Fractional distillation is carried out in a tall column called a distillation column. The crude oil is heated at the bottom of the column, and the vapors rise up the column. As the vapors rise, they cool, and the hydrocarbons with the highest boiling points condense and fall back down the column. The hydrocarbons with the lowest boiling points remain in the vapor phase and rise to the top of the column.
The distillation column is filled with trays or plates, which collect the different liquid fractions as they condense. The trays are arranged so that the temperature decreases as you move up the column. This means that the fractions with the highest boiling points are collected at the bottom of the column, and the fractions with the lowest boiling points are collected at the top of the column.
The different fractions of crude oil are collected at different heights in the distillation column. The following table shows the approximate boiling point ranges and uses of the different fractions:
Fractional distillation is one of the most important processes in the oil and gas industry. It is used to separate crude oil into different fractions that are used to make a variety of products, including gasoline, diesel fuel, and kerosene.
Fractional distillation is also used to upgrade heavy crude oil, which is a type of crude oil that is more difficult to refine. Heavy crude oil can be upgraded by heating it and separating the lighter fractions. This process produces a lighter crude oil that is easier to refine and produces more valuable products.
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Fractional distillation is a process that uses the different boiling points of hydrocarbons to separate them into different fractions. Fractional distillation is used to separate crude oil into a variety of products, including gasoline, diesel fuel, kerosene, and lubricating oils. Fractional distillation is also used to upgrade heavy crude oil and produce more valuable products.
