
DEFINITIONS FOR ALL UNITS
PREPARED BY [Link] KUMAR M.E., AP/EIE
ABSORPTION - The disappearance of one substance into another so that the
absorbed substance loses its identifying characteristics, while the absorbing
substance retains most of its original physical aspects. Used in refining to
selectively remove specific components from process streams.

ACID TREATMENT - A process in which unfinished petroleum products such as

gasoline, kerosene, and lubricating oil stocks are treated with sulfuric acid to
improve color, odor, and other properties.

ADDITIVE - Chemicals added to petroleum products in small amounts to

improve quality or add special characteristics.

ADSORPTION - Adhesion of the molecules of gases or liquids to the surface of

solid materials.

AIR FIN COOLERS - A radiator-like device used to cool or condense hot

hydrocarbons; also called fin fans.

ALICYCLIC HYDROCARBONS - Cyclic (ringed) hydrocarbons in which the

rings are made up only of carbon atoms.

ALIPHATIC HYDROCARBONS - Hydrocarbons characterized by open-chain

structures: ethane, butane, butene, acetylene, etc.

ALKYLATION - A process using sulfuric or hydro-fluoric acid as a catalyst to

combine olefins (usually butylene) and isobutane to produce a high-octane
product known as alkylate.

API GRAVITY - An arbitrary scale expressing the density of petroleum products.

AROMATIC - Organic compounds with one or more benzene rings.

ASPHALTENES - The asphalt compounds soluble in carbon disulfide but

insoluble in paraffin naphtha.

ATMOSPHERIC TOWER - A distillation unit operated at atmospheric pressure.

BENZENE - An unsaturated, six-carbon ring, basic aromatic compound.

BLEEDER VALVE - A small-flow valve connected to a fluid process vessel or

line for the purpose of bleeding off small quantities of contained fluid. It is
installed with a block valve to determine if the block valve is closed tightly.
 K.L.N COLLEGE OF ENGINEERING,POTTAPALAYAM
DEPARTMENT OF ELECTRONICS AND INSTRUMENTATION ENGG
EI-1003 INSTRUMENTATION IN PETROCHEMICAL INDUSTRIES
DEFINITIONS FOR ALL UNITS
PREPARED BY [Link] KUMAR M.E., AP/EIE
BLENDING - The process of mixing two or more petroleum products with
different properties to produce a finished product with desired characteristics.

BLOCK VALVE - A valve used to isolate equipment.

BLOWDOWN - The removal of hydrocarbons from a process unit, vessel, or line

on a scheduled or emergency basis by the use of pressure through special piping
and drums provided for this purpose.

BLOWER - Equipment for moving large volumes of gas against low-pressure

heads.

BOILING RANGE - The range of temperature (usually at atmospheric pressure)

at which the boiling (or distillation) of a hydrocarbon liquid commences,
proceeds, and finishes.

BOTTOMS - Tower bottoms are residue remaining in a distillation unit after the
highest boiling-point material to be distilled has been removed. Tank bottoms are
the heavy materials that accumulate in the bottom of storage tanks, usually
comprised of oil, water, and foreign matter.

BUBBLE TOWER - A fractionating (distillation) tower in which the rising vapors

pass through layers of condensate, bubbling under caps on a series of plates.

CATALYST - A material that aids or promotes a chemical reaction between other

substances but does not react itself. Catalysts increase reaction speeds and can
provide control by increasing desirable reactions and decreasing undesirable
reactions.

CATALYTIC CRACKING - The process of breaking up heavier hydrocarbon

molecules into lighter hydrocarbon fractions by use of heat and catalysts.

CAUSTIC WASH - A process in which distillate is treated with sodium hydroxide

to remove acidic contaminants that contribute to poor odor and stability.

CHD UNIT - See Hydrodesulfurization.

COKE - A high carbon-content residue remaining from the destructive distillation

of petroleum residue.

COKING - A process for thermally converting and upgrading heavy residual into
lighter products and by-product petroleum coke. Coking also is the removal of all
lighter distillable hydrocarbons that leaves a residue of carbon in the bottom of
units or as buildup or deposits on equipment and catalysts.
 K.L.N COLLEGE OF ENGINEERING,POTTAPALAYAM
DEPARTMENT OF ELECTRONICS AND INSTRUMENTATION ENGG
EI-1003 INSTRUMENTATION IN PETROCHEMICAL INDUSTRIES
DEFINITIONS FOR ALL UNITS
PREPARED BY [Link] KUMAR M.E., AP/EIE
CONDENSATE - The liquid hydrocarbon resulting from cooling vapors.

CONDENSER - A heat-transfer device that cools and condenses vapor by

removing heat via a cooler medium such as water or lower-temperature
hydrocarbon streams.

CONDENSER REFLUX - Condensate that is returned to the original unit to assist

in giving increased conversion or recovery.

COOLER - A heat exchanger in which hot liquid hydrocarbon is passed through

pipes immersed in cool water to lower its temperature.

CRACKING - The breaking up of heavy molecular weight hydrocarbons into

lighter hydrocarbon molecules by the application of heat and pressure, with or
without the use of catalysts.

CRUDE ASSAY - A procedure for determining the general distillation and quality
characteristics of crude oil.

CRUDE OIL - A naturally occurring mixture of hydrocarbons that usually

includes small quantities of sulfur, nitrogen, and oxygen derivatives of
hydrocarbons as well as trace metals.

CYCLE GAS OIL - Cracked gas oil returned to a cracking unit.

DEASPHALTING - Process of removing asphaltic materials from reduced crude

using liquid propane to dissolve non-asphaltic compounds.

DEBUTANIZER - A fractionating column used to remove butane and lighter

components from liquid streams.

DE-ETHANIZER - A fractionating column designed to remove ethane and gases

from heavier hydrocarbons.

DEHYDROGENATION - A reaction in which hydrogen atoms are eliminated

from a molecule. Dehydrogenation is used to convert ethane, propane, and butane
into olefins (ethylene, propylene, and butenes).

DEPENTANIZER - A fractionating column used to remove pentane and lighter

fractions from hydrocarbon streams.

DEPROPANIZER - A fractionating column for removing propane and lighter

components from liquid streams.
 K.L.N COLLEGE OF ENGINEERING,POTTAPALAYAM
DEPARTMENT OF ELECTRONICS AND INSTRUMENTATION ENGG
EI-1003 INSTRUMENTATION IN PETROCHEMICAL INDUSTRIES
DEFINITIONS FOR ALL UNITS
PREPARED BY [Link] KUMAR M.E., AP/EIE
DESALTING - Removal of mineral salts (most chlorides, e.g., magnesium
chloride and sodium chloride) from crude oil.

DESULFURIZATION - A chemical treatment to remove sulfur or sulfur

compounds from hydrocarbons.

DEWAXING - The removal of wax from petroleum products (usually lubricating

oils and distillate fuels) by solvent absorption, chilling, and filtering.

DIETHANOLAMINE - A chemical C4H11O2N used to remove H2S from gas

streams.

DISTILLATE - The products of distillation formed by condensing vapors.

DOWNFLOW - Process in which the hydrocarbon stream flows from top to

bottom.

DRY GAS - Natural gas with so little natural gas liquids that it is nearly all
methane with some ethane.

FEEDSTOCK - Stock from which material is taken to be fed (charged) into a

processing unit.

FLASHING - The process in which a heated oil under pressure is suddenly

vaporized in a tower by reducing pressure.

FLASH POINT - Lowest temperature at which a petroleum product will give off
sufficient vapor so that the vapor-air mixture above the surface of the liquid will
propagate a flame away from the source of ignition.

FLUX - Lighter petroleum used to fluidize heavier residual so that it can be

pumped.

FOULING - Accumulation of deposits in condensers, exchangers, etc.

FRACTION - One of the portions of fractional distillation having a restricted

boiling range.

FRACTIONATING COLUMN - Process unit that separates various fractions of

petroleum by simple distillation, with the column tapped at various levels to
separate and remove fractions according to their boiling ranges.

FUEL GAS - Refinery gas used for heating.

 K.L.N COLLEGE OF ENGINEERING,POTTAPALAYAM
DEPARTMENT OF ELECTRONICS AND INSTRUMENTATION ENGG
EI-1003 INSTRUMENTATION IN PETROCHEMICAL INDUSTRIES
DEFINITIONS FOR ALL UNITS
PREPARED BY [Link] KUMAR M.E., AP/EIE
GAS OIL - Middle-distillate petroleum fraction with a boiling range of about
350-750 F, usually includes diesel fuel, kerosene, heating oil, and light fuel oil.

GASOLINE - A blend of naphthas and other refinery products with sufficiently

high octane and other desirable characteristics to be suitable for use as fuel in
internal combustion engines.

HEADER - A manifold that distributes fluid from a series of smaller pipes or

conduits.

HEAT EXCHANGER - Equipment to transfer heat between two flowing streams

of different temperatures. Heat is transferred between liquids or liquids and gases
through a tubular wall.

HIGH-LINE OR HIGH-PRESSURE GAS - High-pressure (100 psi) gas from

cracking unit distillate drums that is compressed and combined with low-line gas
as gas absorption feedstock.

HYDROCRACKING - A process used to convert heavier feedstock into lower-

boiling, higher-value products. The process employs high pressure, high
temperature, a catalyst, and hydrogen.

HYDRODESULFURIZATION - A catalytic process to remove sulfur from

petroleum fractions in the presence of hydrogen.

HYDROFINISHING - A catalytic treating process carried out in the presence of

hydrogen to improve the properties of low viscosity-index naphthenic and
medium viscosity-index naphthenic oils. It is also applied to paraffin waxes and
micro-crystalline waxes for the removal of undesirable components. This process
consumes hydrogen and is used in lieu of acid treating.

HYDROFORMING - Catalytic reforming of naphtha at elevated temperatures

and moderate pressures in the presence of hydrogen to form high-octane BTX
aromatics for motor fuel or chemical manufacture. This process results in a net
production of hydrogen and has rendered thermal reforming somewhat obsolete.
It represents the total effect of numerous simultaneous reactions such as cracking,
polymerization, dehydrogenation, and isomerization.

HYDROGENATION - The chemical addition of hydrogen to a material in the

presence of a catalyst.

INHIBITOR - Additive used to prevent or retard undesirable changes in the

quality of the product, or in the condition of the equipment in which the product is
used.
 K.L.N COLLEGE OF ENGINEERING,POTTAPALAYAM
DEPARTMENT OF ELECTRONICS AND INSTRUMENTATION ENGG
EI-1003 INSTRUMENTATION IN PETROCHEMICAL INDUSTRIES
DEFINITIONS FOR ALL UNITS
PREPARED BY [Link] KUMAR M.E., AP/EIE
ISOMERIZATION - A reaction that catalytically converts straight-chain
hydrocarbon molecules into branched-chain molecules of substantially higher
octane number. The reaction rearranges the carbon skeleton of a molecule without
adding or removing anything from the original material.

ISO-OCTANE - A hydrocarbon molecule (2,2,4-trimethylpentane) with excellent

antiknock characteristics on which the octane number of 100 is based.

KNOCKOUT DRUM - A vessel wherein suspended liquid is separated from gas

or vapor.

LEAN OIL - Absorbent oil fed to absorption towers in which gas is to be stripped.
After absorbing the heavy ends from the gas, it becomes fat oil. When the heavy
ends are subsequently stripped, the solvent again becomes lean oil.

LOW-LINE or LOW-PRESSURE GAS - Low-pressure (5 psi) gas from

atmospheric and vacuum distillation recovery systems that is collected in the gas
plant for compression to higher pressures.

NAPHTHA - A general term used for low boiling hydrocarbon fractions that are a
major component of gasoline. Aliphatic naphtha refers to those naphthas
containing less than 0.1% benzene and with carbon numbers from C3 through
C16. Aromatic naphthas have carbon numbers from C6 through C16 and contain
significant quantities of aromatic hydrocarbons such as benzene (>0.1%), toluene,
and xylene.

NAPHTHENES - Hydrocarbons (cycloalkanes) with the general formula CnH2n,

in which the carbon atoms are arranged to form a ring.

OCTANE NUMBER - A number indicating the relative antiknock characteristics

of gasoline.

OLEFINS - A family of unsaturated hydrocarbons with one carbon-carbon double

bond and the general formula CnH2n.

PARAFFINS - A family of saturated aliphatic hydrocarbons (alkanes) with the

general formula CnH2n+2.

POLYFORMING - The thermal conversion of naphtha and gas oils into high-
quality gasoline at high temperatures and pressure in the presence of recirculated
hydrocarbon gases.
 K.L.N COLLEGE OF ENGINEERING,POTTAPALAYAM
DEPARTMENT OF ELECTRONICS AND INSTRUMENTATION ENGG
EI-1003 INSTRUMENTATION IN PETROCHEMICAL INDUSTRIES
DEFINITIONS FOR ALL UNITS
PREPARED BY [Link] KUMAR M.E., AP/EIE
POLYMERIZATION - The process of combining two or more unsaturated
organic molecules to form a single (heavier) molecule with the same elements in
the same proportions as in the original molecule.

PREHEATER - Exchanger used to heat hydrocarbons before they are fed to a

unit.

PRESSURE-REGULATING VALVE - A valve that releases or holds process-

system pressure (that is, opens or closes) either by preset spring tension or by
actuation by a valve controller to assume any desired position between fully open
and fully closed.

PYROLYSIS GASOLINE - A by-product from the manufacture of ethylene by

steam cracking of hydrocarbon fractions such as naphtha or gas oil.

PYROPHORIC IRON SULFIDE - A substance typically formed inside tanks and

processing units by the corrosive interaction of sulfur compounds in the
hydrocarbons and the iron and steel in the equipment. On exposure to air (oxygen)
it ignites spontaneously.

QUENCH OIL - Oil injected into a product leaving a cracking or reforming heater
to lower the temperature and stop the cracking process.

RAFFINATE - The product resulting from a solvent extraction process and

consisting mainly of those components that are least soluble in the solvents. The
product recovered from an extraction process is relatively free of aromatics,
naphthenes, and other constituents that adversely affect physical parameters.

REACTOR - The vessel in which chemical reactions take place during a chemical
conversion type of process.

REBOILER - An auxiliary unit of a fractionating tower designed to supply

additional heat to the lower portion of the tower.

RECYCLE GAS - High hydrogen-content gas returned to a unit for reprocessing.

REDUCED CRUDE - A residual product remaining after the removal by

distillation of an appreciable quantity of the more volatile components of crude
oil.

REFLUX - The portion of the distillate returned to the fractionating column to

assist in attaining better separation into desired fractions.
 K.L.N COLLEGE OF ENGINEERING,POTTAPALAYAM
DEPARTMENT OF ELECTRONICS AND INSTRUMENTATION ENGG
EI-1003 INSTRUMENTATION IN PETROCHEMICAL INDUSTRIES
DEFINITIONS FOR ALL UNITS
PREPARED BY [Link] KUMAR M.E., AP/EIE
REFORMATE - An upgraded naphtha resulting from catalytic or thermal
reforming.

REFORMING - The thermal or catalytic conversion of petroleum naphtha into

more volatile products of higher octane number. It represents the total effect of
numerous simultaneous reactions such as cracking, polymerization,
dehydrogenation, and isomerization.

REGENERATION - In a catalytic process the reactivation of the catalyst,

sometimes done by burning off the coke deposits under carefully controlled
conditions of temperature and oxygen content of the regeneration gas stream.

SCRUBBING - Purification of a gas or liquid by washing it in a tower.

SOLVENT EXTRACTION - The separation of materials of different chemical

types and solubilities by selective solvent action.

SOUR GAS - Natural gas that contains corrosive, sulfur-bearing compounds such
as hydrogen sulfide and mercaptans.

STABILIZATION - A process for separating the gaseous and more volatile liquid
hydrocarbons from crude petroleum or gasoline and leaving a stable (less-volatile)
liquid so that it can be handled or stored with less change in composition.

STRAIGHT-RUN GASOLINE - Gasoline produced by the primary distillation of

crude oil. It contains no cracked, polymerized, alkylated, reformed, or visbroken
stock.

STRIPPING - The removal (by steam-induced vaporization or flash evaporation)

of the more volatile components from a cut or fraction.

SULFURIC ACID TREATING - A refining process in which unfinished

petroleum products such as gasoline, kerosene, and lubricating oil stocks are
treated with sulfuric acid to improve their color, odor, and other characteristics.

SULFURIZATION - Combining sulfur compounds with petroleum lubricants.

SWEETENING - Processes that either remove obnoxious sulfur compounds

(primarily hydrogen sulfide, mercaptans, and thiophenes) from petroleum
fractions or streams, or convert them, as in the case of mercaptans, to odorless
disulfides to improve odor, color, and oxidation stability.

SWITCH LOADING - The loading of a high static-charge retaining hydrocarbon

(i.e., diesel fuel) into a tank truck, tank car, or other vessel that has previously
 K.L.N COLLEGE OF ENGINEERING,POTTAPALAYAM
DEPARTMENT OF ELECTRONICS AND INSTRUMENTATION ENGG
EI-1003 INSTRUMENTATION IN PETROCHEMICAL INDUSTRIES
DEFINITIONS FOR ALL UNITS
PREPARED BY [Link] KUMAR M.E., AP/EIE
contained a low-flash hydrocarbon (gasoline) and may contain a flammable
mixture of vapor and air.

TAIL GAS - The lightest hydrocarbon gas released from a refining process.

THERMAL CRACKING - The breaking up of heavy oil molecules into lighter

fractions by the use of high temperature without the aid of catalysts.

TURNAROUND - A planned complete shutdown of an entire process or section

of a refinery, or of an entire refinery to perform major maintenance, overhaul, and
repair operations and to inspect, test, and replace process materials and
equipment.

VACUUM DISTILLATION - The distillation of petroleum under vacuum, which

reduces the boiling temperature sufficiently to prevent cracking or decomposition
of the feedstock.

VAPOR - The gaseous phase of a substance that is a liquid at normal temperature

and pressure.

VISBREAKING - Viscosity breaking is a low-temperature cracking process used

to reduce the viscosity or pour point of straight-run residuum.

WET GAS - A gas containing a relatively high proportion of hydrocarbons that

are recoverable as liquids.

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