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PETROCHEMICAL ABBREVIATION

ABSOLUTE PRESSURE

Pressure measured with respect to zero pressure, as distinct from


pressure measured with respect to some standard pressure such
as atmospheric pressure. Thus, 2 Bar gauge (i.e. atmospheric) is
equivalent to 3 Bar absolute. (Atmospheric pressure being 1 bar
absolute).

ABSOLUTE TEMPERATURE

A temperature at which zero is a condition absolutely free of heat


and equivalent to -459oF or –273oC. To convert temperature on
Fahrenheit or centigrade scales to degrees absolute, add 459 or
273 respectively.

ACCELERATOR

1. A substance that hastens a reaction, usually by acting as a


catalyst, as in the vulcanization of rubber.

2. Any of several automobile attachments for increasing the speed


at will, especially a foot-operated throttle.

ACCUMULATOR

A vessel for the temporary storage of a gas or liquid; usually used


for collecting sufficient material for a continuous charge to some
refining process.

ACETYLENE C2H2

A highly unsaturated hydrocarbon gas usually made by the action


of water on calcium carbide and by pyrolysis of natural gas. It is
largely used in industry for cutting and welding metals. Several
important intermediates have been synthesised from acetylene
but a cheaper route via ethylene has now been developed for
many of them.

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ACID

A member of an important and fundamental category of chemical


substances characterised by having an available reactive hydrogen
and requiring an alkali to neutralise them. Acid solutions usually
have a sour, biting and tart taste, like vinegar.

ADDITIVE

A substance added to a product in order to improve its properties.

ADIP TREATING

A process for removal of hydrogen sulphide from hydrocarbon


gases and LPG by a specific regenerable solvent.

Carbon dioxide and, to a certain extent, carbonyl sulphide can be


removed at the same time. The solvent employed is an aqueous
DIPA solution.

ADSORPTION PROCESS

A fractionation process based on the fact that certain highly


porous materials preferentially adsorb certain types of molecules
on their surface, e.g. PSA units.

AEROMETER

An instrument for ascertaining the weight or density of air or other


gases.

AGGREGATE

As applied to non-bituminous materials, the inert material, such as


sand, gravel, or broken stone, with which cementing material is
mixed to form a mortar or concrete.

AIR-BLOWN ASPHALT

Asphalt produced by blowing air through residual oils or similar


mineral oil products at moderately elevated temperatures.

AIR HEAT EXCHANGER

A heat exchanger in which air is used as the cooling medium.

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AIR SWEETENING

In this process sour gasoline fractions are sweetened by


dissolving air in the hydrocarbon phase followed by contacting
with a strong NaOH aqueous solution. The reaction products
formed are disulphides which dissolve in the sweetened gasoline
and water remaining in the aqueous phase.

ALCOHOLS

A class of organic compounds containing oxygen (as a hydroxyl),


of which ethyl alcohol (the alcohol of potable spirits and wines) is
the best known. They can react with acids to form esters. They are
largely used as solvents.

ALIPHATIC HYDROCARBONS

Hydrocarbons in which the carbon atoms are arranged in open


chains, which may be branched. The term includes paraffins and
olefins and provides a distinction from aromatics and naphthenes
which have at least some of their carbon atoms arranged in closed
rings.

ALKALI

In chemistry, any substance having marked basic properties. In its


restricted and common sense, the term is applied only to
hydroxides of ammonium, lithium, potassium, and sodium. They
are soluble in water, they have the power of neutralising acids and
forming salts with them and of turning red litmus blue. In a more
general sense, the term is also applied to the hydroxides of the so-
called alkaline earth metals - barium, calcium, and strontium.

ALKALI TEST

A test to determine the presence or absence of free alkali in


finished oils after chemical purification.

ALKALINE

Having the properties of an alkali; opposite to acidic.

ALKALINITY

The amount of free alkali in any substance.

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ALKYLATION

A reaction in which a straight-chain or branched-chain


hydrocarbons group, which is called an alkyl group or radical, is
united with either an aromatic molecule or a branched-chain
hydrocarbon. Used for detergent or petroleum manufacture.
Usually catalysed by Hydrofluoric or Sulphuric acid.

ALLOY

A substance composed of two or more metals, or of a metal and a


nonmetal, intimately united, usually by being fused together and
dissolved in each other when molten.

AMERICAN PETROLEUM INSTITUTE

An association incorporated in the United States, having as its


object the study of the arts and sciences connected with the
petroleum industry in all its branches and the fostering of foreign
and domestic trade in American petroleum products.

AMERICAN SOCIETY FOR TESTING MATERIALS

An association incorporated in the United States for promoting


knowledge of the properties of engineering materials and for
standardising specifications and methods of testing.

AMINE

Hydrocarbon with attached Ammonia group having absorbent


properties, making it useful in treatment processes (ADIP,
SULFINOL).

AMMONIA NH3

Ammonia is manufactured by the direct combination of hydrogen


and nitrogen under pressure over a catalyst. Anhydrous ammonia
is mainly used for the manufacture of nitrogenous fertilisers, but
is used at NZRC for pH control in various processes. A colourless,
gaseous compound, NH3 is of extremely pungent smell and taste
and is very soluble in water.

ANAEROBIC

Existing in an oxygen free condition.

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ANHYDROUS

Free of water.

ANILINE POINT

The minimum temperature for complete miscibility of equal


volumes of the chemical aniline and a petroleum product. In
conjunction with API gravity the aniline point may be used to
calculate the net heat of combustion of aviation fuels or the diesel
index of diesel fuels. The lower temperature at which an oil
product is completely miscible with aniline in a 1:1 volumetric
ratio.

ANNEALING

Heating and slowly cooling to increase the ductility or remove


internal stresses, as of metal or glass.

ANTIFOAM AGENT

An additive used for controlling foam. Antifoam agents are used in


some lubricating oils. At NZRC, used as additives in ADIP,
Sulphinol and BDU Units.

ANTI-KNOCK

An adjective signifying resistance to detonation (pinking) in


spark-ignited internal combustion engines. Anti-knock value is
measured in terms of octane number of gasoline engines and of
cetane number for diesel fuels.

ANTI-KNOCK AGENT

A chemical compound such as tetramethyl-lead which, when


added in small amounts to the fuel charge of an
internal-combustion engine, tends to lessen knocking.

ANTI-STATIC ADDITIVE

An additive for reducing static properties, notably in Kerosene.

API GRAVITY

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In the USA an arbitrary scale known as the API degree is used for
reporting the gravity of a petroleum product. The degree API is
related to the specific gravity scale (15°C/15°C) by the formula:

141.5

Degree API = Sp. Gr. 15°C/15°C - 131.5

AROMATICS

A group of hydrocarbons characterised by their having at least one


ring structure of six carbon atoms, each of the latter having one
valency outside the ring. If these valencies are occupied by
hydrogen atoms, hydrocarbon radicals, or inorganic groups one
speaks of condensed aromatics. These hydrocarbons are called
aromatics because many of their derivatives have an aromatic
odour. They are of relatively high specific gravity and possess
good solvent properties. Certain aromatics have valuable
anti-knock characteristics. Typical aromatics are: benzene,
toluene, xylene, phenol (all mono-aromatics) and naphthalene (a
di-aromatic). Aromatics can cause smoke and freeze point
problems in Kerosene.

ASH

The solid residue left when combustible material is thoroughly


burned.

ASH CONTENT

The percent by weight of residue left after combustion of a sample


of a fuel oil or other petroleum oil.

ASPHALT

This term may have several meanings:

1. It refers to a mixture of bitumen and mineral aggregate, as


prepared for the construction of roads or for other purposes.

2. In the United States it refers to the product which is known as


bitumen elsewhere. Black to dark-brown solid or semisolid
cementitious material which gradually liquefies when heated and

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in which the predominating constituents are bitumens. These
occur in the solid or semisolid form in nature: are obtainable by
refining petroleum; or are combinations with one another or with
petroleum or derivatives thereof.

3. At NZRC - very heavy fuel oil produced as bottom product from


BDU (short residue with DAO removed).

ASPHALTENES

Polyaromatic constituents of asphaltic bitumen characterised by


being insoluble in aromatic-free low-boiling petroleum spirit, but
soluble in carbon disulphide.

ASPHALTIC BASE CRUDE OILS

Crude oils which contain little or no paraffin wax but usually


contain asphaltic matter. Now often referred to as naphthene base
crude oils.

ASPHALTIC BITUMEN

The full name for bitumen adopted by the Permanent International


Association of Road Congresses.

ASPIRATOR

An apparatus which serves to create a partial vacuum through


pumping a jet of water, steam, or some other fluid or gas past an
orifice opening out of the chamber in which the vacuum is to be
produced.

ASSOCIATED NATURAL GAS

Natural gas associated with oil accumulations by being dissolved


in the oil under the reservoir temperatures and pressures
(solution gas) and often also be forming a gas cap of free gas
above the oil (gas cap gas).

ASTM DISTILLATION

Any distillation made in accordance with an ASTM distillation


procedure; and, especially, a distillation test made on such
products as gasoline and kerosene to determine the initial and
final boiling points and the boiling range.

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ASTM MELTING POINT

The temperature at which wax first shows a minimum rate of


temperature change, also known as the English melting point.

ATMOSPHERIC PRESSURE

1. The pressure of air.

2. More specifically, the pressure of the air at sea level.

3. As a standard, the pressure at which the mercury barometer


stands at 760mm, or 30in. (equivalent to approx. 14.7 psi).

ATOM

The smallest complete particle of an element which can be


obtained, yet retain all physical and chemical properties of the
element. According to present theory, the atom consists of a
nucleus of neutrons and positively charged protons, surrounded by
negatively charged particles called electrons.

AUTO IGNITION POINT

The temperature at which the vapour given off by a sample will


ignite in air without any ignition source.

AVERAGE BOILING POINT

Unless otherwise indicated, the sum of the ASTM distillation


temperatures in steps of 10°C from the 10-percent point to the
90-percent point, inclusive, divided by 9. Sometimes half the initial
and half the maximum distillation temperatures are also added,
and the sum then divided by 10.

AVIATION GASOLINE

Any of the special grades of gasoline suitable for use in certain


aeroplane engines. Not made by NZRC.

AVTUR

Kerosene type aviation turbine fuel, (Jet A1).

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B

BACK PRESSURE

1. The pressure on the outlet or downstream side of a flowing


system.

2. In an engine, the pressure which acts adversely against the


piston, causing loss of power.

BAFFLE

A partial restriction, generally a plate, located so as to change


direction, guide the flow, or promote mixing within the equipment
in which it is installed.

BALANCED DRAUGHT

A method of furnace air control using both forced and induced


draught fans.

BAROMETRIC CONDENSER

A device for condensing steam by direct contact with water. It


produces a partial vacuum in refinery equipment such as a vacuum
distillation unit.

BAROMETRIC LEG

Water filled tube for sealing vacuum systems. (See also Liquid
Seal).

BARREL

A standard measure of crude oil quantities; equivalent to 35


imperial gallons, 42 US gallons or 159 litres.

BASIC SEDIMENT AND WATER

The heavy material which collects in the bottom of storage tanks,


usually composed of oil, water, and foreign matter. Also called
bottoms, bottom settlings, etc. It is measured in all incoming
feedstocks.

BATCH

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Any quantity of material handled or considered as a unit in
processing.

BATCH PROCESS

Any process in which a quantity of material is handled or


considered as a unit. Such processes involve intermittent, as
contrasted to continuous operation.

BATTERY

A series of individual items of refinery equipment operated as a


unit.

BATTERY LIMITS

A term used when a unit or a battery is to be built in a refinery by


an outside contractor or construction company. It specifies the
area within which the contractor shall supply all services, and
defines the limits beyond which this shall be done by the refinery.
Also defines plant interface limits.

BEARING

A support for holding a shaft in its correct position. Examples:


journal bearings to confine radial motion, thrust bearings to
control axial movement, and "rolling element" bearings which are
used in both services.

BENZENE C6H6

The parent compound of the aromatic hydrocarbon series. It is


used in the manufacture of a large number of chemicals including
phenol, styrene, detergent alkylate and insecticides and is a major
component of platformate.

BIOCHEMICAL OXYGEN DEMAND (BOD)

Important water test that shows the amount of bio-degradable


matter in the water. Amount of oxygen required by aerobic
organisms for breakdown of organic matter in water over a 5 day
period.

BIODEGRADATION

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Degradation of solid materials by bacterial consumption.

BIOTREATER

Process for biological degradation of effluent water.

BITUMEN

A non-crystalline solid or semi-solid cementitious material derived


from petroleum, consisting essential of compounds composed
predominantly of hydrogen and carbon with some oxygen and
sulphur, it gradually softens when heated. Bitumen’s are black or
brown in colour. They may occur naturally or may be made as end
products from the distillation of, or as extracts from, selected
petroleum oils.

BLACK PRODUCTS

Fuel oils, bitumen’s and residues.

BLEEDING

Divert or release a small portion of the material contained in a line


or vessel, usually by opening a valve slightly.

BLEND

Any mixture prepared for a special purpose, e.g. the products of a


refinery are blended to suit market requirements.

BLENDED FUEL OIL

A mixture of residual and distillate fuel oils.

BLENDING

Mixing of the various components in the preparation of a product


of required properties.

BLENDING STOCK

Any of the stocks used to make commercial gasoline. These


include: straight-run gasoline, cracked gasoline, and synfuel
among others.

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BLENDING VALUE (ANTI-KNOCK)

Some anti-knock blending agents possess the property of


apparently increasing the rated octane number of certain gasoline
base stocks to a higher octane number than their own value in
terms of octane numbers. This property is known as the blending
value.

BLOCKED OPERATION

The use of a single process unit alternately in more than one


operation.

BLOWBACK

A system in which a liquid or a gas is continuously bled through


the lead lines of an instrument meter into the main line. This
prevents the main line fluid from coming in contact with the meter
body, thus eliminating vaporisation, corrosion or plugging.

BLOWDOWN

The act of flushing or clearing a piece of pressurised equipment by


blowing to a drain (or similar). Term is often used by Boilermen,
continuos blowdown indicating blowdown from the Steam Drum or
Scum level, and Intermittent Blowdown from the bottom header of
a boiler.

BLOWER

Usually an enclosed fan used in a forced/induced/balanced


draught furnace to provide the combustion air.

BLUE SMOKE

A blue exhaust smoke from a diesel engine, indicating that only a


part of the fuel is being burned; also called cold smoke.

BOILING POINT (AT A GIVEN PRESSURE)

The temperature at which a liquid, contained in a closed vessel


under a given pressure, will form a first bubble of vapour on the
addition of heat. Further heating of the liquid at its boiling point
results in evaporation of part or all of the liquid.

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BOILING RANGE

Petroleum products (which are mixtures of many compounds, each


having a different boiling point) do not have a simple boiling point
but have a boiling range instead, i.e. the temperature range from
boiling point to dew point.

BOMB

A small pressure vessel, such as used for taking samples of HP


gases and LPG.

BOND

1. Chemically, a unit link between atoms. In graphic chemical


formulas, it is often represented by a short line or dash.

2. Electrically, a common grounding system e.g. Bonding wires


used between fuel tanker and petrol station ground tanks or
airport delivery systems and aircraft.

BOOSTER STATION

An auxiliary station consisting of suitable storage tanks, motive


power and pumps for pumping oil through pipelines.

BOTTLED GAS

Ordinarily, butane or propane, or butane-propane mixtures,


liquefied and bottled under pressure for domestic use.

BOTTOMS

The bottom product from a distillation of petroleum; also the liquid


layer left in a tank or similar container after draining to the level
of the pump suction.

BOX-IN

To isolate a piece of equipment, usually by block valves.

BOX-UP

The act of closing up a piece of refinery equipment following


construction, maintenance, inspection etc.

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BRAKE HORSEPOWER

That horsepower delivered by an engine to a brake or


dynamometer. It is less than the indicated horsepower by the
amount lost in transmission bearings, gear teeth, belts, etc.

BREAKER POINT

The point of contact actuated by a cam to break the primary circuit


in the ignition system and thereby cause a current surge in the
secondary circuit which produces the spark.

BREATHING

When a storage tank containing volatile products is heated by


solar radiation, some of the liquid contents evaporate. The excess
vapour thus formed is blown out to the atmosphere. On cooling,
the less volatile components of the vapour contents condense and
a slight vacuum is created, causing air from outside to be sucked
into the tank. This double action is referred to as "breathing" of
the tank. The movement of gas (oil vapours or air) in and out of
the vent lines of storage tanks as a result of alternate heating and
cooling.

BRITISH THERMAL UNIT (BTU)

The quantity of heat required to raise the temperature of 1lb of


water through 1°F. 1.000 Btu = 252 kcal.

BUFFER

1. A vessel for temporary storage of liquid (buffer drum).

2. A chemical used to maintain another within set limits of (e.g.)


pH.

A device to polish the floor.

An old Navel name for a person in-charge of the deck of a Ship.

BUNKER FUEL

Any fuel oil or diesel fuel taken into the bunkers of ships.

BURNING OIL

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An illuminating oil, such as kerosene, mineral seal oil, etc. suitable
for burning in a wick lamp.

BUTANE C4H10

Commercial butane is a mixture of two gaseous paraffins, normal


butane and isobutane. When blended into gasoline in small
quantities it improves volatility and octane number. Butane can be
stored under pressure as a liquid at atmospheric temperatures
("bottled gas") and it is widely used for cooking and domestic
heating. Used at NZRC in the reformer and BDU.

BUTANE DE-ASPHALTING

A solvent extraction process whereby a short residue is split into


components having low (D.A.O.) and high (Asphalt) asphaltic
content by contact with liquid butane.

BYPRODUCT

A secondary or additional product not of primary importance. (e.g.


Sulphur).

C1,C2,C3,C4,C5

A common way of representing fractions containing a


preponderance of hydrocarbons of 1, 2, 3, 4 or 5 carbon atoms,
respectively, without reference to hydrocarbon type.

CALIBRATION

The determination of fixed reference points on the scale of any


instrument by comparison with a known standard and the
subsequent subdivision or graduation of the scale to enable
measurements in definite units to be made with it. Also the
process of measuring or calculating the volumetric contents or
capacity of a receptable.

CALORIE

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The amount of heat required to raise the temperature of 1 gram
C). In calculations the k calorie,° to 15.5°C (from 14.5°of water
through 1 equal to 1,000 calories is often used. 1,000 kilocalories
= 3,968 Btu.

CALORIFIC VALUE

The calorific value of a combustible material is the quantity of heat


produced by complete combustion of unit weight of the material.
The units in which the calorific value is usually given are (a)
calories per gram and (b) British Thermal Units per pound. The
systems may be converted by the relationship:

1 calorie per gram = 1.8 Btu per lb.

CANDLEPOWER

The illuminating power of a standard candle employed as a unit for


determining the illuminating quality of kerosene and other
illuminants. One international candle or one American candle
equals 1.11 Hefner candles.

CAPILLARITY

That physical action by which the surface of a liquid, where it is in


contact with a nonhorizontal solid surface (as in vertical capillary
tube), is elevated above or depressed below the level of the liquid.
Its magnitude is determined by the interfacial tensions involved.

CARBON

A nonmetallic element existing in diamonds, graphite, and


numerous amorphous forms; combined as carbon dioxide,
carbonates, and in all living things. Carbon is unique in forming an
almost infinite number of compounds (it is present in all organic
compounds).

CARBON (FIXED CARBON)

In the case of coal, coke, and bituminous materials, the solid


residue other than ash contained by destructive distillation.

CARBON DEPOSIT

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Engine deposits containing soot from over-rich fuel mixtures and
the carbon residue and tars from decomposed lubricating oil. Road
dust, metal particles, gum and tarry substances also form a part of
such deposits.

CARBON DIOXIDE

A heavy, colourless gas, CO2, which will not support combustion.


Dissolved in water, it forms carbonic acid. It is exhaled by
lung-possessing animals as a waste gas, but is inhaled by certain
plants which absorb its carbon and release its oxygen as a waste
gas.

CARBON MONOXIDE

A colourless, odourless gas, CO; a product resulting from the


incomplete combustion of carbon. It is very poisonous.

CARBURETTOR

A device for metering the correct mixture of air and gasoline to an


internal-combustion engine.

CARRYOVER

Relatively nonvolatile contaminating material which is carried over


by the overhead effluent from a fractionating column, absorber, or
reaction vessel. It may be carried as liquid droplets or finely
divided solids suspended in a gas, a vapour, or a discrete liquid.

CASCADE TRAY

A fractionating device consisting of a series of parallel troughs


arranged in stair-step fashion. Liquid from the tray above enters
the uppermost trough. Liquid thrown from this trough by vapour
rising from the tray below impinges against a plate and a
perforated baffle. Liquid passing through the baffle enters the next
lower of the troughs.

CATALYSIS

The alteration of the rate of a chemical reaction by the presence of


a "foreign" substance (catalyst) that remains unchanged at the
end of the reaction.

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CATALYST

In technology this word means a substance added to a system of


reactants which will accelerate the desired reactions, while
emerging virtually unaltered from the process. The catalyst allows
the reaction to take place at a temperature at which the
uncatalyzed reaction would proceed too slowly for practical
purposes. Used extensively in secondary processes.

CATALYST POISON

Generally, coverage of the catalyst surface with nonreactants. If a


large fraction of the catalyst surface is covered selectively by any
one strongly adsorbed chemical, the catalytic reaction will be
drastically reduced in rate. This circumstance is called poisoning,
and self-poisoning can result when one reactant or product is
much more strongly adsorbed than another reactant. May be
reversible, but can destroy entire catalyst inventory.

CATALYTIC PROCESS

Any process which employs catalysis. Examples : Hydrocracking,


Platforming and hydrotreating.

CATALYTIC REFORMING

Process of changing the molecular structure of the components of


straight-run gasoline or of a gasoline fraction by subjecting the
gasoline to thermal treatment in the presence of a catalyst (for
example platinum). By this process the anti-knock performance of
the gasoline is improved.

CATHODIC PROTECTION

Method of protecting tanks, ships, pipelines and jetties against


corrosion. By reversing the electric current which flows away from
a corroding metal, a corrosion process can be arrested.

CAUSTIC SODA

The name used in industry for sodium hydroxide (NaOH) on


account of its property of corroding the skin. It is strongly
alkaline. Used extensively in water treatment or pH control in
process units.

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CENTRIGRADE (CELSIUS) SCALE

A thermometer scale on which the interval between the freezing


point and boiling point of water is divided into 100 parts or
degrees F. Also called°C to 212°F and 100°C corresponds to 32°
centigrade, so that 0 Celsius after Anders Celsius who first
described it.

CENTIPOISE, CENTISTOKES

A Centipoise (cP) is 1/100th of a poise (P) which is the


fundamental unit of dynamic viscosity in the
centimetre-gram-second system of C is approximately 1 cP. The
centistokes°units. The viscosity of water at 20 (cS) is 1/100th of a
stoke (S) which is the fundamental unit of Kinematic viscosity in
that system. The two c viscosity’s are related by the density, i.e.
number of centistokes = number of Centipoise divided by liquid
density (in g/cm3).

CENTRIFUGAL COMPRESSOR

A machine in which pressure is built up by means of rotating fans


or blades.

CENTRIFUGAL PUMP

A pump that derives its pressure increase from the centrifugal


force generated when the impeller throws the liquid outwards at
high speed.

CENTRIFUGE

A whirling instrument for separating liquids and solids or liquids of


different specific gravity by use of centrifugal force.

CERAMIC BALLS

Balls of chemically inert ceramic, used as filler and support in


reactors etc.

CETANE NUMBER

The cetane number of a diesel fuel is a number equal to the


percentage by volume of cetane in a mixture with

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alph-methyl-naphthalene having the same ignition quality as the
fuel under test.

CFR ENGINE

A standard single-cylinder variable compression engine developed


by the Co-operative Fuel Research Council, to determine the
anti-knock value of motor gasoline’s or the ignition quality of
diesel fuels.

CHANNELING

Non uniform flow of process fluid through (e.g.) a reactor bed.

CHARACTERISATION

Identifying a feed or product by its properties e.g. distillation,

carbon: hydrogen ration, density etc.

CHAR VALUE

In the 24 hours kerosene burning test the amount of char formed


on the wick under prescribed conditions is measured and reported
as mg/kg.

CHECK VALVE (NON RETURN VALVE)

An automatic valve which permits fluids to pass in one direction


but closes when the fluids attempt to pass in the opposite
direction.

CHEMICAL OXYGEN DEMAND (COD)

Total amount of oxygen needed for oxidation of all organic matter


in water to CO2 and H2O.

CHLORINATION

A chemical reaction in which chlorine reacts with hydrocarbon and


one or more of the hydrogen atoms are replaced by atoms of
chlorine, or chlorine reacts with an unsaturated hydrocarbon and
two chlorine atoms (one molecule) are added to the double bond.

CHROMOMETER - See Colorimeter

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CLADDING

A homogeneous bonded or resistance-welded metallic liner applied


to a base metal such as carbon steel. Used in lines, vessels, and
heat exchanger equipment to reduce corrosion and increase
service life. Also called clad lining.

CLAUS PROCESS

Process for the manufacture of sulphur from H2S, comprising


oxidation of part of the H2S to SO2 in a thermal reaction stage,
followed by catalytic reaction of the remaining H2S with the SO2
formed to give sulphur.

CLEAR GASOLINE

A gasoline which is free from anti-knock additives such as


tetraethyl-lead. In making comparative engine tests between
leaded and unleaded fuels, the clear, unleaded gasoline is
sometimes referred to as straight gasoline base, base fuel, or as
gasoline "neat".

CLOUD POINT

The temperature at which a fuel, when cooled, begins to congeal


and present a cloudy appearance owing to the formation of minute
crystals of wax.

COALESCER

A vessel packed with steel wool, glass wool, polypropylene wool or


felt used to remove fine droplets of treating liquids or water from
a petroleum product.

COASTAL TANKER Ltd- (CTL)

A Company responsible for coastal tanker movements in NZ

COEFFICIENT OF EXPANSION

The ratio of the increase of length, area, or volume of a body F) to


the original length, area, or°for a given rise in temperature
(usually 1 volume of the body.

COKE

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Hard carbon deposit, usually formed by the unintentional thermal
cracking of heavy residues.

COKE DRUM

A vessel in which coke is formed or collected and which can be cut


off from the process for cleaning.

COLD FILTER PLUGGING POINT

The highest temperature at which a fuel ceases to flow through a


test filter.

COLORIMETER

An instrument for determining the colour of oil product by


measuring the percentage transmission of monochromatic light
through the liquid.

COMBINED FEED RATIO (CFR)

The ratio of the 2nd to 1st stage feed on the Hydrocracker.

COMBUSTION

The process of burning; rapid oxidation caused by the union of the


oxygen of the air with a material.

COMBUSTION CHAMBER

The space in which the process of burning takes place e.g. in a jet
engine.

COMPATABILITY

Ability of additives or products to mix together without separation


or reaction.

COMPOUND

A substance formed by the combination of two or more ingredients


in definite proportions by weight, and possessing physical and
chemical properties entirely different from those of the
ingredients. e.g. table salt, paint.

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COMPRESSION

In general, the act of increasing the pressure on gas or vapour. It


is usually attended by a reduction in volume.

COMPRESSION IGNITION

The combustion which takes place when fuels are injected in a C)


in the cylinder of a diesel°fine spray into the hot compressed air
(500 (compression ignition) engine. The heating of the air is due
to its rapid compression by the piston.

COMPRESSION RATIO

The ratio of the cylinder volume when the piston of an engine is at


the crank end of the cylinder, to the volume when the piston is at
the head end.

COMPRESSOR

A device which draws in air or other gases, compresses it and


discharges it at a high pressure.

CONDENSATE

Liquid hydrocarbons which are sometimes produced together with


natural gas. In general: the liquid that is formed when a vapour
cools.

CONDENSATION (PHYSICAL)

The transfer of a material from the vapour phase into the liquid
phase, for example by the withdrawal of heat.

CONDENSER

A special type of heat exchanger for the removal of heat from e.g.
the top of a fractionating column.

CONDENSER BOX

A large box-shaped structure in which the condenser, which may


consist of coils or tubes, is submerged in a heat-absorbing
medium, usually water.

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CONDUCTIVITY

A materials ability to conduct an electrical charge. Important in


water treatment (as an indication of impurities) and some
hydrocarbons (static risk).

CONTINUOUS CATALYST REGENERATOR

see Fluid bed operation.

CONTINUOUS DISTILLATION

An operation in which the steps of charging, heating,


vapourisation, fractionation, and collection of products are
performed continuously rather than in a batchwise manner. The
unit employed is known as a continuous still.

CONTROL LOOP

Combination of control signal, feedback signal and instrumental


response that characterises an automatic control system.

CONTROLLER

The actual control instrument is the controller. However, the word


is often used in reference to the control valve that acts on the
process.

CONVECTION

The flow of heat through liquid or gas by actual mixing of the


fluids (physical turbulence).

CONVECTION SECTION

That portion of the furnace in which tubes receive heat by


convection from the flue gases (contrast with radiant section).

CONVENTIONAL PRODUCTS

Petroleum products which are manufactured from crude oil by


physical separation processes. (See primary processes).

CONVERSION PROCESSES

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Manufacturing processes which involve a change in the structure
of the hydrocarbons (See secondary processes).

COOLER

A heat exchanger whose primary purpose is to reduce the


temperature of one of the passing fluids.

COOLING TOWER

A unit or structure, for the purpose of cooling by evaporation.

COPPER STRIP CORROSION

A qualitative method of determining the corrosivity of a product by


its effect on a small strip of polished copper suspended or placed
in the product. One of the kerosene quality tests.

CORRECTED ENERGY & LOSS (CEL)

Yardstick used for monitoring refinery efficiencies.

CORROSION

The gradual eating away of metallic surfaces as the result of


chemical action such as oxidation. It is caused by corrosive agents
such as acids.

COUNTERCURRENT FLOW

A system in which one fluid flows in one direction and another


fluid flows in the opposite direction e.g. in a heat exchanger, in
which the direction of flow of the cold oil is opposite to that of the
hot oil.

CRACKING

Process whereby the large molecules of the heavier oils are


converted into smaller molecules of the gasoline type. When this is
brought about by heat alone, the process is known as thermal
cracking. If a catalyst is also used the process is referred to as
catalytic cracking (in speech generally abbreviated to cat.
cracking) or Hydrocracking if the process is conducted over special
catalysts in a hydrogen atmosphere - other processes include
visbreaking and hycon.

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CREEP

Change in the micro structure of a metal. The continuous


stretching which occurs when metal is under stress or pressure,
especially apparent when at high temperatures.

CRITERIA REFERENCED INSTRUCTION

Method of instruction based on meeting specific criteria.

CRITICAL PRESSURE

The pressure necessary to condense a gas at the critical


temperature.

CRITICAL TEMPERATURE

The maximum temperature at which a gas can be liquefied by


pressure (critical pressure); above this temperature the gas
cannot be liquefied, no matter what pressure is applied.

CRITICAL VELOCITY

The rate of flow in a pipe at which streamline flow changes into


turbulent flow.

CRUDE NAPHTHA

Light distillate made in the fractionation of crude oil.

CRUDE OIL TYPES

See appropriate sub-heading for description.

- Paraffin-base crude oils

- Asphaltic-base crude oils

- Mixed-base crude oils

CRUDE WAX

Crude wax, also called petroleum wax or slack wax, is an


unrefined mixture of high-melting hydrocarbons, mainly of the
normal straight-chain type, still containing a fairly high percentage

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of oil. It is obtained by filtration (as such, or after addition of a
solvent) from high boiling distillates or residual oils. Slack wax is
primarily obtained as by-product in the manufacture of lubricating
oils. The crude wax made from distillate oils is refined to make a
range of microcrystalline waxes.

CRYSTALISATION

A fractionation process based on the difference in freezing point of


the various constituents of the mixture to be fractionated. The
process is, for example, used in the separation of paraffins from
lube oil (de-waxing).

CUSTODY TRANSFER TANKS

Tanks which receive products from external sources or deliver


products to external sources

CURRENT RATE

Current Assets

Current Liabilities

CUT

Refinery term for a fraction obtained direct from a fractionation


unit. Several cuts can be blended for the manufacture of a certain
product.

CUT POINT

(Between two process streams). The boiling point at atmospheric


pressure of the component distributed in equal percentage in both
process streams.

CYCLISATION

A reaction, for example, platinum-catalysed, by which a


straight-chain paraffin hydrocarbon is converted into a naphthene
and then into an aromatic: i.e. The process of changing an
open-chain hydrocarbon structure to a closed ring, e.g. hexane to
benzene. Accompanied by production of Hydrogen.

CYCLONE SEPARATOR

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A conical vessel provided with a tangential inlet for a gas stream
containing finely divided solids or liquid droplets, normally
designed with a centrally located overhead gas withdrawal line.
Powdered solids or coagulated liquids are separated by centrifugal
force and pass downward along the incline (conical) to a centrally
located outlet. In catalytic cracking, a pipe, known as a dip leg, is
connected to this bottom outlet and serves to convey the solids
back to the catalyst bed.

DAMPER

Usually a flap or shutter to control air flow in a furnace (may be in


the supply and/or the flue ducting).

DEACTIVATION

Reduction in catalyst activity by poisoning or coating of catalyst


particles by contaminants, or by a change in the physical structure
of the catalyst particles.

DEADWEIGHT

The amount of cargo, stores and fuel which a vessel carries when
loaded to the appropriate draught allowed by law. The difference
between deadweight and displacement is the actual weight of the
vessel.

DEARATOR

Device for the steam stripping of 02 and other gases from boiler
feed water.

DECOMPOSITION

The breaking up of compounds into smaller chemical forms


through the application of heat, change in other physical
conditions, or introduction of other chemical bodies.

DEFERRED TAXATION

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Provision for tax payable in the future, but deferred in the current
year because of timing differences between the Company's
accounts and the accounts required by the Inland Revenue
Department.

DEHYDRATION

The removal of water from crude oil, from gas produced in


association with oil, or from gas from gas-condensate wells.

DEHYDROCYCLISATION

Any process involving both dehydrogenation and cyclisation


reactions.

DEHYDROGENATION

A reaction process in which hydrogen atoms are eliminated from a


molecule.

DEIONIZED WATER

Water that has had all the free ions removed by ion-exchange, also
called demineralised water.

DEISOLATION

The opposite of isolation i.e. To energise a piece of equipment.

DEMISTER

Any device used to stop passage of liquid droplets e.g. a demister


section in a vacuum column is to stop the asphaltenes from the
residue getting into the waxy distillate.

DEMULSIFIER

An additive used to prevent the formation of an emulsion -


applicable in crude/water emulsions in desalter.

DEMURRAGE

Amount payable to ship owner for failure to load or discharge ship


within time allowed.

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DENITRIFICATION

Removal of nitrogen compounds on feedstock by hydrogenation.


N2 + 3H2 = 2NH3.

DENSE BED LOADING

Catalyst loading system of "raining" the catalyst onto the bed


which achieves a higher loaded density than "sock" loading.

DEOXYGENATION

Removal of oxygen on feedstock by hydrogenation. 02 + 2H2 =


2H20.

DESALTING

A process to remove inorganic salts and other impurities from


crude oil by mixing with water followed by settling in an
electrostatic field.

DESULPHURISATION - See Hydrodesulphurisation

The removal of sulphur or sulphur compounds from a charge stock.

DESUPERHEATER

Equipment used to reduce the temperature of superheated steam.

DETERGENCY

The ability of a substance to clean and to wash away undesirable


substance. Detergents may be either oil-soluble or water-soluble.
Soap and synthetic detergents help to wet, disperse, and de-
flocculate solid particles. Oil-soluble detergents are used in motor
oils to disperse, loosen, and remove carbon, dirt, etc. from interior
surfaces of internal-combustion engines.

DETERGENT OIL

A lubricating oil possessing special sludge-dispersing properties


for use in internal-combustion engines. These properties are
usually conferred on the oil by the incorporation of special
additives. Detergent oils hold sludge particles in suspension and
thus promote engine cleanliness.

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DETONATION

Detonation or knocking is the sharp metallic sound emitting from


the cylinders of spark-ignition engines under certain conditions. It
occurs when conditions in a cylinder are such that self-ignition of
an unburnt mixture of fuel and air takes place. It reduces power
output.

DEW POINT (at a given pressure)

The temperature at which a vapour, contained in a closed vessel


under the given pressure, will form a first drop of liquid on the
subtraction of heat. Further cooling of the vapour at its dew point
results in condensation of part or all of the vapour as liquid. The
dew point of a normal gasoline is approximately the same as the
temperature at which 70% by volume distils over in the
ASTM-distillation test. The dew point of a pure compound is the
same as its boiling point.

DEWAXING

The process of removing paraffin wax from lubricating oils.

DIESEL ENGINE

As internal-combustion engine in which air drawn in by the suction


stroke is so highly compressed that the heat generated ignites the
fuel, which is automatically sprayed into the cylinder under high
pressure.

DIESEL FUEL

A general term covering oils used as fuel in diesel and other


compression ignition engines.

DIESEL INDEX

A measure of the ignition quality of a diesel fuel; the index is


calculated from a formula involving the gravity of the fuel and its
aniline point (API gravity times the aniline point (determining by
ASTM D611-47T) divided by 100).

DIFLUOROETHANE

A catalyst promoter used on the Hydrocracker.

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DILUENT

A liquid used to dilute or thin out another liquid.

DIPPING

A process for measuring the height of a liquid in a storage tank.


This is usually done by lowering a weighted graduated steel tape
through the tank roof and noting the level at which the oil surface
cuts the tape when the weight gently touches the tank bottom
(see Ullage).

DISTILLATE

The liquid obtained by condensing the vapour given off by a boiling


liquid. Also the top product taken off a fractionating column; and
in its broadest sense: any fraction other than the bottom product
of the fractionator.

DISTILLATION (fractional)

A fractionation process based on the difference in boiling point of


the various constituents of the mixture to be fractionated. It is
carried out by evaporation and condensation in contact with
reflux. When applied to the separation of gasoline, kerosene, etc.,
from a crude oil, to leave a residual fuel oil or asphaltic bitumen,
the process is frequently called topping. Distillation is normally
carried out in such a way as to avoid decomposition (cracking); in
the case of the higher boiling distillates, such as long residue, this
is accomplished by carrying out the distillation under vacuum
(which requires a lower temperature).

DISTILLATION CURVE

Curve made by plotting the percentage of gasoline (or other


petroleum product) distilled versus the temperature.

DISTRIBUTOR (LIQUID/GAS)

A device for distributing a 2 phase flow correctly within a vessel,


i.e. encouraging separation.

DISULPHIDE

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A compound containing a -S-S- linkage. Such compounds are
colourless liquids completely miscible with hydrocarbons and
insoluble in water. The lower members, when pure, possess a
nauseating sweet odour which is particularly clinging and
penetrating. Although disulphides are normal constituents of the
lighter distillates, they are also formed as a result of the oxidation
of mercaptans. Sour distillates become sweetened in this way.

DIVIDEND YIELD

Market Price of Shares (cents)

Dividend Paid (cents)

DOCTOR TREATMENT

A process of sweetening sour gasoline’s - by conversion of the


mercaptans - by means of a solution of lead oxide in caustic soda,
together with sulphur. Not used at NZRC.

DOWNCOMER

A means of conveying liquid from one tray to the next below in a


trayed column.

DOWNSTREAM

Towards the later end of the process e.g. final blending, product
tankage. In the business sense - Marketing of finished products,
filling stations etc.

DRAW OFF

A connection which allows liquid to flow from the bottom of a


vessel or to remove the contents from a draw off tray.

DRY GAS

Natural gas which does not contain liquid hydrocarbons at storage


pressure. Also often used for a petroleum gas consisting of no
other compounds than inert gases (e.g. hydrogen, nitrogen, etc)
and the light hydrocarbons methane, ethane, ethene, propane,
propene (sometimes also: hydrogen sulphide).

DUAL PURPOSE KEROSENE

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An export grade Kero that meets both premium and Avtur
specifications.

ECONOMISER

Equipment for preheating boiler feed water by use of low grade


flue gas.

EJECTOR

A device that uses the venturi effect to pull a partial vacuum.


Usually driven by steam and associated with condensing plant.

ELASTOMER

A synthetic polymer with rubber-like characteristics. Examples of


commercial products are styrene-butadiene rubbers, butyl rubber,
chloroprene rubber, nitrile rubber, polyurethane rubber and
silicone rubber.

ELECTRICAL ISOLATION CERTIFICATE

Permit required to isolate or de-isolate any electrical equipment.

ELECTROLYSIS

Chemical decomposition by the action of an electric current.

EMULSION

A dispersion of fine droplets of a liquid (the disperse phase) in the


bulk of another liquid (the continuous phase) with which it is
immiscible. A third substance, the emusifier, is sometimes
necessary to keep the droplets dispersed as a stable emulsion.

END POINT

The point indicating the end of some operation or at which a


certain definite change is observed. In titration, this change is
frequently a change in colour of an indicator which has been added
to the solution, or the disappearance or excess of one of the
reactants which is coloured. In the distillation of liquids, such as

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gasoline, the end point is the maximum temperature which occurs
during the test (F.B.P).

ENDOTHERMIC

Relating to or designating a reaction which occurs with the


absorption of heat, so that the temperature of the reacting bodies
is lowered (i.e. heating is required).

ENGINE OIL

A term applied to oils used for the bearing lubrication of all types
of engines, machines, and shafting, and for cylinder lubrication in
other than steam engines.

EROSION

To gradually wear away e.g. Catalyst circulation causes erosion.

ETHANE C2H6

A colourless, odourless gas of the methane series. Along with


methane one of the main constituents of natural gas.

ETHENE

The normalised name for ethylene. A hydrocarbon gas and first


member of the olefin series.

EVACUATION

Act of pulling a vacuum on a vessel at atmospheric pressure - thus


evacuating the air/gas present.

EVAPORATION

The conversion of a liquid into vapour, usually by means of heat.

EVAPORATOR

A vessel which receives the hot discharge from a heating coil, and
by a reduction in pressure, flashes off overhead the light products
and allows the heavy residue to collect in the bottom.

EX SITU REGEN

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Where catalyst is removed from a reactor and regenerated
elsewhere (usually at a catalyst specialists own plant).

EXOTHERMIC

Relating to or designating a reaction which occurs with the


evolution of heat, so that the temperature of the reacting bodies is
raised (i.e. cooling is required).

EXPANSION JOINT

A joint or coupling designed so as to permit an endwise movement


of its parts to compensate for expansion or contraction.

EXTRACT

The portion of an unrefined petroleum product (often a kerosene


or a lubricating oil) resulting from a solvent extraction process
and consisting mainly of those components which are best soluble
in the solvent. Generally the extract, after removal of the solvent
consists largely of aromatic hydrocarbons.

EXTRACTION

A fractionation process based upon the difference in solubility, in a


given solvent, of the various constituents of the mixture to be
fractionated. The process is, for example, used in the separation of
de-asphalted oil from short residue (see butane de-asphalting).

EXTRACTION DEPTH

Depth to which DAO may be extracted from short residue on BDU


unit - the greater the extraction depth, the higher the DAO yield,
although too deep an extraction may affect DAO specification.

EXTRACTOR

Column in which an extraction process (e.g. BDU) is carried out.

EXTRAORDINARY ITEMS

Items of expenses or income that are not related to the main


activities/operations of the company.

EXTREME PRESSURE LUBRICANTS

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A term applied to lubricating oils or greases which contain a
substance or substances specifically introduced to prevent
metal-to-metal contact in the operation of highly loaded gears and
bearings. In some cases this is accomplished by the substances
reacting with the metal to form a protective film.

FATIGUE

The tendency of a metal to become brittle and fracture under


conditions of repeated cyclic stressing at stress levels below its
tensile strength.

FEED PREPARATION UNIT

High vacuum unit to split a long residue into a short residue and
waxy distillate fraction with a low metal content; the latter
fraction is used as Hydrocracker feed.

FEEDSTOCK

Stock from which material is taken to be fed (charged) into a


process unit.

FILTER

A porous material on which solid particles are largely caught and


retained when a mixture of liquids and solids is passed through it.

FILTRATE

The liquid which has passed through a filter; the product from a
filtration process.

FIN FAN

See air heat exchanger.

FIRE WALL

An earth bank or cement wall built around an oil storage tank


compound to prevent the spread of the oil in case of fire or

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bursting of the tank. Height normally calculated to contain
contents of largest tank within compound.

FIXED-BED OPERATION

A type of operation in which the catalyst remains stationary in the


reactor. The catalyst may be regenerated insitu or exsitu
periodically. To be contrasted with fluid-bed operation.

FLAME ARRESTOR

An assembly of perforated plates or screens enclosed in a case and


attached to the breather vent on petroleum storage tanks, and on
bitumen or sour water gas lines prior to burning the gas in a
furnace.

FLAMMABLE

Capable of being easily set on fire; combustible.

FLASH

1. A sudden release in pressure resulting in partial or complete


vapourisation.

A sudden burst of light; a momentary blaze.

FLASH DISTILLATION

The process of heating a liquid to a temperature within the boiling


range of the liquid which causes the evaporation of part of the
liquid. The vapour may then be taken off and condensed.

FLASH POINT

The lowest temperature under closely specified conditions at


which a combustible material will give off sufficient vapour to form
an inflammable mixture with air in a standardised vessel. Flash
point tests are used to assess the volatilities of petroleum
products.

FLEXIBLE VOLATILITY INDEX

A measure of the volatility of gasoline’s calculated by the formula

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RVP +( 0.7 x E70 ) E70 = Evaporation at 70 0C

FLOATING HEAD

An end of a heat exchanger into which tubes are fitted,


constructed to allow for the expansion and contraction of the
exchanger tubes.

FLOATING ROOF

A special tank roof which floats upon the oil. Applied to do away
with the vapour space in storage tanks and thus reduce losses by
breathing and hazards of explosions.

FLOODING

In a fractionating column, the filling up with a liquid.

FLUE GAS

Gas from the combustion of fuel, the heating effect of which has
been substantially spent and which is, therefore, discarded to the
flue or stack. Its constituents are principally CO2, CO, 02, N2 and
H20.

FLUID

Non rigid substance consisting of particles that move freely


amongst themselves (includes particulate, liquids and gases).

FLUID BED OPERATION

Where catalyst is continually moved from the reactor to a


regenerator and back again, as in the continuously regenerated
platformer or cat cracker processes.

FOAM

A preparation designed to smother oil fires. It consists of a


solution which, on mixing with water, produces a mass of foam
many times the volume of the original liquids.

FOAMING

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1. The formation of froth or foam on lubricating oils or other oils
as a result of aeration or release of gas dissolved in the oil.

2. The formation of bubbles on the surface of boiled water. The


foam may entirely fill the steam space of the boiler or may be of
minor depth; in either case, it causes appreciable entrainment of
boiler water with steam.

3. Caused in Adip systems by presence of liquid hydrocarbons or


fines affecting surface tension of solution.

FORCED DRAUGHT

Air forced into a furnace by means of a fan or blower to improve


combustion (compare induced draught).

FRACTION

A portion of petroleum separated from other portions in the


fractionation of petroleum products. It is often characterised by a
particular boiling range.

FRACTIONAL CONDENSATION

A separation of the components of vapourised oil coming off


during distillation by condensing the vapours in stages (partial
condensation). The oil of highest boiling point will condense first
and may be removed in the liquid stage, allowing the portion still
in the vapour state to pass on to the next stage condenser.

FRACTIONATING COLUMN

An apparatus in which fractionation is carried out. It consists of a


vertical cylindrical metal vessel, containing equipment for the
proper contacting of flashed liquid and vapour. heat is often
supplied at the bottom of the column in a reboiler, whereas heat is
withdrawn at the top in a condenser. Heat can also be supplied or
withdrawn at intermediate heights of the column, if beneficial to
the process (inter-heaters or inter-coolers). The oil to be
fractionated is fed into the column at one or more predetermined
locations throughout the height of the column. The contacting
equipment is formed by fractionating trays in the oil and chemical
industry in general, although for some applications various
packing materials are used.

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FRACTIONATING TRAYS

Equipment aimed at promoting contact between vapour and liquid


for fractionation. The flow can be of a single type (i.e. vapour and
liquid are arranged to use separate aperatures) or of the dual type
(i.e. vapour and liquid may use the same aperature). The former
type is promoted by the provision of downcomers for the liquid.
Various arrangements of downcomers lead to various systems of
trays. Analogously there may be different provisions for the
vapour passage, again leading to various possibilities of trays. For
further information see bubble cap trays, calming section trays,
grid trays, sieve trays and valve trays.

FRACTIONATION

The general name for a physical process of separating a mixture


into its constituents, or into groups of these constituents, called
fractions. Examples are: absorption, azeotropic distillation,
crystallisation, decanting, distillation, extraction, extractive
distillation and flotation.

FREE ON BOARD (FOB)

The unit price at the loading port.

FREE WATER

Water which is not dissolved (ie not chemically bound in solution)


in a fuel or feedstock.

FREEZE POINT

An important characteristic of aviation fuels. The test for Jet A1 is


to cool until solid then reheat, the temperature at which the solid
MELTS is called freeze point.

FREEZING POINT

The temperature at which crystals first appear when a liquid is


cooled under specified conditions.

FRESH GAS

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In the HYDROCRACKER, Fresh H2 from the reformer to replace H2
used up in the process. Otherwise any imported gas as distinct
from recycle gas.

FRICTION

Resistance to the motion of one surface against another.

FUEL AIR RATIO

The ratio of the weights of fuel to air supplied to an engine,


furnace or boiler at any time.

FUEL CELL

An electrochemical device to convert chemical energy directly into


electricity. It is similar in some respects to a storage battery or a
dry cell. Like a battery, the fuel cell produces electricity by a
chemical reaction. Unlike a storage battery, however, the fuel cell
continues to produce electricity as long as fuel is added. In a fuel
cell chemical energy is directly converted to electrical energy by a
process that is the reverse of electrolysis. A fuel gas is fed into one
or two hollow porous electrodes in a liquid electrolyte whilst
oxygen or air is supplied to the other electrode.

FUEL GAS

Any gas used for heating by combustion.

FUEL OIL

Any liquid or liquefiable petroleum product burned for the


generation of heat in a furnace or firebox, or for the generation of
power in an engine, exclusive of oils with a flash point below
100oF.

FUNCTIONAL LOGIC SCHEME

Diagrams used to show the interaction of plant trips, both cause


and effect.

FUNCTIONAL LOGIC SYSTEM

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System of plant protection whereby loss of a signal indicates a
failure or trip of part of the unit. This trip will then shutdown all or
part of the unit.

FURNACE

That section of the refinery process in which the combustion of


fuel and air takes place.

FURNACE PASS

For more even heat transfer, the product to be heated is usually


split into 4 or more individual pipes (passes) and then recombined
at the furnace exit.

GAP

1. In adjacent fractions, the temperature difference between the


initial boiling point of the higher boiling fraction and the end point
of the lower boiling fraction. Specifically, the term 'gap' is only
used when this difference is positive (c.f. overlap).

2. The mid-position where a pair of gap-acting split range


controllers are both closed.

GAS HOLDER

A tank for the storage of gas. It usually floats on a liquid seal,


buoyed up by the pressure of the stored gas.

GAS OIL

Another common name for diesel fuel (A.G.O.)

GAS/OIL RATIO

The volume of gas at atmospheric pressure produced per unit


volume of oil produced (from oil wells).

GASOLINE

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Light petroleum fraction, with a boiling range between the
approximate limits of 30 and 200oC.

GAS TURBINE

An engine in which gas (as distinct from steam) is directed, under


pressure, against a series of turbine blades. The energy contained
in the rapidly expanding gas is converted into rotary motion.

GATHERING STATION

Oilfield installation which receives the production from several


wells in its vicinity. It provides facilities to separate the gas and
the water, to gauge the production of oil, gas and water, and to
transport the oil to the main storage tanks.

GEAR OIL

A lubricating oil for use in standard transmissions, most types of


differential gears, and gears contained in gear cases.

GLAND

The outer portion of a stuffing box, consisting of a tubular


projection which embraces the rod and extends into the bore of
the box, thus bearing against the packing.

GOVERNOR

A device used to control the speed of a turbine, the best known


example being the Woodward Governor.

GRAVITOMETER

Instrument used for measuring changes in the specific gravity of


oil flowing in a pipeline.

GRID TRAYS

Fractionating trays consisting of parallel bars of flat or round


section. The flow is essentially of the dual type, but this character
may be reduced by the provision of downcomers (see
Fractionating trays).

GUM

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Oxidation of gasoline's may produce a sticky substance known as
"gum". When unstable gasoline’s are stored for long periods, the
gum content may increase. Gum forming is retarded or prevented
by using certain inhibitors, e.g. Topanol.

HAMER LINE BLIND

A spectacle blind-type blanking device which has only 3 retaining


bolts, these are a type of wing not.

HEADER

A common manifold in which a number of pipelines are united.


Also used in reference to the U-bend connection between two
consecutive tubes in a coil.

HEAT CAPACITY

Amount of heat per kg per oC change in temperature.

HEAT EXCHANGER

An apparatus for transferring heat from one fluid to another.


Specifically, a piece of equipment having a tubular piping
arrangements which affects the transfer of heat from a hot to a
relatively cool material by conduction through the tube walls.

HEAT OF COMBUSTION

The heat created when a substance is burned in oxygen. The


calorific, thermal, or heating value of a fuel is the total amount of
heat developed by the complete combustion of a unit quantity of
fuel; it is reported as calories per gram or Btu per pound.

HEATER

The furnace-and-tube arrangement which normally furnishes the


principal heating element in a processing unit.

HI-FI TRAYS

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Similar to calming section trays, except there is a greater
downcomer area.

HIGH VACUUM UNIT

A unit for the production of vacuum gas oil and waxy distillate
from long residue, by means of distillation at very low pressures,
i.e. high vacuum.

HORSEPOWER

A unit of rate of operation; one mechanical horsepower equals


33,000 ft-lb per minute, or 550 ft-lb per second. This is just one
form of Horse Power there are more.

HORTON SPHERE

A spherical tank used to store volatile liquids under high pressure,


e.g. butane.

HOT OIL

Any oil used for the transfer of heat, as in the 700 Unit.

HOT SPOT

1. A finite area in the combustion zone of an engine which remains


at a temperature higher than that of the immediate surrounding,
thus aggravating detonation or pre ignition.

2. An area on the wall of a vessel or line which is appreciably


above normal operating temperature. Often as a result of the
deterioration of an internal insulating liner which exposes the line
or vessel shell to the temperature of its contents.

HUMIDITY

A measure of the moisture contained in the atmosphere.

HYDRATE

A compound formed by the chemical union of water with a


molecule of some other substance such as gypsum, from which
water may be separated by a simple readjustment of the molecular
structure. Gas hydrates, formed from water and, for example

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methane, may cause plugging of the tubing and flow lines of gas
wells.

HYDRATION

The addition of water to a double bond, no breakdown of the


molecular structure being involved.

HYDRAULIC FLUIDS

Fluids used in the hydraulic systems of aircraft and industrial


equipment etc.

HYDROCARBON

A compound containing only hydrogen and carbon. The simplest


hydrocarbons are gases at ordinary temperatures; but with
increasing molecular weight, they change to the liquid form and,
finally, to the solid state. They form the principal constituents of
petroleum.

HYDROCHLORIC ACID

A strong mineral acid, HCL. It is also called muriatic acid.

HYDROCRACKING

A process in which hydrocarbons are converted under hydrogen


pressure into products of lower molecular weight, in the presence
of an acidic catalyst.

HYDRODEALKYLATION

A process to remove side-chains on aromatic molecules, either


thermally or catalytically, under hydrogen pressure.

HYDRODESULPHURIZATION

The elimination of sulphur containing molecules in crude’s or


distillates by the action of hydrogen under pressure over a
catalyst.

HYDROGEN

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The lightest of all gases, occurring chiefly in combination with
oxygen in water, also in acids, bases, alcohol’s, petroleum and
other hydrocarbons.

HYDROGEN BLISTERING

A form of corrosion. Blistering of steel is caused by trapped


molecular hydrogen formed as atomic hydrogen during attack of
steel by hydrogen sulphide.

HYDROGEN SULPHIDE

A compound of hydrogen and sulphur, specifically the


monosulphide; a colourless, flammable, poisonous gas, H2S,
having a disagreeable odour; also called sulphureted hydrogen.

HYDROGENATION

The filling of the "free" places in unsaturated structures by


hydrogen atoms. The chemical addition of hydrogen to a material.
In non-destructive hydrogenation, hydrogen is added to a
molecule only if, and where, unsaturation with respect to
hydrogen exists. In destructive hydrogenation, the operation is
carried out under conditions which result in rupture of some of the
hydrocarbon chains (cracking); hydrogen is added where the chain
breaks have occurred. This process is known as hydrocracking.

HYDROLYSIS

The decomposition of a molecular structure by the action of water.


A chemical decomposition in which a compound is broken up and
resolved into other compounds by reaction with water. In many
cases, it is induced by the presence of a small amount of dilute
acid.

HYDROMETER

A graduated instrument for determining the gravity of liquids,


usually made of hollow glass and weighted at one end so as to
float upright. On immersion, the lighter the liquid, the lower the
instrument sinks because the buoyancy force is less. Some
hydrometers are marked to read percentage of constituent, or
some other property related to gravity. The instruments used in
measuring petroleum products usually read degress API or specific
gravity directly.

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HYDROSTATIC HEAD

The pressure exerted by a column of fluid, equalling the height of


the column times the fluid density times the acceleration of
gravity. An expression of the pressure existing at a certain point,
in terms of weight of a superimposed column of fluid.

HYDROSTATIC TEST

A pressure test using water to check the reliability of equipment


prior to being bought into service.

HYDROTREATING

A vapour phase process used to treat petroleum fractions C. The


process involves passage over a fixed bed°boiling up to
approximately 250 of catalyst (usually prepared by depositing the
metals COBALT and MOLYBDENUM on an alumina base) in a
hydrogen atmosphere. The process achieves:

1. Hydrogenation of the sulphurous contaminants in the feedstock


to hydrogen sulphide.

2. Saturation of unsaturated component compounds such as


olefins.

IGNITION POINT

The point or temperature at which a substance takes fire.

IGNITION QUALITY

A measure of the ignition delay of a fuel in a diesel engine.

IMMISCIBLE

Not capable of mixing; tending to form two layers, e.g. oil and
water.

INCOMPATIBLE

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Applied to a substance which, for chemical, physical, or
physiological reasons, cannot be mixed with another without
changing its nature or affect.

INDIGENOUS FEEDSTOCK

Local (i.e. NZ) crude’s or condensates e.g. Maui, Kapuni etc.

INDUCED DRAUGHT

Air drawn into a furnace by means of a fan to improve combustion


(compare forced draught).

INERT ENTRY

Specialised entry into a vessel under N2 atmosphere, by use of B.A.


and special safety precautions. Used e.g. in hydrocracker catalyst
change operation.

INERT GAS

Nitrogen on the refinery, scrubbed flue gas on the tankers. Used


for air (oxygen) exclusion to reduce fire/explosion risk.

INERT FILLER

Non reactive packing/support material, e.g. ceramics, stainless


steel etc.

INFLAMMABLE

Very flammable - not to be confused with non-flammable.

INHIBITOR

A substance, the presence of which in small amounts in a product


prevents or retards undesirable changes in the quality of the
product, or in the condition of the equipment in which the product
is used. In general, the essential function of inhibitors is to
prevent or retard oxidation. Examples of uses include the delaying
of gum formation in stored gasoline’s and of colour change in
lubricating oils; also the prevention of corrosion, e.g. rust
prevention by inhibitors in turbine oils and fuels.

INITIAL BOILING POINT

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According to ASTM Method D 86 the recorded temperature when
the first drop of liquid falls from the end of the condenser.

INJECTOR

A mechanism which may be used in different forms for spraying


fuel oil into the combustion chamber, or for feeding water into
steam boilers.

IN-LINE BLENDING

A system in which all components are pumped simultaneously into


a common discharge pipe (header) at rates of flow corresponding
to the required proportions, the rates of flow being controlled.
Blending takes place in the lines between the header and the
storage tank into which the blend is discharged.

INORGANIC

Pertaining to substances not organic, nonliving, i.e. which are not


carbon compounds, with the possible exception of the oxides and
sulphides of carbon.

INSITU REGEN

Catalyst regeneration carried out within the reactor. Carbon is


burned off under controlled conditions of heat/air. Less effective,
but cheaper and usually quicker than ex-situ.

INSTITUTE OF PETROLEUM

The organisation in Great Britain primarily responsible for the


advancement of the study of petroleum and its allied products in
all their aspects. It is the recognised British standardisation
authority for methods of testing petroleum products.

INTERCEPTOR

Equipment to remove oil from water either for process separation


or pollution control. Weir, parallel and tilted plate types are used.

INTERNAL-COMBUSTION ENGINE

An engine which operates by means of combustion of a fuel within


its cylinder.

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ION EXCHANGE RESINS

Preparation used in water softening - Anion and Cation resins are


used.

ISOLATE

Any means of positive separation from a risk source:-

1. To electrically disconnect.

2. To valve/spade isolate a piece of linework/equipment.

ISOMER

Two substances composed of equal amounts of the same elements


but differing in properties owing to variation in structure are
called isomers.

ISOMERISATION

The conversion of a compound into its isomer. For example,


butane may be converted into isobutane. A reaction which alters
the fundamental arrangement of the atoms in the molecule
without adding or removing anything from the original compound.
In the petroleum industry, straight-chain hydrocarbons are
converted catalytically to branched-chain hydrocarbons of
substantially higher octane number by isomerisation.

ISO-OCTANE C8H18 (2,2,4-TRIMETHYLPENTANE)

A colourless liquid used with n-heptane to prepare standard


mixtures to determine anti-knock properties of gasoline.

ISOTOPE

Any one of a number of atomic species differing in atomic weight


but having the same atomic number.

Used in some Refinery instruments and for radiography.

JET ENGINE (see also Gas Turbine)

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An engine which converts fuel and air into a fast-moving stream of
hot gases which effect propulsion of the device of which the
engine is a part.

JET FUEL

Fuel meeting the required properties for use in jet engines and
aircraft turbine engines. It is subject to intense testing and quality
control as laid down in DERD and AFQRJOS documents
internationally.

KELVIN

The unit used as the Absolute temperature scale, i.e. zero Kelvin is
absolute zero, 273K is 0oC. The Kelvin degree has the same
dimensions as the Celsius degree. The o symbol is not used on the
Kelvin scale.

KEROSENE

Any petroleum product with a boiling range between the


approximate limits of 140 oC and 270oC which satisfies certain
quality requirements (for lamp oil or jet fuel).

KETTLE REBOILER

A reboiler with facilities for separation of liquid and vapour.

KNOCK

Related to internal combustion engines the noise associated with


detonation of a portion of the fuel-air mixture in a cylinder ahead
of the advancing flame front.

KNOCKOUT (DRUM OR VESSEL)

A vessel, constructed with baffles, through which a mixture of gas


and liquid is passed to disengage one from the other. As the
mixture comes in contact with the baffles, the impact frees the
gases and allows them to pass overhead; the heavier substance
falls to the bottom of the drum.

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LAGGING

A covering to retain heat, such as mineral wool wrapped on steam


pipes.

LATENT HEAT

Heat required for a change of state without a change of


temperature.

1. The latent heat of fusion, or the amount of heat necessary to


change a unit mass of solid into a liquid without change of
temperature.

2. The latent heat of vapourisation, or the amount of heat


necessary to change a unit mass of liquid into vapour without
change of temperature.

The latent heat of condensation. Effectively the opposite of 2


(above).

LEAD

Industry parlance for the motor fuel anti-knock additive


compounds tetraethyl-lead, tetramethyl-lead, or for other
organometallic lead anti-knock compounds. Not used in NZ.

LEAD ACETATE TEST

A method of detecting the presence of hydrogen sulphide in a


sample using lead acetate paper, which will change from white to
brown upon detection.

LEAD SUSCEPTIBILITY

Ability of gasoline’s to respond to the addition of tetramethyl-lead,


or other organometallic lead anti-knock compounds, as reflected in
the increase of anti-knock quality (octane number) with increase
in lead content.

LEADED GASOLINE

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Refers to gasoline containing tetramethyl-lead or other
organometallic lead anti-knock compounds. Not used in NZ.

LINEAR PROGRAMME (LP)

A mathematical representation of an operation which can be


optimised according to a set of economic criteria.

LIQUEFIED NATURAL GAS (LNG)

Natural Gas can be liquefied, e.g. at atmospheric pressure by


cooling to about - 160° C (-256oF).

LIQUEFIED PETROLEUM GAS (LPG)

of the gaseous hydrocarbons, propane and the butanes can be


liquefied under relatively low pressure and at ambient
temperature and are then known as liquefied petroleum gas. Light
hydrocarbon material, gaseous at atmospheric temperature and
pressure, held in the liquid state by pressure to facilitate storage,
transport and handling. Commercial liquefied gas consists
essentially of propane, butane, or mixtures thereof.

LIQUID PHASE

The term describing a product or substance when in the form of a


liquid.

LIQUID SEAL

A quantity of liquid used to prevent the emission of a gas through


an orifice. To be completely effective the hydrostatic head exerted
by the liquid must be greater than the pressure of the gas and the
gas must be insoluble in the liquid.

LITRE

The primary standard of capacity in the metric system, equal to


the volume of C, and under°one kilogram of pure water at
maximum density, at approximately 4 normal atmospheric
pressure.

LIVE STEAM

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As contrasted to exhaust steam, steam coming directly from a
boiler before being utilised for power or heat.

LOAD-ON-TOP SYSTEM

System of cleaning the tanks of a crude oil tanker by collecting


washings from each tank in one tank, allowing the water to
separate from the oil, then discharging the water overboard,
leaving the oil residues in the tank. The next crude oil cargo is
loaded on top of the residues.

LOADING RACK

A structure built alongside railroad tracks or at road depots for the


purpose of loading tank cars or road tankers with products.

LOGIC

See functional logic.

LONG RESIDUE

The residue resulting from the atmospheric distillation of crude oil.

LOST TIME ACCIDENT (LTI)

Any work injury that results in the worker being unable to


recommence work on the day after the injury.

LOWER EXPLOSIVE LIMIT

Leanest mixture that will explode. A greater air: hydrocarbon ratio


will not ignite.

LUBOIL

Lubricating oil

LUBRICANT

A substance, especially oil, grease, or a solid such as graphite,


which may be interposed between moving parts of machinery,
thus reducing friction by preventing contact between the bearing
surfaces. The lubricant has an important function in removing heat
and dirt from the region of the bearing surfaces.

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LUBRICATING OIL

A fluid lubricant used to reduce friction between bearing surfaces.


Petroleum lubricating oils may be produced either from distillates
or residues; amounts of other substances, known as additives,
may be added to impart or improve certain required properties.

LUBRICATION

The state of being lubricated, or the act of applying lubricating


substances which are capable of reducing friction between and
removing heat from moving mechanical parts.

MANIFOLD

A piping arrangement which allows one stream of liquid or gas to


be divided into two or more streams, or which allows several
streams to be collected into one.

MANOMETER

An instrument for measuring the expansion or the expansive


power of gases or vapours; a pressure gauge or vacuum gauge.

MASS SPECTROMETER

A device for analysing a substance in terms of the mass-to-charge


ratios of its constituents. It is so designed that the beam
constituents of a given-mass-to-charge ratio are focused on an
electrode and detected or measured electrically. The mass
spectrum shows the distribution in mass or the mass-to-charge
ratio of ionised atoms, molecules, or molecular fragments.

MELTING POINT

Temperature at which a solid substance melts or fuses. For


asphalt, the melting point is defined as the temperature at which
the asphalt is soft enough to permit a steel ball to drop through a
disk of asphalt supported in a ring suspended in water
(ring-and-ball method). The grease melting point is determined by

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placing a small amount of the grease on the bulb of a thermometer
and heating in hot air until the grease begins to run off.

METHANATOR

Part of the reformer process that converts unwanted carbon


oxides to methane which is more acceptable to the hydrocracker.

METHANE CH4

A light, odourless inflammable gas. It is the chief constituent of


natural gas. It is also often produced by a partial decay of plants in
swamps (marsh gas), so that its occurrence is commonly
misinterpreted by the layman as an indication of the presence of
petroleum.

METHANE SERIES

A homologous series of open-chain saturated hydrocarbons of the


general formula CnH2n+2 of which methane (CH4) is the first
member of the type; generally called the paraffins.

METHANOL

Methylalcohol, CH3OH. The first member of the class of organic


compounds C. Methanol is inflammable and°known as alcohols. It
is a liquid boiling at 66 poisonous. It is used in the production of
synthetic gasoline - see synfuel.

METHYL CHLOROFORM

Used as a catalyst promotor in the platformer.

METHYL TERTIARY BUTYL ETHER (MTBE)

An oxygenated compound which can be used as a blending


compound in gasoline to boost octane.

METRIC SYSTEM

A system of weights and measures derived from the metre. The


system includes: measures of length, wherein the metre is the
unit, measures of surface, wherein the square metre is the unit,
measures of capacity, wherein the litre is the unit, and weights,
wherein the gram is the unit.

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MIDDLE DISTILLATE

One of the distillates obtained between kerosine and lubricating


oil fractions in the refining processes. These include light fuel oils
and diesel fuel.

MINERAL OIL

Generally speaking, this term refers to a wide range of products


derived from mineral substances.

MINIMUM STOP

A setting used to restrict the closure of a control valve. There are


two ways of achieving this:-

1. Mechanical, by use of a collar or nut on the spindle, diaphragm.

2. Pneumatically, by restricting the minimum air signal from the


control instrument.

MISCIBLE

Capable of being mixed (stability and uniformity throughout the


mixture are usually inferred).

MIXED BASE CRUDE

A crude oil which is a mixture of paraffin - and naphthene-base


crude.

MIXER

Device used for mixing partially im-miscible liquids in process


plant or to prevent layering in tanks - a propeller or jet mixture
may be used.

MIXING VALVE

A valve which creates turbulence within a pipe to effect mixing of


the materials flowing through the pipe.

MIXTURE

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The intermingling of two or more substances, each retaining its
original properties.

MOLE PERCENT

An expression of the percent composition of a mixture in terms of


moles. The relative numbers of moles are computed by dividing
the numbers of units of weight of the individual constituents by
their respective molecular weights.

MOLECULAR WEIGHT

The sum of the atomic weights of the atoms composing a


molecule.

MOLECULE

The smallest portion of an element or a compound which retains


chemical identify with the same particular substance en masse,
e.g. unit of water.

MOTOR OCTANE NUMBER (MON)

The Octane number of a Motor Gasoline determined in a special


laboratory test engine under high "engine-severity" conditions,
giving a rough measure of the high-speed knock properties of the
gasoline.

MOTORISED VALVE

A valve incorporated in automatic control systems to regulate the


rate of flow of material through a section of pipe. It is actuated
either hydraulically, electrically, from a control instrument.

MULTIGRADE OIL

One of the multi-viscosity number oils in which one oil combines


three SAE viscosity number grades. For example, multigrade SAE
10W-30 grade may be used where SAE 10W, SAE 20-20W, or SAE
30 grades specified. Multi-grade oils are usually made to meet the
requirements of API Services MS, DG, and DM. They have been
made possible by improved refining processes and the use of
improved additives.

MULTISTAGE PUMP

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Pump with more than one impeller. Generally used in high
pressure/medium flow applications.

NAPHTHA

Naphtha’s are straight-run gasoline fractions boiling below


kerosene. Being generally unsuitable as a blending component for
premium gasoline’s, they are used as a feedstock for Platforming.
Other important outlets for naphtha’s are their use as chemical
feedstock (e.g. ethylene manufacture) and as feedstock for town
gas manufacture.

NAPHTHENE

A class of saturated cyclic hydrocarbons of the general formula


CnH2N. One of a group of cyclic hydrocarbons, also termed
cycloparaffins or cycloalkanes. Polycyclic members are found in
the higher boiling fractions of crude oil.

NAPHTHENIC ACID

Naturally occurring acidic compounds commonly found in


Naphthenic crude’s.

NAPHTHENIC CRUDE

Crude oil containing a relatively large percentage of naphthene. An


oil obtained from a Naphthenic crude is said to be a naphthene
base oil. Lubricating oils made from such crude’s are normally
distinguished from similar oils made from paraffinic crude’s (both
oils equally well refined) by lower gravity, lower carbon content
and pour point, and lower rating viscosity index.

NATURAL DRAUGHT

A flow of air into the combustion chamber of a heater which is


neither induced nor forced but derives solely from the fact that the
pressure inside the heater is lower than that of the ambient
atmosphere (due to effect of stack).

NATURAL GAS

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Naturally occurring mixtures of hydrocarbon gases and vapours,
the more important of which are methane, ethane, propane,
butane, pentane, and hexane. The gas which occurs naturally with
crude oils, but also in reservoirs which contain only a few heavier
constituents. It consists mainly of the lighter paraffin
hydrocarbons. Natural gas is usually classified as wet or dry,
depending on whether the proportions of gasoline constituents
which it contains are large or small. Most gas reaches the surface
through the tubing, but in some pumping wells it is taken off at
the top of the casing (casinghead gas).

NATURAL GASOLINE

Gasoline extracted from wet natural gas, consisting of butane,


pentane and heavier hydrocarbons. After stabilisation - the
removal of the lighter components - the gasoline is suitable for
blending into motor gasoline.

NET ASSET BACKING/SHARE

Shareholders' Investment

Number of shares

NET PROFIT AFTER TAX

Income from all sources less operating costs, depreciation and tax.

NET PROFIT BEFORE TAX

Income from all sources less operating costs and depreciation.

NEUTRAL

Neither acid nor alkaline.

NEUTRON

An uncharged particle having the mass of the proton. Generally,


together with the protons, neutrons make up the nucleus of
atoms.

NITROGEN

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Element of atomic number 7, in group V of the periodic system;
colourless, odourless, tasteless diatomic gas constituting
approximately four-fifths of the air; chemically rather inert;
soluble in water. Derived from liquid air by fractional distillation.
Used extensively in refineries for inerting process plants (air
exclusion).

NITROGEN BASE

A compound, such as amine, which may be considered a


substitution product of ammonia; a compound containing trivalent
nitrogen, capable, like ammonia, of combining with acids in the
formation of salts containing pentavalent nitrogen.

NON-ASSOCIATED NATURAL GAS

Gas accumulations which exist independently of any oil


accumulation.

NON CUSTODY TRANSFER TANKS

Tanks which receive products from internal sources or deliver


products to internal sources.

NORMALISE

Correction made to a calculated figure (e.g. WABT) to allow for the


effect of other variables.

OCTANE

The octane number of a fuel is a number equal to the percentage


by volume of iso-octane in a mixture of iso-octane and normal
heptane having the same resistance to detonation as the fuel
under consideration in a special test engine. It is a measure of
anti-knock value of a gasoline and, in the case of the special test
engine, the higher the octane number the higher the anti-knock
quality of the gasoline.

OIL RING

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A loose ring, the inner surface of which rides a shaft or journal
causing the ring to rotate. The ring dips into a reservoir of
lubricant, from which it carries the lubricant to the top of the shaft
for distribution to a bearing. Also the ring on an
internal-combustion engine piston which controls the lubrication
of the piston and cylinder walls, as contrasted to the compression
rings.

OIL SHALE

A compacted sedimentary rock consisting mainly of consolidated


muds and clays and containing organic matter which yields oil
when destructively distilled but not appreciably when extracted
with the ordinary solvents for petroleum.

OLEFINS

A class of unsaturated, non-cyclic, aliphatic hydrocarbons of the


general formula CnH2n (mono-olefins). Ethene is the parent
member of the group. Not very abundant in crude oils.

ONCE-THROUGH

An adjective describing:

1. A condition or operation in which no portion of the product is


recycled.

2. The products from such an operation.

ON STREAM

The length of time a unit is in actual production.

ORGANIC

Designation for a branch of chemistry; treating, in general, of the


compounds produced in plants and animals, or of carbon-hydrogen
compounds of synthetic origin; contrasted with inorganic.

ORIFICE METER

An instrument which measures the flow through a pipe by use of


the difference in pressure on the upstream and downstream sides
of an orifice plate.

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ORIFICE PLATE

A device for restricting the flow through a pipe.

OSMOSIS

Migration of ions or species from an area of high concentration to


one of lower concentration.

OUTPUT

The pneumatic or electronic control signal sent from the control


instrument to the valve.

OVERHEADS

In a distilling operation, that portion of the charge which is


vapourised and removed as the total stream from the top of the
column.

OVERLAP

In adjacent fractions, the temperature difference between the


initial boiling point of the higher boiling fraction and the end point
of the lower boiling fraction. Specifically the term 'overlap' is only
used when this difference is negative (cf. GAP).

OXIDATION

The reaction of oxygen with a molecule that may or may not


already contain oxygen. Oxidation may be partial, resulting in the
incorporation of oxygen into the molecule or in the elimination of
hydrogen from it, or it may be complete, forming carbon dioxide
and water (combustion) - contrast with reduction.

OXIDIZING FLAME

Term applied to a flame in which there is an excess of air or


oxygen.

PACKED TOWER

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A fractionating or absorber tower which is filled with small objects
(packing) to effect an intimate contact between rising vapour and
falling liquid.

PACKING

1. Typically PALL or RASCHIG rings of stainless steel or ceramic as


used in a packed tower. May be DUMPED or STRUCTURED - The
latter being assembled rather than tipped in which results in lower
p.d. and increased vapour/liquid contact thus greater efficiency.

2. Any material used to pack, as a layer of material put between


the surfaces of a flange or used in a stuffing box to prevent
leakage.

PARAFFIN-BASE CRUDE

Crude oils which contain paraffin wax but little or no asphaltic


matter.

PARAFFINS

Straight(N) or branched (ISO) open chain saturated hydrocarbons.

PARAFFIN WAX

Wax of solid consistency having a relatively pronounced crystalline


structure, extracted from certain distillates of petroleum, shale oil
etc. Refined paraffin wax has a very low oil content; it is white
with some degree of translucency, almost tasteless and odourless
and slightly greasy to the touch.

PARTIAL CONDENSER

A heat exchanger, which condenses part of a vapour stream. For


example, partial condensers are used to condense the reflux liquid
stream and liquid top product from the overhead vapours of a
fractionation column.

PARTIAL PRESSURE

Partial pressure of a component of a mixture in vapour-liquid


equilibrium is that part of the pressure which is contributed by
that component.

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PENETRATION

Consistency, expressed as the distance that a standard needle or


cone penetrates vertically into a sample of the material under
known conditions of loading, time and temperature. A measure of
the hardness and consistency of asphaltic bitumen by which a
weighted special cone or needle will penetrate the C°sample in five
seconds, the temperature, unless otherwise stated, being 25 F).°
(77

PERMIT TO WORK

A permit raised for any job that is carried out in the “restricted
area”

PETROL

Term commonly used for motor spirit or gasoline.

PETROLEUM

A material occurring naturally in the earth, predominantly


composed of mixtures of chemical compounds of carbon and
hydrogen with or without other nonmetallic elements such as
sulphur, oxygen, nitrogen, etc. Petroleum may contain, or be
composed of, such compounds in the gaseous, liquid, and/or solid
state, depending on the nature of these compounds and the
existing conditions of temperature and pressure.

PETROLEUM NAPHTHA

A generic term applied to refined, partly refined, or unrefined


petroleum products and liquid products of natural gas, not less
than 10 percent of which C), and not less than 95 percent of which
distill below°F (175°distill below 347 C) when subjected to
distillation in accordance with ASTM method°F (249°464 D86.

PETROLEUM SPIRITS

Refined petroleum distillates with volatility, flash point, and other


properties making them suitable as thinners and solvents in
paints, varnishes, and similar products.

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PETROLEUM WAX

See crude wax.

PHENOL

Hydroxyl derivative of aromatic hydrocarbons. Found in effluent


water - occurs from contact with certain crude’s.

PHOSPHATE

1. A salt of phosphoric acid.

2. At NZRC - generally used to refer to TRISODIUM PHOSPHATE, an


alkaline water treatment chemical. Na3Po4

pH VALUE

The logarithm of the reciprocal of the hydrogen ion concentration.


This indicates the acid or alkaline condition of a substance, pure
water and neutral solutions having a pH of 7. Acid solutions have a
pH less than 7; alkaline solutions, a pH greater than 7.

PIG

Device sent down pipelines for various purposes. Types include


Polypigs, swabs, brush pigs, go-devils and linelogs.

PILOT PLANT

A small version of the full-scale plant in which a laboratory


pursues development work, after bench-scale investigation of a
new process has shown promise.

PIPELINE

A line of pipe with pumping machinery and apparatus for


conveying a liquid or gas.

PISTON

In engines and pumps, a reciprocating device in a cylinder or tube


which receives pressure from, or delivers pressure to, a fluid.

PISTON RING

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A ring used to maintain a gas tight seal between the piston and
the cylinder and to control cylinder wall lubrication.

PITTING

Irregular corrosion in metalwork.

PLATFORMING

A reforming process which makes use of a catalyst containing


platinum and excess of hydrogen. Catalytic reforming of
straight-run heavy gasoline (Naphtha) produces a product which
is richer in aromatics and branched-chain paraffins and poorer in
naphthenes and straight chain paraffins. The hydrogen produced
in this process is used for hydrodesulphurisation and
hydrocracking.

POLYELECTROLYTE

Substance used to encourage flocculation in water treatment


units.

POLYMER

A substance produced from another by polymerisation, i.e. the


combination of a number of identical molecules to form a larger
one.

PREHEAT

To heat, previous to some treatment; as an oil to be subsequently


distilled, or as a body of gas or oil to be used as fuel.

PREHEATER

Any form of apparatus in which heat is applied to a material prior


to its introduction into the main heating apparatus. The
application of heat is usually accomplished by means of hot
streams which have to be cooled and whose heat would otherwise
be wasted. (See also HEAT EXCHANGER).

PRESSURE

The force or thrust exerted on a surface, normally expressed as


force per unit area. Pressure is exerted in all directions in a

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system. Common examples; air pressure in a tyre, or water
pressure at some depth in the ocean.

PRESSURE DROP

The decrease in pressure due to friction, which occurs when a


liquid or gas passes through a pipe, vessel, or other piece of
equipment.

PRESULPHIDE

To add sulphur (as DMDS or CS2) in order to initially activate a


catalyst by changing the oxide sites to sulphides.

PRIMARY

A term used to describe the structure of certain classes of organic


compounds, such as alcohol’s and amines. For example, a primary
compound is one in which one hydrogen atom in the carbinol or
amino groups is replaced by a univalent hydrocarbon radical.

PRIMARY AIR

The air required for combustion in a furnace which is mixed with


the fuel (gas, oil, pulverised coal, etc.) in and through the burner
(c.f. Secondary Air).

PRIMARY PROCESS

A process based on physical separation, e.g. Fractionation, gravity


separation.

PRIME MOVER

Any machine capable of producing power to do work.

PROCESS INTEGRATION

A term denoting the selection and arrangement of refinery


processes and the optimum use of the heat contents of the various
plant streams.

PROMOTER

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A substance which may considerably increase the activity of a
usercatalyst. For example the catalytic action of iron is greatly
increased when the catalyst contains a small amount of oxides of
aluminium or silicon etc., e.g. C1- on Platformer and F- on
hydrocracking catalysts.

PROPANE C3H8

A hydrocarbon of the paraffin series used for heating, welding and


metal cutting. At ambient temperature it can be stored under
pressure as a liquid.

PROPYLENE C3H6

A hydrocarbon of the olefin series. Important base material for the


chemical industry. Propylene is used to make iso-propanol,
polypropylenes, plasticisers and glycol’s.

PUKING

The foaming and rising of oil to the extent that part of the liquid is
driven out of the vessel through the vapour line. (See also
SURGE).

PURGING

The removal of one fluid from a vessel or plant by introduction and


subsequent evacuation of a second fluid. A common usage of this
operation is in the removal of hydrocarbon vapours or air from a
plant by flushing with nitrogen.

PYROPHORIC

Takes fire spontaneously upon contact with air. Certain forms of


iron sulphide exhibit this tendency. (Pyrophoric iron).

QUENCH

To suddenly cool hot material discharging e.g. into a vacuum


column, by injecting cool oil into the base; its purpose is to check
the cracking reaction quickly to avoid coking.

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QUENCH GAS

Cool gas injected between the hydrocracker reactor beds used to


control reaction temperature.

QUENCHING OILS

Specially refined high-flash mineral oils used for hardening alloy


steels.

RADIANT ENERGY

Energy sent out or emitted by rays or waves.

RADIANT SECTION

Section of a furnace exposed to the actual combustion of the fuel.

RADIATION

The act of emitting energy, particularly rays of light or heat.

RADICAL

In chemistry, a group of atoms whose affinity for one another is so


strong that, in chemical reactions, the group acts as a single atom,
and is replaced or introduced into a new compound without
rearrangement of the atoms bound together in the radical. It can
never exist alone as a separate compound.

REACTION

Any chemical change; the transformation of one or more molecules


into other molecules.

REACTION TIME

The interval during which the material being processed


experiences chemical change.

REACTOR

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Term applied to the part of a plant where a chemical reaction
takes place.

REBOILER

A special type of heat exchanger for the supply of heat to the


bottom of fractionating columns.

RECIPROCATING COMPRESSOR

A displacement compressor relying on forward and backward


piston movement.

RECIPROCATING PUMP

A positive displacement pump consisting of a plunger or a piston


moving back and forth within a cylinder(s). With each stroke of
the plunger or piston, a definite volume of liquid is drawn in
through the suction valve(s) and subsequently pushed out through
the discharge valves(s).

RECYCLE GAS

Gas fed back from a later stage of process (usually from the
separators) to the early stage. Usually impure and heavy.

RECYCLE OIL

Oil recycled from a later stage of the process to an earlier one.


HCU second stage feed is recycled from the HCU fractionator and
consists of insufficiently cracked material (i.e. heavier than gas
oil).

RECYCLE RATIO

The quantity of recycle stock relative to the quantity of fresh feed.


The units of quantity in this relationship vary with the plant
concerned. See also combined feed ratio.

RECYCLING

a) The maintenance of reservoir pressure through re-injection into


the reservoir of the produced gas, after extraction of the
condensate in a gas plant.

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b) Continuously feeding back part of a substance obtained or used
in a process for further processing or use.

REDUCTION

The removal of oxygen - or addition of Hydrogen to a compound.


Effectively the opposite of oxidation.

REFINERS MARGIN - GROSS

The difference in value between the product value ex refinery and


landed value of feedstock and blendstock.

REFINERS MARGIN - NET

The gross refiners margin less fixed and variable cost of refining.

REFINERY

A plant, with all its included equipment, for manufacturing finished


or semi-finished products from crude oil.

REFINERY FUEL AND LOSS

The difference in intake and output due to the amount used as fuel
and lost through tank breathing etc.

REFINING

The separation of crude oil into its component parts, and the
manufacture therefrom of products needed for the market.
Important processes in refining are distillation, cracking, chemical
treating, and solvent extraction.

REFLUX

A part (if the top product is in the liquid state) or all (if the top
product is the vapour phase) of the condensed top vapour of a
fractionating column, which is returned to the top of the column.
The purpose is to create an extra downward flow of liquid; if
properly applied this liquid acts as an absorbing agent for the
relatively heavy components which are thus rejected from the top
product.

REFLUX CONDENSER

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A condenser which constantly condenses vapours and returns
liquid to the original distilling unit or to lower levels of a
fractionating tower.

REFLUX RATIO

1. The quantity of reflux per unit quantity of distillate removed


from the process as a product (forward flow).

2. For design purposes, the ratio of liquid reflux to vapour at any


given point in a fractionating column. Values may range from zero
to unity.

REFORMING

1. See catalytic reforming, Platforming.

2. Process for the manufacture of hydrogen from steam and light


hydrocarbons.

REFRACTORY

1. Any material not easily affected by heat, such as firebrick.

2. Difficult to decompose, for example, in cracking gas oil to


produce gasoline.

REFRACTORY BRICK

A brick which is used as a lining for the interior of fireboxes in


furnaces and boilers. Refractory brick is constructed so that it can
withstand very high temperatures, but it is not a very good
insulator.

REGENERATION

1. The process of restoring a material to its original strength or


properties.

2. In a catalytic process, the reactivation of the catalyst, usually


done by burning off the coke deposits under carefully controlled
conditions of temperature and oxygen content of the regeneration
gas stream. May be done in situ or ex situ.

REGENERATOR

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Term applied to the part of a catalytic cracking unit or
continuously regenerable platformer (CCR) where the spent
catalyst is regenerated by burning off the coke.

REID VAPOUR PRESSURE (RVP)

The pressure caused by the vapourised part of a liquid and the


enclosed air and water vapour, as measured under standardised
conditions in standardised apparatus: the result is given in Kilo
pascals at 37.8oC, although normally reported simply as "RVP in
kPa". There is no simple relation between the RVP and the true
vapour pressure of the liquid. RVP gives some indication of the
volatility of a liquid, e.g. gasoline. Lower in summer & higher in
winter.

RELIEF VALVE

A spring loaded valve fitted on any piece of equipment or plant


where normal operating pressures are above atmospheric. This
type of valve automatically opens, thus relieving internal pressure
when the latter exceeds the maximum permissible level.

RERUNNING

The distillation of an oil which has already been distilled.


Necessary when a finished batch has been put off grade for any
reason.

RESIDUE

The heavy residual liquid from the atmospheric distillation of


crude oil is called long residue. If such residue if further distilled
under vacuum a still heavier residual liquid results, which is called
short residue.

RESIN

Organic compounds produced by polymerisation.

1. Water treatment resins are used for water softening. With a


very large surface area, liken to a sponge.

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2. Epoxy and polyester resins of various types are used as fillers,
adhesives and coatings.

RETAINED EARNINGS

Accumulated profits not distributed to shareholders.

RICH ADIP

Adip containing dissolved H2S.

RING COMPOUNDS

Organic compounds in which the atoms of a molecule are arranged


so as to form at least one closed ring, for example, naphthenes
and aromatics. Also called cyclic compounds.

RISER

1. That portion of the bubble plate assembly which channels the


vapour and causes it to flow upward to escape through the liquid.

2. Fixed vertical line used to get fire water to high levels.

ROCKET FUEL

Propellant consisting of two components, oxidiser and fuel, which


react to give gaeous products and release energy. Rocket fuels are
compared on the basis of specific impulse, which means the
pounds of thrust produced per pound of fuel burned per second.
Rocket fuels may be liquids or solids. In the latter case, the two
components must be intimately premixed. In some instances the
liquid system may be a single liquid, in which case it is called a
mono-propellant.

ROTAMETER

Simple flow gauge utilising a ball or float in a tapered graduated


tube. The greater the flow, the more it raises the ball up the tube.

ROTARY PUMP

A positive displacement pump used mainly to pump liquids which


are either too viscous or too difficult to obtain suction with a
centrifugal pump. There are many types of rotary pump designs.

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One of the most common is the gear type, in which two gears
mesh and rotate toward each other within a very close-fitting
casing. The liquid is trapped between the gear teeth and the
casing and is carried around to the discharge side of the pump.
The meshing gear teeth prevent the liquid from returning to the
suction side.

RUNDOWN TANK

One of the tanks in which are received the condensates from the
stills, agitators, or other refinery equipment, and from which the
distillates are pumped to larger tanks known as work tanks or
storage tanks. Rundown tanks are also known as "pans" or
receiving tanks. If the condensates were received directly into the
large storage tanks, possible puking of a still could unnecessarily
contaminate a large quantity of distillate.

SAE CLASSIFICATION

The SAE devised a system for the classification of motor oils and
transmission oils. It is based on the viscosity at 0 or 100oC. Motor
oils are on the scale 5W - 50 and transmission oils are 80-250.

SAFEGUARDING

Total procedure for safety proofing plant. Includes relief systems,


functional logic and emergency procedures.

SALT

A compound in which a metal or other positive ion exists in place


of the hydrogen of an acid (e.g. sodium chloride, in which sodium
replaces the hydrogen of hydrochloric acid), formed:-

1. By direct replacement of the acid hydrogen with a metal;

2. By neutralisation of the acid with an appropriate alkali; or

3. By double decomposition.

SAMPLE

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Sample of a process flow, tank etc. taken for laboratory analysis.

SATURATED HYDROCARBON

A hydrocarbon of such molecular structure that all adjacent carbon


atoms are connected by not more than one valence or bond; or,
diagrammatically as follows: C-C. Each valence not taken up by
adjacent carbon atoms connects with a hydrogen atom.

SATURATION TEMPERATURE

Of steam - the temperature at a given pressure, at which steam


exists in conjunction with water e.g. 100oC at atmospheric
pressure.

SCHEDULING

The day to day planning of refinery operations to meet long term


programmes.

SEAL

A device used to seal the contents of a pump/compressor from the


atmosphere. Occasionally more explosive and complex then the
pump itself.

SECONDARY AIR

The air which provides the oxygen necessary for the complete
combustion of fuel (gas, oil, powdered coal, etc.) and which was
not provided by the burner in the form of primary air.

SECONDARY PROCESS

A process based on a chemical change, e.g. Hydrocracking,


Platforming, usually catalysed.

SEIZE

To stick or fail to function, as in engine bearings, because of


expansion, caused by heat, friction, or scoring. Also called
"freeze".

SENSIBLE HEAT

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The heat added to, or taken from, a body when its temperature is
changed. Note that no change in stage of the body (e.g. solid to
liquid) is involved, c.f. latent Heat.

SEPARATOR

1. An apparatus in which heavy liquid impurities are separated


from oil.

2. The part of a distilling apparatus in which a partial separation of


the vapours is effected by means of contact with cooling surfaces.

SEPARATION INDEX

A measure of the degree of separation between components in a


distillation column

SEPARATION PROCESSES

Manufacturing processes based on differences in the physical


properties of the components of a mixture. See Fractionation,
Primary Process.

SETTLER

A separator, a tub, pan, vat, or tank in which the partial separation


of a mixture is made due to difference in density. The operation
may be continuous or batch. The separation may be solids from
liquid or gas; liquid from gas.

SETTLING POINT

Laboratory test determining the temperature at which


solidification of a molten wax begins.

SETTLING TANK

A tank employed for separating two liquids which are not miscible.
If the liquids do not form an emulsion they separate into layers
according to their specific gravities, and these layers can be drawn
off from different levels in the tank.

SHIFT REACTION

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Conversion of CO to CO2 by addition of water, following general
reaction CO + H2O --> CO2 + H2. Both Hi and low temperature shift
reactions are used.

SHORT RESIDUE

The residue resulting from vacuum distillation of long residue.


(Removal of vacuum gas oil and waxy distillate).

SIDE STRIPPER

A fractionating column for stripping undesired volatile components


from a side stream which is drawn off as a liquid from a main
fractionating column. Various fractions may be drawn off from one
main column, and be stripped in as many side strippers.

SIDESTREAM

A liquid stream taken from any one of the intermediate trays of a


trayed distillation column.

SIGHT GLASS

Device used to directly show the level in a vessel, boiler, etc. by


means of a glass tube.

SILVER STRIP

A very strict corrosion test for AVTUR.

SLIDE VALVE

A type of valve for controlling or shutting off the flow of catalyst in


a continuous regeneration unit.

SLOPS

A term loosely used to denote:

1. Crude oil containing excessive water contamination which must


be removed by settling before pumping to the crude distiller.

2. All products which are off-specification and must be


reprocessed before marketing. Such products are for example
produced during the start-up period.

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SMOKE POINT

The maximum height of flame measured in millimetres at which a


kerosene will burn without smoking when tested in a standard
lamp for this purpose.

SOLAR ENERGY

Energy produced by radiation from the sun.

SOLUBLE OIL

Oil which readily forms stable emulsions or colloidal suspensions


in water. Used as a cutting fluid in machine work.

SOLUTION

A homogenous mixture of two or more chemically un-reacted


fluids.

SOLVENT

A substance, usually liquid, capable of dissolving another liquid,


gas or solid to form a homogenous mixture.

SOLVENT EXTRACTION

See Extraction.

SOLVENT/FEED RATIO

On the BDU, the rate of the total amount of butane (predilution


and normal) to short residue.

SOOTBLOWER

A device for removal of soot from furnace tubes - to increase heat


transfer - - generally using a steam blast nozzle. However, a shot
drop system (as on the HCU) does the same job and is sometimes
referred to as a sootblower.

SOUR CRUDE

Crude oils containing an abnormally large amount of sulphur and


sulphur compounds which break down upon refining to liberate

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troublesome quantities of corrosive sulphur compounds. This is a
relative term.

SOUR GAS

Gas which contains objectionable amounts of contaminants, e.g.


hydrogen sulphide and other corrosive sulphur compounds.

SOUR GASOLINE

Gasoline fractions which contain a certain amount of mercaptans


and therefore must be sweetened.

SOUR WATER

Water which contains objectionable amounts of dissolved


contaminants, e.g. hydrogen sulphide, ammonia, phenols etc.

SPACE VELOCITY

A convenient unit for expressing the relationship between feed


rate and reactor volume in a flow process. It is defined as the
volume or weight of feed (measured at standard conditions) per
unit time per unit volume of reactor or per unit weight of catalyst.

SPADE

A solid plate inserted in a flanged joint to positively isolate one


side of the flange from the other. Also called blank, banjo.

SPALLING

Flaking of the surfaces of metals or refractories, leaving new


surfaces exposed.

SPECIFIC GRAVITY

The ratio of the weight of a volume of a body to the weight of an


equal volume of some standard substance. In the case of liquids
and solids, the standard is water, in the case of gases, the
standard is hydrogen or air.

SPECIFIC HEAT

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The ratio of the quantity of heat required to raise the temperature
of a body by one degree to that required to raise the temperature
of an equal mass of water by one degree.

SPECTACLE

Or Spec blind. A figure of 8 shaped plate that can be either put to


the open or closed position, but always stays in the line.

SPLITTER

A fractionating tower with overhead and bottoms product streams


only.

STABILISATION

The process of separating light gases from petroleum or gasoline,


thus leaving the liquid stable in the sense that it can be handled or
stored with less liability to change in composition.

STABILISED GASOLINE

Gasoline after subjection to fractionation by which the vapour


pressure has been reduced to a specified maximum.

STABILITY

Resistance of petroleum products to chemical change. Gum


stability means the resistance of a gasoline to gum forming while
in storage. Oxidation stability means that the product is stable to
oxidation, i.e resists the action of oxidation which forms gums,
sludges etc.

STABILISER

A fractionating column designed to make a sharp separation


between very volatile components and gasoline ex crude oil,
casing head gasoline or pressure distillate, thus controlling the
gasoline’s Reid vapour pressure.

STANDARD PRESSURE

Pressure under which the mercury barometer stands at 760mm, or


30in. (Equivalent to approximately 14.7 psia).

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STANDARD REFINERY FUEL (SRF)

A hypothetical refinery fuel with a gross calorific value of 10336


Kcal/kg. Allows all refinery fuel components to be converted to an
SRF equivalent based on calorific values.

STAND-BY

A term used to designate emergency auxiliary equipment which is


not used during normal operation.

STATIC ELECTRICITY

The electricity generated by the relative movement of unlike


materials such as oil/pipeline, oil/water, plastic granules/vessel;
or by the operation of equipment such as driving belts.

STEAM/AIR DECOKING

In heavy oil furnaces over the period of a process run, the


differential pressure across the furnace tubes may increase until it
is uneconomical to continue the run. This high pressure drop is
caused by carbon built up on the inside of the tubes. We can burn
this carbon off by steam/air decoking.

STEAM DISTILLATION

A distillation in which vaporisation of the volatile constituents is


effected at a reduced temperature by introduction of steam
directly into the charge. Steam used in this manner is termed open
steam.

STEAM REFORMING

As used in the reformer for manufacture of H2 - follows general


formula CH4 + H20 --> 3H2 + CO.

STEEL

A solid state mixture of iron and 1-4% carbon. Can have different
structures e.g.

Austenitic - strong, ductile

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Pearlitic - low mechanical strength, eventually occurs in furnace
tubes when

subjected to flame impingement

Martensitic - Very hard - used in valve faces etc.

STONEWALL

The condition where a centrifugal compressor is delivering its


maximum flow.

STRAIGHT-RUN

A term applied to a product of petroleum made by distillation


without conversion.

STRAINER

Alternative term for filter. Used for removal of fine material.

STRAPPING

The measurement of the external diameter of a cylindrical tank by


stretching a steel tape around each course of the tank's plates and
recording the measurement.

STREAM DAY

Denoting 24 hours of actual operation of a refinery unit; in


contrast to a calendar day, i.e. takes into account the units
availability factor.

STRIPPING

Removal of the lightest fractions from a mixture. The process is


usually carried out by passing the hot liquid from a flash drum or
tower into a stripping vessel or stripping section of a column,
through which open steam or inert gas is passed to remove the
more volatile components of the cut. A fractionating process,
closely related to distillation by which undesired volatile
components are separated from a liquid mixture by fractional
evaporation. The desired fraction is thus purified from lower
boiling components. Stripping is generally effected by the
introduction of steam, by the reduction of pressure, by the vapour

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generated in a reboiler or a combination of these. In the
laboratory nitrogen is often used as a stripping agent.

STUFFING BOX

A device affording the passage and the length wise and rotary
motion of a piston rod, shaft, or some similar moving piece while
maintaining a fluid-tight seal about the moving part.

SULFOLANE

Tetrahydro - Thiophene - Dioxide - A component of sulfinol


solution.

SULPHATE

A salt of sulphuric acid, e.g. sodium sulphate, Na2SO4, or


ethylsulphate (C2H5)2SO4.

SULPHIDE

Any of the compounds resulting from the combination of sulphur


ions (S==) with metallic or other positive ions, or organic radicals.

SULPHUR

At NZRC, the final product from H2S removal. A non-metallic


element of lemon-yellow colour, sometimes known as brimstone.
Sold in liquid form to fertilizer works.

SULPHUR DIOXIDE

A colourless gas, SO2, a by product of combustion of sulphurous


fuels.

SULPHURIC ACID

Traditionally known as Oil of Vitrol. A combination of sulphur


trioxide with water (SO3+H20=H2SO4). it is a eavy, strongly oily
liquid, an important water treating agent.

SUPERHEATER

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Apparatus which imparts heats to a liquid above that required for
vapourisation. e.g. as used for adding heat to steam above the
saturation temperature.

SURFACE AREA

The sum of the outer and inner surfaces. A porous solid may be
said to have two different types of area - one made up of the
external, the geometric, or the outer surface of the particle; the
other, called the inner, made up of the walls of capillaries,
crevices, and cracks in the particle. The sum of these is the total
surface area. The ratio of total to outer area is sometimes known
as the roughness factor.

SURFACE TENSION

The force exerted by the particles of a liquid at its surface which


maintains a continuous surface. The surface tension is determined
by measuring the energy required to increase the surface by the
unit of area. That property, due to molecular attractive forces and
existing in the surface film of all liquids, which tends to bring the
volume contained in the liquid surface film into a form having the
least surface area.

SURGE

1. An upheaval of fluid in a system frequently causing a carryover


of liquid through the vapour lines (see also PUKING).

2. An undesirable condition of unstable flow occurring within


centrifugal compressors when the surge parameter drops below a
critical value. A very dangerous condition for the compressor,
hence the need for surge protection (anti-surge line).

SURGE DRUM

Vessel used to even out the flow into a unit, as the unit throughput
and the feed rate may vary. See also buffer.

SUSPENSION

A heterogeneous mixture of one or more materials - distinct from


a solution. The state of a solid or liquid when its particles are
mixed with and buoyed in another liquid but are not dissolved by
it. A suspension of a liquid in a liquid is called an emulsion.

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SWEET GAS

Hydrocarbon gas free from sulphur compounds.

SWEETENING

The process by which petroleum products are improved in odour


and colour by oxiding or removing the sulphur-containing and
unsaturated compounds. The conversion of the mercaptans
present in sour gasoline into non-smelling disulphides.

SYNTHESIS

The act or process of making or building up a compound by the


union of simpler compounds or of its elements.

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