NG Processing plant.

1. Gas sweetening unit

2. Gas dehydration unit
3. Sulphur recovery unit

Some NG processing plants may use absorption method to separate acid gas and moisture from NG,
when NG flow rate to refinery is not considerable

Gas sweetening unit based on absorption method :

Crude oil refinery:
LPG has Propane+ Butane

Light naphtha has pentane & hexane

Heavy naphtha has C 7 & C8

Kerosene is rich in C9- C12

• IN TEST: Why is vacuum separation used?

Because Separation of light products from atmospheric bottom/residue is not possible under
atmospheric conditions & using distillation method but under vaccuum Conditions and using
distillation techniques, separation of light products for atmospheric bottom/ residue is possible.

The atmospheric residue / bottom is app. 60% of the composition of crude oil feel into the atmospheric
distillation colum. * Drawing of pfd might be in test. The gas that leaves the vacuum is used in the
furnace.

Acid gas: H2S and/or Co2 exist in fuel gas

Mercaptane (Thiole): R S H R= alkyle group C like CH3, C2H5, etc.), H= Hydrogen, 5= Sulphur

Complex impurities: contain S, N, O, metal, etc compounds

Merox Unit:

Aim: To separate mencaptane compounds from sour LPG or Sour kerosene Based on chemical
absorption.

Feed: Sour kerosene or Sour LPG

Product: Sweet kerosene/LPG

Solvent: NaOH
Jet fuel (aviation fuel): kind of sweet kerosene with negligible moisture or water content. Normally some
anti-freeze additive is added.

Impurities in Crude oil: acid gas, mercaptanes, other sulphur compounds, nitrogen compounds j oxygen
compounds,& metal compounds.

What are each separators used for?

Hydro for complex impurities

Merox for mercaptane

Gas sweetening for acid gas

Hydro treating unit( Hydro treater):

Aim: To remove /separate complex impurities(S ;o; N, metal compounds) from hydrocarbon streams
Using a fixed bed catalyst.

Feed: Sour light/Sour heavy naphtha & sour diesel

Product: Sweet heavy/light naphtha & diesel etc.

Catalyst: Co, Mo or their combination

Vacuum distillation column:
Cracking:

Thermal cracking units: Visbreaker & delayed cracker

Catalytic cracking units: fluid catalytic cracking & hydro cracker