Fractional Distillation of Crude Oil Flashcards
All 7 cards in this deck
Name the six main fractions from crude oil, in order from the top of the fractionating column to the bottom.
Gases, petrol, kerosene, diesel oil, fuel oil, bitumen.
What are the steps in the fractional distillation of crude oil?
e.g. separating a crude oil containing petrol and bitumen
- Heat the crude oil so that it vaporises, and feed it into the column.
- Vapours rise up the column, which is hot at the bottom and cooler at the top.
- Each fraction condenses where the temperature equals its boiling point — bitumen at the hot bottom, petrol higher up where it is cooler.
True or false? The fractionating column is hottest at the top.
False. It is hottest at the bottom and coolest at the top.
What is the kerosene fraction used for?
As a fuel for aircraft (jets).
What is the diesel oil fraction used for?
As a fuel for some cars, lorries and trains.
Which crude oil fraction is used as a fuel for large ships and in some power stations?
Fuel oil.
Which crude oil fraction is used to surface roads and roofs?
Bitumen.