This is a refining process to convert gas to other gaseous hydrocarbons with longer chains such as gasoline or diesel. Methane rich gases are converted into liquid synthetic fuels via direct conversion or via syngas. Methanol to Gasoline Process (MTG) The process starts by converting the natural gas to syngas then conversion of the syngas … Continue reading Gas To Liquid
Tag: Refinery
Ultra Low Sulphur Diesel
With the rise in environmental concern and caring the fuel we use has had to be improved. There have been several iterations of making the fuel more environmentally palatable. The most popular was the introduction of unleaded fuel and MTBE (Methyl Tertiary Butyl Ether). Initially lead was used to prevent knocking of the fuel, then … Continue reading Ultra Low Sulphur Diesel
Sulphur Recovery Unit
In the case of an oil refinery the process used is the Claus process as opposed to the wet sulphuric acid process (WSA Process). The process recovers elemental sulphur from gaseous hydrogen sulphide. The overall main reaction is: 2H2S + O2 => S2 + 2H2O The process was invented by Car Friedrich Claus, a chemist … Continue reading Sulphur Recovery Unit
Acid Amine Treatment
This is also known as gas sweetening or acid gas removal. It refers to a group of processes that use aqueous solutions of various alkylamines (amine) to remove hydrogen sulphide and carbon dioxide. It is known as sweetening as the process removes the H2S gas thus improving the odour of the waste/process gas. Different amines … Continue reading Acid Amine Treatment
Continuous Catalyst Regeneration (CCR)
A chemical process in the refinery used to convert refinery naptha, which is of low octane levels to high octane reformates, which are components of high octane gasoline (high octane petrol). The process re-arranges or re-structures the hydrocarbon molecule in the naptha feedstock. In the some cases it can break the molecules up. The overall … Continue reading Continuous Catalyst Regeneration (CCR)
Merox
This is an acronym for mercaptan oxidation. This is a proprietary process developed by Universal Oil Products (UOP). It is used by oil refineries and gas processing plants to remove mercaptans from the LPG, propanes, butanes, light naptha, kerosene, and jet fuel by converting then to liquid hydrogen disulfides. The process requires an alkaline environment. … Continue reading Merox
Visbreaker
A visbreaker is a processing unit in an oil refinery whose purpose is to reduce the quantity of residual oil produced in the distillation of crude oil. It also helps to increase the yield of more valuable middle distillates. The visbreaker thermally cracks the large hydrocarbons molecules by furnace heating to reduce the viscosity. This … Continue reading Visbreaker
Alkylation
This process is the transfer of an alkyl group from one molecule to another. In the context of oil refining it refers to the alkylation of isobutene with olefins.In a standard oil refining process isobutane is alkylated with low molecular weight alkenes, in the presence of strong acid catalyst either sulphuric or hydrofluoric acid; the … Continue reading Alkylation
Catalytic Cracking
CRACKING This is the process of breaking down complex long chained molecules into simpler short chained ones. In the oil industry this typically results in the breakdown of organic compounds such as kerogens or heavy hydrocarbons into smaller lighter hydrocarbon molecules. The process usually involves the breaking of the carbon bonds of the longer molecule. … Continue reading Catalytic Cracking
Continuous Distillation
A form of distillation whereby the process continues without interruption. The process produces at least 2 output fractions; one volatile and the other a bottom/residuum fraction. When heated the vapour above the liquid varies in composition from the liquid composition. As the mixture is heated the compounds with lower boiling points rise to the top … Continue reading Continuous Distillation