
Video: FSC 432 Lesson 9 (7:46)
Overview
Following our discussion on separation and conversion processes, this lesson will cover the third type of refining processes – finishing processes. Finishing processes include hydrogenation for stabilization of petroleum products, hydrotreating to remove heteroatoms (S, N, and metals) and product blending to attain the product specifications and assure compliance with environmental and government regulations on petroleum fuels and materials. The finishing step is the last stage before the hydrocarbon streams from different units leave the refinery as commercial fuels and materials. Therefore, the challenges involved both hydrotreatment and blending operations are diverse and complex. The constraints on the commercial fuels that need to be satisfied simultaneously range from composition and performance specifications to seasonal fluctuations in demand for different fuels and materials. A brief overview of only the basic concepts in finishing operations is presented in this lesson.
Learning Outcomes
By the end of this lesson, you should be able to:
- compare hydrogenation and hydrotreatment with respect to process goals, catalysis, and chemistry;
- categorize and evaluate HDS, HDN, and HDM processes;
- assess hydrotreatment catalysts, kinetics and process configurations;
- demonstrate procedures to calculate critical properties of blended products, e.g., octane number, pour point, and viscosity.
What is due for Lesson 9?
Please refer to the Course Syllabus for specific time frames and due dates. Specific directions for the assignments below can be found in this lesson.
Readings: | Petroleum Refining, by J. H. Gary and G. E. Handwerk, Chapter 9 (Hydrotreating) and Chapter 12 (Product Blending) |
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Assignments: | Exercise 8 Exam 2. Will cover material in Lessons 6-9. Exam 2 is found in the Exams folder in Canvas. |
Questions?
If you have any questions, please post them to our Help Discussion Forum (not email), located in Canvas. I will check that discussion forum daily to respond. While you are there, feel free to post your own responses if you, too, are able to help out a classmate.