The separation of crude oil is based on the principle of fractional distillation.
Here's a
simplified overview of how it works:
1. Heating: Crude oil is heated in a furnace until it evaporates into a vapor. This mixture of
vapors is then fed into a distillation column.
2. Distillation Column: The distillation column is a tall tower with several trays at different
levels. As the vapors rise up the column, the temperature decreases. The different
components of crude oil have different boiling points, so they condense back into liquids
at various heights in the column.
3. Condensation: Heavier hydrocarbons (with higher boiling points) condense at the lower
trays, while lighter hydrocarbons (with lower boiling points) continue to rise and
condense at higher trays. This allows the components to be separated based on their
boiling points.
4. Collection: The separated liquids, known as fractions, are collected from different trays.
Each fraction contains hydrocarbons with similar boiling points and properties, such as
gasoline, kerosene, diesel, and lubricating oils.
5. Further Processing: Some fractions may require further refining or chemical processing
to meet specific quality standards or to produce additional products like petrochemicals
or lubricants.
This process allows the different components of crude oil to be separated and used for various
applications, from fueling vehicles to producing plastics and other essential materials.
Since I can’t draw diagrams myself, let me paint a picture with words for you!
Here's a textual representation of a typical fractional distillation column:
Distillation Column
__________________________
| |
| ^ |
| | |
| Gasoline <--------- | (~ 150°C)
| ^ |
| | |
| Naphtha <--------- | (~ 200°C)
| ^ |
| | |
| Kerosene <--------- | (~ 300°C)
| ^ |
| | |
| Diesel Oil <-------- | (~ 350°C)
| ^ |
| | |
| Lubricating Oil <----- | (~ 400°C)
| ^ |
| | |
|Residue (Bitumen) <---- | (Bottom)
|__________________________|
Annotations:
Bottom (Highest Boiling Point): Residue (Bitumen) - Used for road surfaces and
roofing.
Higher Level: Lubricating Oil - Used for making lubricants.
Above that: Diesel Oil - Used as fuel for diesel engines.
Next Level: Kerosene - Used as jet fuel and in heating.
Higher Up: Naphtha - Used as feedstock for chemical manufacturing.
Top (Lowest Boiling Point): Gasoline - Used as fuel for cars.
This column depicts the process:
1. Crude oil is heated in the furnace and vaporized.
2. Vapors rise through the column, where temperature gradually decreases.
3. Different fractions condense at different levels depending on their boiling points.
Imagine each tray as a layer where different products condense and are collected. This process is
efficient in separating crude oil into valuable components used in daily life.
Cracking is a vital process in the petroleum industry used to break down larger, heavier
hydrocarbon molecules into smaller, more useful ones. Here’s a closer look at its principles and
importance:
What is Cracking?
Cracking involves breaking down complex hydrocarbons (like heavy oils) into simpler
molecules (like gasoline, diesel, and other valuable products) through heat, pressure, and
sometimes catalysts. There are two main types of cracking:
1. Thermal Cracking: Uses high temperatures and pressures to break down the heavy
hydrocarbons.
2. Catalytic Cracking: Utilizes a catalyst to lower the temperature and pressure needed for
the cracking process, making it more efficient.
Importance of Cracking
1. Increased Supply of Fuels: Cracking helps meet the high demand for fuels like gasoline
and diesel by converting less useful heavy oils into these valuable products.
2. Production of Petrochemicals: Cracking produces smaller molecules like ethylene and
propylene, which are essential raw materials for making plastics, synthetic rubber, and
other chemicals.
3. Maximizing Resource Utilization: By converting heavy fractions that might otherwise
be wasted, cracking maximizes the use of each barrel of crude oil, enhancing efficiency
and sustainability.
4. Economic Benefits: Cracking increases the profitability of refineries by enabling them to
produce more high-demand, high-value products from the same amount of crude oil.
In summary, cracking is crucial for transforming heavier, less valuable fractions of crude oil into
lighter, more marketable products, thus playing a pivotal role in the economics and efficiency of
the petroleum industry.
Fractional distillation of crude Oil
How is crude oil separated?
Crude oil as a mixture is not a very useful substance but the different hydrocarbons that
make up the mixture, called fractions, are enormously valuable, with each fraction having
many different applications
Each fraction consists of groups of hydrocarbons of similar chain lengths
The fractions in petroleum are separated from each other in a process called fractional
distillation
The molecules in each fraction have similar properties and boiling points, which depend
on the number of carbon atoms in the chain
The size and length of each hydrocarbon molecule determines in which fraction it will be
separated into
The size of each molecule is directly related to how many carbon and hydrogen atoms the
molecule contains
Most fractions contain mainly alkanes, which are compounds of carbon and hydrogen
with only single bonds between them
Fractional distillation of crude oil
Diagram showing the process of fractional distillation to separate crude oil in a fractionating
column
How does fractional distillation work?
Fractional distillation is carried out in a fractionating column which has a temperature
gradient
o It is very hot at the bottom of the column and cooler at the top
During the process of fractional distillation:
o The crude oil is heated and vapourises
o The vapours of hydrocarbons enter the column which has a temperature
gradient
o The vapours of hydrocarbons with high boiling points condense at the bottom of
the column
o The vapours of hydrocarbons with lower boiling points rise up the column and
condense at the top
Examiner Tips and Tricks
As you move up a fractionating column the temperature decreases, so the compounds with
higher boiling points come off lower down the column.
The Main Fractions
Properties of the main fractions of crude oil
Viscosity
This refers to the ease of flow of a liquid
High viscosity liquids are thick and flow less easily
If the number of carbon atoms increases, the attraction between the hydrocarbon
molecules also increases which results in the liquid becoming more viscous with the
increasing length of the hydrocarbon chain
The liquid flows less easily with increasing molecular mass
Colour
As carbon chain length increases the colour of the liquid gets darker as it gets thicker and
more viscous
Melting point/boiling point
As the molecules get larger, the intermolecular attraction becomes greater
So more heat is needed to separate the molecules
With increasing molecular size there is an increase in boiling point
Volatility
Volatility refers to the tendency of a substance to vaporise
With increasing molecular size hydrocarbon liquids become less volatile
This is because the attraction between the molecules increases with increasing molecular
size
Trend in boiling point of the main fractions
Fraction Number of carbon atoms Boiling point Boiling point & viscosity increase goin
Refinery gas 1-4 Below 25
Gasoline / petrol 4-12 40-100
Naptha 7-14 90-150
Kerosene / paraffin 12-16 150-240
↓
Diesel / gas oil 14-18 220-300
Fuel oil 19-25 250-320
Lubricating oil 20-40 300-350
Bitumen More than 70 More than 350
What are the fractions used for?
The petrochemical industry is hugely important for modern society and development
The fuels that are used in most modern methods of transport (cars, trains, airplanes etc.)
are all based on oil products
Polymers, lubricants, solvents, detergents and adhesives are all products that are obtained
from crude oil
The array of fractions in crude oil and the huge range of compounds we can produce from
them all stem from carbon’s ability to form multiple strong covalent bonds with itself
leading a huge number of organic compounds
The main fractions and their uses are described in the following table:
Uses of Crude Oil Fractions
Fraction Use
Liquified petroleum gas Domestic heating & cooking
Petrol Fuel for cars (gasoline)
Kerosene Jet fuel (paraffin)
Diesel Diesel engines (gas oil)
Heavy fuel oil Ships & power stations
Bitumen Surfacing roads and roofs
