Fuel Oil Flashcards

Questions and Answers

What is crude oil?

Hydrocarbon - a compound of hydrogen and carbon.

What is the purpose of the refining process in crude oil?

To remove or reduce the unwanted elements and particles.

Name the three basic groups of crude oil.

Paraffins, Naphthenes, Aromatics.

What determines the characteristics of a particular type of crude oil?

Atomic structure determines the molecular physical and chemical properties like boiling temperature, viscosity, density. Signup and view all the answers

What products are obtained based upon crude oil's characteristics?

Fuel, Lubricant, Solvent. Signup and view all the answers

What does the refining process achieve?

Divides the crude oil into a number of fractions (grades). Signup and view all the answers

What is the basis of the refining process? What does it involve?

Distillation. Involves evaporation and condensation. Signup and view all the answers

List the different refining processes.

Primary (the straight run process), Secondary processes (thermal cracking, vacuum distillation, visbreaking, catalytic cracking). Signup and view all the answers

How do the various refining processes differ?

By the pressure and temperature used. Signup and view all the answers

List typical oil distillates starting with those with lower boiling points.

Propane, Butane, Aviation spirit, Motor spirit, Kerosene, Gas oil, Diesel oil, Lubricant base oil. Signup and view all the answers

Name typical oil residuals.

Heavy oil, Bitumen, Tar, Carbon black. Signup and view all the answers

What is a fractionation tower?

It's where crude oil is heated, vapors are boiled off and then condensed at different temperatures. Signup and view all the answers

What is a catalyst?

A substance that aids or speeds up a chemical process without itself undergoing any changes. Signup and view all the answers

What is catalytic cracking?

A process that uses a powdered silica-alumina based catalyst with heating to obtain lighter fractions. Signup and view all the answers

What are catalytic fines and why are they a problem?

They are abrasive fines from catalytic powder that can damage fuel injectors and other engine parts. Signup and view all the answers

What is meant by the fuel physical properties?

Characteristics that affect the fuel's safe handling, storage and effective delivery to the engine's combustion chamber. Signup and view all the answers

What are the fuel chemical properties?

Fuel characteristics that describe its value in terms of energy content, ability to release that energy, and combustion by-products. Signup and view all the answers

What's ISO 8217?

The international standard of fuel types and grades, providing guidelines to their characteristics and limits. Signup and view all the answers

What are the four grades of distillate fuel?

DMX, DMA, DMB, DMC. Signup and view all the answers

List the fuel properties described in the ISO 8217 notes.

Health and safety, Ambient conditions, Ash, Carbon residue, Cloud point, Compatibility, Density, Flash point, Ignition quality, Microbiological degradation, Pour point, Specific energy, Silicon and aluminium, Sodium, Sulphur, Vanadium, Viscosity, Water, Wax. Signup and view all the answers

List the possible hazards on seamen from oils used on ships as described in MSN 1521.

Residual fuel oil and used engine oil contain carcinogenic substances; contact may lead to negative skin effects. Signup and view all the answers

Where can one find advice and information on health and safety onboard ships?

Code of safe working practices for merchant seamen. Signup and view all the answers

Who should provide information about the use of particular products and the necessary precautions for safety?

Suppliers, as it's a statutory requirement under the Health and Safety at Work Act 1974 and Consumer Protection Act 1987. Signup and view all the answers

What is the significance of ambient conditions with regard to engine performance?

Ambient conditions have an effect on the specific fuel consumption of an engine. Signup and view all the answers

List four parameters of ambient conditions.

Inlet air temperature, Sea water temperature, Barometric pressure, Humidity. Signup and view all the answers

Study Notes

Crude Oil Overview

Crude oil is a hydrocarbon, composed of hydrogen and carbon.
The refining process aims to eliminate unwanted elements and particles from crude oil.

Types of Crude Oil

Crude oil is classified into three groups: paraffins, naphthenes, and aromatics.
Characteristics of crude oil, such as boiling temperature, viscosity, and density, are determined by its atomic structure.

Products from Crude Oil

Crude oil can be processed into various products including fuel, lubricants, and solvents.

Refining Process

The refining process separates crude oil into different fractions or grades via distillation, which involves evaporation and condensation.
Refining methods include primary processes (e.g., straight run process) and secondary processes such as thermal cracking, vacuum distillation, visbreaking, and catalytic cracking.

Distillation and Residuals

Distillation produces typical oil distillates ranging from propane to lubricating base oil, each with a specific boiling point.
Common oil residuals include heavy oil, bitumen, tar, and carbon black.

Fractionation Tower

A fractionation tower is utilized to heat crude oil, where vapors are boiled off and condensed at various temperatures.

Catalysts and Catalytic Cracking

A catalyst is a substance that accelerates chemical processes without undergoing change itself.
Catalytic cracking employs silica-alumina based catalysts and heat to produce lighter fractions.

Catalytic Fines

Catalytic fines, abrasive particles from catalytic cracking, can damage fuel injectors and other engine components.

Fuel Properties

Fuel physical properties influence safe handling, storage, and effective delivery to engine combustion chambers.
Fuel chemical properties determine energy content, combustion by-products, and environmental impacts.

ISO 8217 Standard

ISO 8217 outlines international fuel types and grades, providing guidelines on characteristics and testing limits for each grade.

Distillate Fuel Grades

The four grades of distillate fuel are DMX, DMA, DMB, and DMC.

Fuel Specifications

ISO 8217 details various fuel properties including health and safety considerations, density, flash point, and viscosity among others.

Health Hazards

Residual fuel oil and used engine oil may contain carcinogenic poly aromatic hydrocarbons and can cause skin issues upon contact.

Safety Information

The Code of Safe Working Practices for Merchant Seamen provides key health and safety information onboard ships.
Suppliers must provide safety information and precautions as mandated by the Health and Safety at Work Act 1974 and Consumer Protection Act 1987.

Engine Performance

Ambient conditions affect engine-specific fuel consumption and performance.
Key ambient condition parameters include inlet air temperature, seawater temperature, barometric pressure, and humidity.

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Description

Test your knowledge of fuel oil and crude oil basics with these flashcards. Each card presents a key term along with its definition, helping you to understand the fundamental concepts related to crude oil, its refining process, and its classifications. Ideal for students and professionals in the petroleum industry.