production of the high octane fuels required today and the higher octane fuels of the future will m a k e the refining operation a series of chemical processes or treatments. T h u s , fuels will compete with petrochemicals for the building blocks required to provide the better antiknock quality of the future. Not only will gasoline require more processing, but the increasing demand for middle distillates, particularly for jet fuels, Diesel fuels, and furnace oil, will require more processing and a greater degree of refining than in the past. T h e trend in refining will be to increase the yields of middle distillates and decrease residual fuel oil yields through upgrading. I n considering trends, the impact of advancing refining technology on petrochemical raw material supplies and costs should be examined. T h e industry-wide picture is complicated by the highly competitive nature of the oil industry, the wide variation in crude quality, and a considerable variation in volume and quality of products. No two refineries are alike. None is typical and none is average. However, each refiner employs tested methods of processing which he modifies or combines in different ways to meet new demands in quantity and quality of products. I n the future, he will adjust his operations to meet the continued increase in quantity and quality of gasoline and the increased requirement of middle distillates, and make a n effort to decrease residual fuel oil production. W h a t are the recognized processes that the refiner has or will have at his disposal in the next 5 to 10 years and
Table III. Refining Operations
FRENCH Table 1.
1930 1955 1957 (est.) 1962 (est.) 1965 (est.)
Table II.
Petrochemicals Growth Production, Billion Lb./Yr.
% of Total Chemicals
0.14 32 38 62 85
1 24 26 31 40
SCREW PRESSES
Crude to Petrochemicals Crude, Million Bbl./Yr. To" Total petroto stills chemicals
1930 1955 1957 (est.) 1962 (est.) 1965 (est.)
CONTINUOUS HIGH PRESSURE
915 2590 2940 3690 4270
% Crude t o Petrochemicals
0.18 35.5 42.6 72.0 98.8
0.02 1.35 1.45 1.95 2.3
" Based on equivalent weight of 35° API gravity crude to weight of petrochemicals assuming refinery raw materials are of petrochemicals production, and 50% of petrochemicals are produced from refinery sources.
EXTRACTION o f Liquids f r o m Solids
DEWATERING Applications
how will these affect the trend and availability of r a w materials? R e finery balance (economic utilization of all products and elimination or minimization of waste) is the key to successful refining operations. In general, unless petrochemicals offer a better economic outlet for the refiner, he will prefer to convert byproducts to fuel, which is his primary business and for which he has a ready market. Although no -epresentative typical refinery can be developed, the trend in the accepted, recognized processing methods can be predicted and the resultant effect on petrochemical raw materials supplies indicated. These trends in future refining will affect raw materials supplies and costs,
Dryers
Solvent extraction equipment
Solvent recovery systems The French O i l M i l l M a c h i n e r y Co. has specialized in e x t r a c t i o n machinery f o r the oil m i l l i n g i n dustry f o r o v e r 5 0 years w i t h an o u t s t a n d i n g r e c o r d of achievement. This e x p e r i e n c e in the p r o f i t a b l e h a n d l i n g of e x t r a c t i o n problems is now a v a i l a b l e to the chemical i n d u s t r y . W r i t e t o d a y f o r suggestions on the most p r o f i t a b l e m e t h o d of h a n d l i n g e x t r a c t i o n or d e - w a t e r i n g .
Effect of Increased Octanes
Predicted Trend
Effect on Petrochemical R a w Materials Supply
Thermal cracking
Slight decrease
Reduction in light hydrocarbon unsaturates
Catalytic cracking
Increased quantity
Catalytic reforming
Increased quantity
More light hydrocarbons due to increased conversion More light hydrocarbons due to increased conversion
Extraction
Increased quantity
More normal paraffins—compete for aromatics
Alkylation
Increased quantity
Compete for light hydrocarbons, particularly unsaturates
Polymerization
N o major change
Compete for light olefins
Isomerization
Increased quantity
C< for alkylation, Cs and Ce for high octane
Hydrogénation
Increased quantity
Compete for hydrogen, increase HjS avails
THE
F017
FRENCH OIL MILL MACHINERY CO. SCREW PRESS DIVISION PIQUA, OHIO, U.S.A.
VOL.
50, NO. 1
•
JANUARY 1958
111 A
