Fractional distillation is carried out in a tall column called a fractionating column. The column is divided into a series of trays or plates. The crude oil is heated at the bottom of the column, and the vapors rise up through the trays. As the vapors rise, they cool and condense. The components with the lowest boiling points condense at the top of the column, and the components with the highest boiling points condense at the bottom.
The condensed components are collected from the trays and stored in separate tanks. The fractions of crude oil are typically collected in the following order, from top to bottom of the column:
Petroleum gas: A mixture of very light hydrocarbons, such as methane and ethane. Petroleum gas is used as a fuel for cooking and heating.
Naphtha: A mixture of light hydrocarbons, such as pentane and hexane. Naphtha is used to make gasoline and petrochemicals.
Gasoline: A mixture of medium-weight hydrocarbons, such as octane and nonane. Gasoline is the fuel used in most cars and trucks.
Kerosene: A mixture of heavier-weight hydrocarbons than gasoline. Kerosene is used as a jet fuel and in heating oil.
Diesel fuel: A mixture of even heavier-weight hydrocarbons than kerosene. Diesel fuel is the fuel used in diesel engines.
Fuel oil: A mixture of the heaviest hydrocarbons in crude oil. Fuel oil is used as a fuel in power plants and industrial boilers.
Asphalt: The residue left over after all of the other fractions have been removed. Asphalt is used to make roads and roofing materials.
Crude oil fractions have a wide range of uses, including:
Transportation fuels: Gasoline, diesel fuel, and jet fuel are all made from crude oil fractions.
Petrochemicals: Petrochemicals are the building blocks of many different products, such as plastics, synthetic rubber, and fertilizers. Petrochemicals are made from naphtha and other light crude oil fractions.
Lubricants: Lubricants are used to reduce friction and wear between moving parts. Lubricants are made from heavier crude oil fractions, such as fuel oil.
Asphalt: Asphalt is used to make roads and roofing materials.
Other products: Crude oil fractions are also used to make a variety of other products, such as heating oil, waxes, and solvents.
Fractional distillation is a complex process, but it is essential for refining crude oil into the various products that we rely on every day. By separating crude oil into fractions, we can produce a wide range of products that are tailored to specific needs.
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