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Atmospheric crude oil distillation is a primary refining process used to separate the various components of crude oil. Here’s a detailed overview:
- Heating: Crude oil is heated to temperatures ranging from about 316°C to 400°C (600°F to 750°F). The exact temperature depends on the characteristics of the crude oil and the desired end products.
- Fractionation: As the crude oil is heated, it vaporizes. The vapors are then fed into a distillation column where they are separated based on their boiling points.
- Condensing: The vaporized components rise through the column and are cooled as they move upward. Different components condense at different heights in the column, where they are collected as separate fractions.
- Fraction Collection: The various fractions collected typically include:
- Gases: Such as propane and butane.
- Naphtha: Used in gasoline production.
- Kerosene: Used in jet fuel and as a heating oil.
- Diesel: Used as fuel in diesel engines.
- Residuum: The heaviest fraction, which can be further processed into asphalt or converted into other products.
- Atmospheric Pressure: This process is carried out at atmospheric pressure, which allows for the separation of components without the need for high pressures.
This process is fundamental in the petroleum refining industry, enabling the production of a wide range of petroleum products from crude oil.
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