36 Questions
What is the main goal of a petroleum refinery?
To maximize production of high demand products
Which of the following is a product that can be obtained directly from a crude oil refinery?
Propane
What determines the type of products produced by a crude oil refinery?
The equipment installed in the refinery
What is the purpose of separating hydrocarbon components in a refinery?
To maximize production of high demand products
Which property increases as the number of carbon atoms in a hydrocarbon chain increases?
Boiling point
What is the function of a petroleum refinery?
To separate hydrocarbon components in crude oil
Which type of petrochemicals are produced in the cracking process?
Olefins
What is the purpose of let-down or pressure reducing stations in the steam systems?
To connect high pressure to low-pressure systems
What is the function of atomizing steam in a refinery plant?
To enhance combustion
What role does synthesis gas (syngas) play in petrochemical production?
Mixture of CO and H2 used in processes
Why is high-pressure steam important in a refinery?
To drive turbines on critical equipment
What is the range of pressure for low-pressure steam systems in a refinery?
15 psi to 60 psi
How is steam used in side stream stripping columns in a refinery?
To facilitate movement of light products up the column
What is the function of regeneration steam in a refinery operation?
To remove impurities or regenerate chemicals and catalysts
Which utility system do most refineries depend on as a more reliable source than purchased power?
Steam system
What is the primary purpose of heating buildings using utility systems in a refinery?
To provide warmth to buildings and process areas
What is the purpose of purging equipment with steam in a refinery hydrocarbon unit?
To clean towers and associated equipment in preparation for vessel entry
What is the primary function of a heavy oil upgrader in a refinery?
To convert bitumen into a high-quality, low-sulfur crude oil
What is the purpose of a diluent recovery unit in heavy oil upgrader operations?
To remove naturally occurring light gas oil from dilbit
What is the role of the vacuum distillation unit in the conversion of bitumen?
To produce lighter liquid product and by-product coke
What happens to the residue stream from the atmospheric distillation tower in heavy oil upgrader operations?
It is mixed with heavy vacuum gas oil for hydrotreating
How does steam tracing help prevent equipment freezing in a refinery during cold weather?
By introducing steam to thaw frozen equipment and lines
What is the purpose of mixing steam with the gas flow at the tip of a flare stack in a refinery?
To control smoke and reduce environmental impact of the flare
What role does atmospheric distillation play in the heavy oil upgrader process?
To separate naphtha, light gas oil, heavy gas oil, and residue streams
What is the final product obtained from the upgrading facility in heavy oil upgrader operations?
Synthetic crude oils and coke as by-products
Why is it essential to introduce steam prior to start-up in refinery towers?
To heat up equipment and remove oxygen from towers
What is the main principle behind separating crude oil into various fractions?
Increasing boiling point is linked to increasing molecular weight.
What happens as the vapour of crude oil cools during the separation process?
Heavier molecules condense first and are removed.
What is the purpose of fractionating or distillation towers in the refining process?
To separate crude oil into different fractions based on boiling points.
Which stage in the refining process involves altering the molecular structure of compounds?
Converting separated fractions into product streams.
What is the purpose of hydrotreating, cracking, forming, and alkylation processes in refining?
To alter the molecular structure of compounds.
Why is it important to efficiently heat crude oil before entering the separation process?
To avoid chemical decomposition of the oil.
What occurs as the crude oil enters the distillation column?
The temperature drops below the boiling point of some components.
What happens to vapors rising up in the distillation column?
They condense into liquid and fall back down.
What are recovered at lower temperatures in distillation processes?
Liquid petroleum gases like butane.
What follows after recovering specific fractions in distillation?
Further processing to remove contaminants like sulfur and carbon dioxide.
Explore how refineries produce base petrochemical feedstock chemicals and the connection between processes in the petrochemical industry. Learn about the three groups of petrochemicals based on their chemical structure and the cracking process that produces olefins.
Make Your Own Quizzes and Flashcards
Convert your notes into interactive study material.
Get started for free
