You might be curious about where your energy originates from, given the global energy crisis driving up the cost of petrol and other commodities.
Particularly, crude oil is a really beneficial ingredient. Every day, more than 95 million barrels of the substance are used worldwide; by 2026, that number might increase to 104 million barrels.
However, what is this so-called “black gold”?
What Is Crude Oil?
Crude oil is sometimes described as the thick, coagulated liquid that spews out of the earth at oil rigs. It comes straight from the dirt, unpolished. Also known as the black gold of the oilman.
Due to the enormous number of goofs that may be made from crude oil that has not been refined, it is known as “black gold.” A combination of hydrocarbon molecules makes up crude oil. The length and arrangement of the molecules vary, and as a result, they display a variety of characteristics, including boiling point.
Crude oil is cleaned using a method called fractional distillation. With this method, crude oil is divided into several fractions based on the boiling points of its constituent components. The fractions are heavy gas, lubricating oil, gas oil and diesel, kerosene, gasoline, naphtha, and gas, in that order.
Fractions can be further processed after being separated to create a wide range of commodities needed every day, such as fuels, polymers, and medications.
Fractionation Process
The process of crude oil distillation is:
- A furnace heats crude oil to over 600 C.
At this time, the majority of the components in crude oil will boil and vaporize.
- The hot gas/liquid oil combination is put into a distillation column’s bottom part. Continually liquid substances descend to the bottom of the column and are pushed out. This dark, gooey substance is known as residual oil.
- As the hydrocarbons ascend up the column, vapor passes through openings in the distillation trays that line the inside of the column.
These gaseous hydrocarbons start to cool as they climb. They condense into liquids on the closest distillation tray after they cool below their boiling point. The liquid fractions that are taken from the column are collected in these trays.
Crude Oil Distillation Process (Source: Energy Education)
The Economic Influence
The demand from the market drives the refining process. Refineries are built to create the materials the market demands.
Fuel for motor vehicles is now in the highest demand in global markets. However, the amount of gasoline produced by a standard distillation process is insufficient to satisfy the increasing customer demands. It is possible to break down longer hydrocarbons recovered during fractionation, and other fractions may go through a rebuilding or reshaping process. Energy is needed each time hydrocarbons need to be processed.
Crude oil from various regions of the world contains a unique blend of heavy and light hydrocarbons, which complicates matters further. Accordingly, the amount of treatment needed for crude oil will vary on its source.
Takeaways
- Crude oil is a really beneficial ingredient.
- Crude oil is sometimes described as the thick, coagulated liquid that spews out of the earth at oil rigs.
- Crude oil is cleaned using a method called fractional distillation.
- Fractions can be further processed after being separated to create a wide range of commodities needed every day, such as fuels, polymers, and medications.
- The demand from the market drives the refining process.
