Petroleum refinery engineering involves the processes and operations used to convert crude oil into useful products like gasoline, diesel, jet fuel, and petrochemicals.
Primary processes include distillation (separating crude oil into fractions), catalytic cracking (breaking down large molecules), hydrocracking (using hydrogen to produce lighter hydrocarbons), and reforming (restructuring molecules to improve quality).
Crude oil distillation is the process of heating crude oil to separate it into different fractions based on boiling points. It is important because it is the first step in refining, separating crude oil into various components for further processing.
Catalytic cracking breaks down heavy hydrocarbon molecules into lighter ones like gasoline and diesel using a catalyst. It enhances the yield of valuable lighter products from heavier fractions.
Hydrocracking uses hydrogen and a catalyst to break down heavy hydrocarbons into lighter products. It differs from catalytic cracking by producing higher-quality products and handling heavier feedstocks.
Main products include gasoline, diesel, kerosene, jet fuel, lubricants, asphalt, and various petrochemicals used as feedstocks for plastics and other materials.
The octane number measures a fuel's ability to resist engine knocking or pinging during combustion. Higher octane fuels burn more smoothly, improving engine performance and efficiency. .
Desulfurization removes sulfur compounds from petroleum products to reduce sulfur dioxide emissions, preventing air pollution and meeting environmental regulations.
A refinery's yield refers to the proportion of different products obtained from crude oil processing. Maximizing yield means increasing the output of valuable products while minimizing waste.
Environmental challenges include managing emissions (such as sulfur oxides, nitrogen oxides, and volatile organic compounds), handling solid and liquid wastes, reducing water usage, and mitigating the impact of spills and leaks.