refining begins with a process called
distilling after oil is superheated it
becomes vapor the vapor is fed into the
distillation unit as it rises and cools
the vapor turns back into a liquid using
stacks of trays the liquid is easily
collected and separated by weight the
lighter and medium weight liquids
require less processing before they're
ready to be used in cars and trucks the
heavier liquids need more processing to
become useful
a process called cracking is used to
maximize the usefulness of heavy oil
heavy oil has long strings of carbon and
hydrogen molecules using a catalyst
these molecules can be broken into
smaller chains transforming the heavy
oil into lighter more valuable fluids
reforming is a process that increases
the amount of gasoline produced from
crude oil one of the products separated
in the distilling process is a liquid
called naphtha the number of carbon
atoms in naphtha is about the same as
the number found in gasoline but their
structure is more complex reforming
rearranges the naphtha molecule turning
it into a usable gasoline like molecule
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blending is a process of mixing
different refinery products to make
finished petroleum fuels gasoline for
example is blended to achieve octane
standards creating the grades of
gasoline you see at the pump regular mid
grade and premium that are necessary to
meet the needs of specific engine types
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treating is a process used to produce
cleaner gasoline which helps protect
both the environment and our health
gasoline molecules contain impurities
like sulfur that can be removed when the
molecules are heated and come in contact
with a special catalyst a chemical
reaction occurs that strips the sulfur
away these sulfur compounds are used as
fertilizers and in pharmaceuticals
nothing goes to waste in a refinery