Petroleum refining processes
Okay kiddo, do you know what petroleum or crude oil is?
Well, it's a thick, dark liquid that is found underground. This liquid has different types of chemicals in it, like gasoline, diesel, and jet fuel.
But before we can use these chemicals, we need to separate them out from the crude oil. This is where petroleum refining processes come in.
The first process is called distillation. Imagine you have a jar filled with different colored candies. You want to separate them out by color. So, you pour the candies into a funnel with holes at different levels. The lightest colored candies make it through the top holes, while the darker ones stay near the bottom.
That's pretty much what happens in distillation. Crude oil is heated up and then put into a big column called a distillation tower. The tower has different compartments with holes at different levels. The lighter chemicals, like gasoline, rise to the top and are collected, while the heavier ones, like diesel, stay near the bottom.
But it's not finished yet. Some of these chemicals still need more processing before they can be used.
The next process is called catalytic cracking. Imagine you have a big cookie dough ball, but it's too big to bake in the oven all at once. So, you break off small pieces and bake them separately. That's kind of what happens in catalytic cracking. Heavier chemicals, like diesel, are broken down into lighter chemicals, like gasoline. This is done by heating up the diesel and adding a catalyst, which is like a helper chemical that breaks down the diesel.
Another process is called alkylation. This is like mixing different colored candies together to make a new color. Some chemicals, like gasoline, are mixed with other chemicals to create new, better chemicals. This is done by adding a type of acid to the gasoline mixture.
Finally, there's treatment. Think of it like washing your hands after playing outside. Chemicals are washed with water and other chemicals to remove any impurities or harmful substances. This makes the chemicals safer to use.
And that's it! The different chemicals have been separated and processed into usable products like gasoline and diesel.
Well, it's a thick, dark liquid that is found underground. This liquid has different types of chemicals in it, like gasoline, diesel, and jet fuel.
But before we can use these chemicals, we need to separate them out from the crude oil. This is where petroleum refining processes come in.
The first process is called distillation. Imagine you have a jar filled with different colored candies. You want to separate them out by color. So, you pour the candies into a funnel with holes at different levels. The lightest colored candies make it through the top holes, while the darker ones stay near the bottom.
That's pretty much what happens in distillation. Crude oil is heated up and then put into a big column called a distillation tower. The tower has different compartments with holes at different levels. The lighter chemicals, like gasoline, rise to the top and are collected, while the heavier ones, like diesel, stay near the bottom.
But it's not finished yet. Some of these chemicals still need more processing before they can be used.
The next process is called catalytic cracking. Imagine you have a big cookie dough ball, but it's too big to bake in the oven all at once. So, you break off small pieces and bake them separately. That's kind of what happens in catalytic cracking. Heavier chemicals, like diesel, are broken down into lighter chemicals, like gasoline. This is done by heating up the diesel and adding a catalyst, which is like a helper chemical that breaks down the diesel.
Another process is called alkylation. This is like mixing different colored candies together to make a new color. Some chemicals, like gasoline, are mixed with other chemicals to create new, better chemicals. This is done by adding a type of acid to the gasoline mixture.
Finally, there's treatment. Think of it like washing your hands after playing outside. Chemicals are washed with water and other chemicals to remove any impurities or harmful substances. This makes the chemicals safer to use.
And that's it! The different chemicals have been separated and processed into usable products like gasoline and diesel.