RECTIFICATION PROCESS IN PRIMARY OIL REFINING AND IMPROVEMENT OF THE RECTIFICATION COLUMN
Keywords:
Crude oil distillation, atmospheric distillation, vacuum distillation, fractional distillation, rectification column, separation process, boiling point differences, hydrocarbon fractions, light hydrocarbons, heavy hydrocarbons, distillation efficiency, fractionation, reflux ratio, stripping section, rectifying section.Abstract
Petroleum refining begins with the distillation, or fractionation, of crude oil to separate it into different groups of hydrocarbons. The products obtained depend directly on the characteristics of the crude processed. Most of these distillation products are then converted into more usable products by modifying their physical and molecular structures through cracking, reforming and other conversion processes, and then subjecting the products obtained to various treatment and separation processes such as extraction, hydrocracking and sweetening to produce the finished products. In simpler refineries, atmospheric and vacuum distillation are usually used, while in integrated refineries, fractionation, conversion, treatment and blending are carried out, as well as the production of lubricants, heavy fuel oils and bitumens; these
