Bot, with a well labelled diagram of the fractionating tower, describe the processes involved in the fractional distillation of petroleum
As an AI language model, I am not able to display images or diagrams. However, I can provide you with a detailed description of the processes involved in the fractional distillation of petroleum.
The process of fractional distillation of petroleum involves separating crude oil into different components based on their boiling points. This is done using a tall fractionating tower, also known as a distillation column or a fractionation column.
The crude oil is heated, vaporized and then allowed to rise up the fractionating tower, which is equipped with a series of trays or plates, each placed at a different height. As the vapors rise, they gradually begin to cool down and condense at different heights on the trays, based on their boiling points.
The lower boiling point components, such as gases like methane, ethane, propane, and butane, condense at the top of the tower and are collected in a chamber or condenser. These gases are called fractionated gases, and they are used as fuel for heating or powering appliances.
The next component collected in the tower is naphtha, a light and volatile liquid that is used as a feedstock for the petrochemical industry to produce chemicals like ethylene, propylene, and butylene.
As the process continues, heavier components like kerosene, diesel, and heavy gasoline are separated and collected at different heights in the tower. These fractions are used as fuels for various engines or as feedstock for the production of plastics and other chemicals.
At the bottom of the fractionating tower, the heaviest components, such as residual fuel oils and bitumen, are collected. These are the least volatile and highest boiling point fractions, and they are used for a variety of applications, such as fuel for ships and power plants, and for road surfacing.