Distillation Columns in Refineries
Distillation, as used in refineries, is a crucial separation process employed to
separate various components of crude oil based on their differing boiling points. This
process plays a fundamental role in refining crude oil into valuable products such as
gasoline, diesel, jet fuel, and various petrochemicals.
In a refinery setting, crude oil is heated in a distillation unit, typically in a large
vertical column known as a distillation tower or fractionating column. As the crude
oil is heated, it vaporizes, and the vapors rise up the column. The column is equipped
with trays or packing material that provides surface area for contact between the
rising vapors and descending liquid.
The key principle behind distillation
in refineries is that different
components of crude oil have
different boiling points. As the
vapors rise up the column, they
gradually cool down, with the higher
boiling point components
condensing back into liquid form at
various heights within the column.
These condensed liquids are then
collected at different levels or
trays/packing within the column.
By collecting the condensed liquids
at different heights, the refinery can
separate the crude oil into its
various fractions or components,
such as heavy and light naphtha,
kerosene, diesel, and heavy gas oil. Distillation is typically the initial step in the refining
These fractions can then be further process, providing the basis for further downstream
processed into specific products processes such as catalytic cracking, hydrotreating,
through additional refining and reforming. It's a critical and foundational
processes. process in the petroleum refining industry, allowing
for the production of a wide range of valuable
products from crude oil.
Types of Distillation in Refinery
1. Atmospheric Distillation:
Description: Atmospheric distillation is the primary distillation process used in
refineries to separate crude oil into its various fractions at atmospheric pressure.
Working Principle:
Crude oil is heated in a pipe still furnace, where it reaches a predetermined
temperature, causing a portion of the feed to vaporize.
The vaporized material then enters a fractional distillation tower, where it
undergoes further separation into gas oils, kerosene, and naphtha.
Unvaporized or liquid portions of the feed descend to the bottom of the tower as a
bottom nonvolatile product.
Features:
Capacity can accommodate large volumes of crude oil per day (up to 25,000 bbl or
more).
Furnace walls and ceiling are insulated with firebrick for efficient heating.
Utilizes heat exchangers to preheat the feed to the furnace, resulting in fuel
savings and economical operation.
Importance: Provides efficient separation of crude oil into valuable fractions,
forming the basis for further refining processes.
[email protected] +91 9265077576
2. Vacuum Distillation:
Description: Vacuum distillation, also known as Importance: Enables the
distillation under reduced pressure, is utilized to production of specific
separate less volatile products, such as lubricating oils, product fractions, such as
from petroleum. lubricating oils, without
thermal decomposition.
Working Principle:
Operates under reduced pressure (typically 50-100
mm of mercury) to achieve separation at lower
temperatures.
Feedstock is heated in a furnace, and steam may be
injected to further reduce the partial pressure of
hydrocarbons.
Heavy gas oil and lubricating oil cuts are obtained
as overhead products at temperatures below the
cracking temperature.
Features:
Larger diameter units compared to atmospheric
distillation to minimize pressure fluctuations.
Allows for the separation of high-boiling products
without subjecting them to cracking conditions.
3. Azeotropic and Extractive Distillation:
Description: Azeotropic and extractive distillation techniques are employed in
refineries to separate components of similar volatility or create specific product
fractions.
Working Principle:
Azeotropic distillation involves the formation of azeotropic mixtures to
facilitate separation by distillation.
Extractive distillation utilizes an entrainer to change the relative volatility of
components, enhancing separation.
Entrainers should be cheap, stable, nontoxic, and readily recoverable to
ensure economic feasibility.
Features:
Effective for separating close-boiling components or producing specific
product fractions.
Requires careful selection of entrainers based on their boiling points and
compatibility with components.
Importance: Provides flexibility in refining operations to meet specific
product demands and enhance separation efficiency.
