Petroleum Radiation Processing

This book presents a summary of the research progress in the field of petroleum radiation processing, which has produced technology that offers effective and economic solutions for some pressing oil refining challenges. It provides a systematic description of the most important experiments on radiation cracking for different types of petroleum feedstock, including crude oils, heavy oil residues, and bitumen. The book provides a detailed introduction to radiation methods based on radiation-thermal and low-temperature cracking of hydrocarbons, emphasizing high-viscous oil feedstocks that are difficult to process by conventional methods.

It is obvious from the literature review and private discussions with experts that application of radiation cracking of larger molecules found in crude oils to make (refine) higher value lighter petroleum products is not new. Radiation in different forms (neutrons, electrons, X-rays, Gamma-rays, etc.) can be delivered to petroleum crude oil with energy that is many orders of magnitude in excess of that required to break large hydrocarbon molecules. Some specific observations from the literature include the following: Radiation research applied to petroleum has been pursued by major oil companies, academia and National Laboratories since the 1950's. A wide variety of radiation sources have been explored as high energy sources: emitting neutrons, electrons, gammaray, beta particles and fission products. There are a few energy company U.S. patents that provide detailed results comparing yields from radiation processing of crude oil with conventional refined product yields. None of the patents proved commercial because the energy balance was uncertain. Interest in radiation processing of petroleum languished for about 30 years. Most energy companies and refiners disbanded their nuclear divisions by 1983. Government and academic research on nuclear and hydrocarbons (bond breaking and molecular rearrangement) continued but was limited to model hydrocarbon compounds - clean, well-defined multi-component systems. However, discussion of the use of excess heat from nuclear reactors continued to be of interest to both energy companies and academia. Renewed interest in application of radiation to petroleum processing was generated after the collapse of the former Soviet Union, when many Russian nuclear scientists became idle. Since the 1990's, international efforts, through the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) led to funding a series of proposals from the nuclear scientists in the Republic of Kazakhstan. The use of high energy electrons, generated by a linear electron accelerator, resulted in a series of publications for the Kazakh scientists. Some studies indicate improved efficiency, and highlighted some of the limitations of using high flux electrons to process different types of crude oils found in central Russia and Kazakhstan. This recent Kazakh work has generated renewed interest from a number of U.S. companies that hope to patent the technology and further define the viability of using electron beams as a way of refining crude oil to produce higher value liquid fuels.

It is obvious from the literature review and private discussions with experts that application of radiation cracking of larger molecules found in crude oils to make (refine) higher value lighter petroleum products is not new. Radiation in different forms (neutrons, electrons, X-rays, Gamma-rays, etc.) can be delivered to petroleum crude oil with energy that is many orders of magnitude in excess of that required to break large hydrocarbon molecules. Some specific observations from the literature include the following: Radiation research applied to petroleum has been pursued by major oil companies, academia and National Laboratories since the 1950's. A wide variety of radiation sources have been explored as high energy sources: emitting neutrons, electrons, gammaray, beta particles and fission products. There are a few energy company U.S. patents that provide detailed results comparing yields from radiation processing of crude oil with conventional refined product yields. None of the patents proved commercial because the energy balance was uncertain. Interest in radiation processing of petroleum languished for about 30 years. Most energy companies and refiners disbanded their nuclear divisions by 1983. Government and academic research on nuclear and hydrocarbons (bond breaking and molecular rearrangement) continued but was limited to model hydrocarbon compounds - clean, well-defined multi-component systems. However, discussion of the use of excess heat from nuclear reactors continued to be of interest to both energy companies and academia. Renewed interest in application of radiation to petroleum processing was generated after the collapse of the former Soviet Union, when many Russian nuclear scientists became idle. Since the 1990's, international efforts, through the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) led to funding a series of proposals from the nuclear scientists in theRepublic of Kazakhstan. The use of high energy electrons, generated by a linear electron accelerator, resulted in a series of publications for the Kazakh scientists. Some studies indicate improved efficiency, and highlighted some of the limitations of using high flux electrons to process different types of crude oils found in central Russia and Kazakhstan. This recent Kazakh work has generated renewed interest from a number of U.S. companies that hope to patent the technology and further define the viability of using electron beams as a way of refining crude oil to produce higher value liquid fuels.

Petroleum Radiation Processing fills an information gap, providing systematic descriptions of the fundamentals of radiation-induced cracking reactions in hydrocarbons. It analyzes the basic experiments that have brought about the rapid development of radiation technology for petroleum radiation processing during the last decades. The book emphasizes high-viscous oil feedstocks that are difficult to process by conventional methodssuch as heavy and highparaffinic crude oil, fuel oil, and bitumen. It helps readers understand the mechanisms and kinetics of low-temperature radiation cracking. The book addresses the application of promising radiation methods for solving critical environmental issues, such as oil desulfurization and regeneration of used lubricants and other used oil products. Examining experimental data as well as theoretical and technical approaches, it summarizes research progress in the field of petroleum radiation processing, providing a useful reference on the theory and technology of hydrocarbon radiation processing for scientists, researchers, and students.

Fundamentals of Petroleum Refining presents the fundamentals of thermodynamics and kinetics, and it explains the scientific background essential for understanding refinery operations. The text also provides a detailed introduction to refinery engineering topics, ranging from the basic principles and unit operations to overall refinery economics. The book covers important topics, such as clean fuels, gasification, biofuels, and environmental impact of refining, which are not commonly discussed in most refinery textbooks. Throughout the source, problem sets and examples are given to help the reader practice and apply the fundamental principles of refining. Chapters 1-10 can be used as core materials for teaching undergraduate courses. The first two chapters present an introduction to the petroleum refining industry and then focus on feedstocks and products. Thermophysical properties of crude oils and petroleum fractions, including processes of atmospheric and vacuum distillations, are discussed in Chapters 3 and 4. Conversion processes, product blending, and alkylation are covered in chapters 5-10. The remaining chapters discuss hydrogen production, clean fuel production, refining economics and safety, acid gas treatment and removal, and methods for environmental and effluent treatments. This source can serve both professionals and students (on undergraduate and graduate levels) of Chemical and Petroleum Engineering, Chemistry, and Chemical Technology. Beginners in the engineering field, specifically in the oil and gas industry, may also find this book invaluable. Provides balanced coverage of fundamental and operational topics Includes spreadsheets and process simulators for showing trends and simulation case studies Relates processing to planning and management to give an integrated picture of refining