PETROLEUM PRODUCTS - Characteristics & Classification

 PETROLEUM PRODUCTS / HYDROCARBONS :

LIQUID : MS , NAPHTHA , DIESEL , KEROSENE etc.
GAS : LPG , HYDROGEN etc.
SOLID : RPC , BITUMEN , SULPHUR etc.
RAW MATERIAL : CRUDE OIL
INTERMEDIATE PRODUCT : RCO, PARA-XYLENE etc.
FINISHED PRODUCTS : PETROL, DIESEL, LPG etc.

 Characteristics of Petroleum products:

 Volatility : Lighter Hydrocarbon products like Kerosene, Gasoline etc are more
volatile than heavier products like HSD, FO etc.
 Impurities : Impurities are carried from crude through refining process that
include gums, sulfur, metals, sediments etc.
 Flammability : Ignite & burn easily

 CLASSIFICATION OF PETROLEUM PRODUCTS

Petroleum products are classified based on Flash Point into following 4 categories:

[ Let's first understand the flash point. It is the minimum temperature at which the
liquid gives sufficient vapor that this vapor, when mixed with air, forms an ignitable
mixture and gives a momentary flash on application of a small pilot flame under
specified conditions of test. ]

1. Class A Products Flammable liquids having flash point below 23 Degree C.

For Example: Naphtha, Benzene, Ethanol, Petrol etc.
2. Class B Products Flammable liquids having flash point of 23 Degree C and above but below
65 Deg C.
For Example: High Speed Diesel (HSD), Kerosene etc.
3. Class C Products Flammable liquids having flash point of 65 Degree C and above but below
93 Deg C.
For Example : Fuel Oil, Light diesel oil (LDO) etc.
4. Excluded Flammable liquids having flash product point of 93 Deg C. & above.
Petroleum For Example : Lubricants, Bitumen etc.

Liquefied gases including LPG, do not fall under this classification but form a separate category.
These are guided by Gas Cylinder Rules 1981.