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CRUDE OIL
REFINERY
Could crude oil be
used directly if only
we had the right
kinds of engines and
boilers?
INTRODUCTION
The answer is no, because each crude oil is very different and
made up of a large number of hydrocarbon molecules.
The lightest molecules, dissolved gases, have 1 to 4 carbon
atoms, while the heaviest have over 20.
These molecules are present in varying proportions
depending on the deposit, meaning that each oil has its own
composition and properties.
Some crudes are black and viscous and contain a lot of heavy
molecules; others are brown, more fluid and lighter.
Each also contains a certain amount of dissolved gas and
highly corrosive products, such as sulfur or acids, which can
sometimes be toxic.
For these different reasons it is impossible to develop a
universal boiler or engine capable of running on all crude oils.
INTRODUCTION
Crude oil is a highly variable mixture of heavy and light
hydrocarbons that need to be separated in a refinery to
turn them into usable products.
Demand for petroleum products has changed significantly
since the mid-20th century.
In industrialized countries, the development of road and
air transportation has accelerated, leading to stronger
demand for light products, such as fuel.
At the same time, the consumption of heavy fuel oil has
declined as other energy sources, such as gas and
nuclear power , are being used for heating and power
generation.
PRESENT GLOBAL DEMAND
Today, global demand for petroleum products breaks
down roughly as follows: