Petrochemical Feedstocks and Refineries Overview

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What is the overall goal of a petroleum refinery?

To mix hydrocarbon components in crude oil

To maximize production of high demand products (correct)

To lower the boiling point of hydrocarbons

To create a new type of crude oil

Which process separates hydrocarbon fractions in a refinery based on boiling point ranges?

Hydrogenation

Polymerization

Cracking

Fractionation (correct)

Which product is derived directly from the crude oil refining process?

Synthetic fibers

Plastics

Adhesives

Gasolines (correct)

What determines the types of products a refinery can produce?

The type or mixture of crude oil supplied Signup and view all the answers

Which product category is NOT typically produced directly by a crude oil refinery?

Synthetic fibers Signup and view all the answers

What is the main purpose of processing hydrocarbons in a petroleum refinery?

To separate hydrocarbon components based on size and shape Signup and view all the answers

What is the purpose of using steam in purging equipment in a refinery hydrocarbon unit?

To clean the towers and associated equipment Signup and view all the answers

What is the function of mixing steam with the gas flow at the tip of a flare stack in a refinery?

To reduce the environmental impact of the flare Signup and view all the answers

What is one of the challenges faced by refineries due to processing heavier crudes like bitumen?

Difficulty in removing light gas oil component Signup and view all the answers

What happens to the diluent naphtha recovered from dilbit in the upgrading process?

Recycled back to the extraction plant Signup and view all the answers

Where does the residue stream from the atmospheric distillation tower go in the bitumen upgrading process?

Mixed with heavy vacuum gas oil Signup and view all the answers

In bitumen upgrading, what is done to remove sulfur and nitrogen from the naphtha, light gas oil, and heavy gas oil streams?

Using separate hydrotreaters with added hydrogen Signup and view all the answers

How are synthetic crude oils produced in the bitumen upgrading process?

By combining products of separate processing streams Signup and view all the answers

'Locally processed bitumen' differs from piped or trucked bitumen mainly in terms of:

Presence of diluent Signup and view all the answers

'Vacuum residue' in the upgrading process is further processed mainly by:

''Vacuum residue' undergoes hydrotreating or coking Signup and view all the answers

What is the main reason for crude oil to be separated into various fractions through heating and cooling?

To remove heavier molecules first Signup and view all the answers

What is the purpose of fractionating or distillation towers in the refining process of crude oil?

To separate different fractions based on boiling points Signup and view all the answers

Why is efficiency important in heating crude oil before the separation process?

To avoid chemical decomposition of the oil Signup and view all the answers

What types of heaters are used to heat crude oil before entering the separation process?

Heat exchanger and furnace Signup and view all the answers

What happens as the crude oil enters the distillation column?

It separates into liquid and vapour phases Signup and view all the answers

At various points in the distillation column, what acts as a barrier to prevent the liquid from continuing to fall?

"Trays" Signup and view all the answers

Which products are recovered at the lowest temperatures during distillation?

"Liquid petroleum gases" and gasoline blending components Signup and view all the answers

What is the purpose of additional stages like hydrotreating, catalytic cracking, and alkylation in the refining process?

To convert separated fractions into saleable products Signup and view all the answers

Why do refineries further process the raw products after separating them into various fractions?

To blend additives to produce specific sales products Signup and view all the answers

What happens to the heavier molecules as crude oil vapor cools during the separation process?

They condense first and are removed Signup and view all the answers

What is the chemical structure of olefins?

Doubly bonded carbons Signup and view all the answers

Which of the following is NOT an aromatic petrochemical?

Propane Signup and view all the answers

What is the main component of Synthesis Gas (Syngas)?

Carbon Monoxide (CO) Signup and view all the answers

Which steam system typically operates at the highest pressure in a refinery plant?

High-pressure system Signup and view all the answers

What is the purpose of using atomizing steam in unit furnaces and heaters?

To enhance combustion by heating the fuel oil and breaking it into fine droplets Signup and view all the answers

What is the function of reboiler heat in a refinery's fractionation process?

Providing heat for the fractionation process Signup and view all the answers

Which utility system do most plants rely on for heating buildings and heavy oil tanks?

Steam system Signup and view all the answers

What is the main purpose of regeneration steam in a refinery plant?

Removing impurities or regenerating certain chemicals and catalysts Signup and view all the answers

What is the range of pressure for low-pressure systems in most refinery plants?

103 kPa (15 psi) to 415 kPa (60 psi) Signup and view all the answers

What is the purpose of stripping steam in a refinery's side stream stripping columns?

To facilitate movement of light products up the column Signup and view all the answers