Chemistry: Hydrocarbons in Fuels

Hydrocarbons transition from gases to liquids to solids as the number of carbon atoms increases.

Hydrocarbons are classified as gases, liquids, and solids based on their carbon atom count.

Hydrocarbons with 10 carbon atoms are typically liquids at room temperature.

Hydrocarbons typically transition from gases to liquids around 5 carbon atoms.

Hydrocarbons with 25 carbon atoms are most likely to be in a solid state.

Cryogenic processes separate lighter hydrocarbons like ethane, propane, and butane from a gas stream.

Refrigerants cool the gas stream to very low temperatures in cryogenic processes.

In cryogenic processes, the gas stream's vapor pressure drops when it enters the expansion chamber.

NGL stabilization ensures that natural gas liquids meet market specifications for transportation.

Ethane is used as a feedstock to produce ethylene and other petrochemical building blocks.

Propane is used as a heating fuel, transportation fuel, and petrochemical feedstock.

Normal butane is used as a refining blend stock for gasoline and as a petrochemical feedstock.

Isobutane is used as a feedstock for alkylation, MTBE/TAME manufacturing and in gasoline octane blends.

Natural gasoline refers to pentanes and heavier hydrocarbon components in the gas stream.

Methane remains in the gas stream due to its light weight during cryogenic separation.