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To make the components of crude oil useful,
they have to be separated into their respective fractions by a procedure
called fractional distillation. This is achieved in a distillation column
similar to the one shown below. The small chains, usually gaseous molecules come out
at the top while the liquid medium chain molecules come out at the middle
and the solid remains at the bottom.
Crude oil prospecting is done to establish
locations that have crude oil stored underground. The crude oil is then
pumped out from the ground through the system of wells and pipes to the
distillation station where the crude oil is separated into various
components.
Crude oil fractions include: - Naptha,
gasoline, kerosines, gas oil or diesel, lubricating oil, and heavy gas oil
etc.
These substances, undoubtedly, have been the
drivers of the World's economy for centuries. In other words, crude oil
have been an important resource to humanity. However, because it produces pollution like
other fossil fuels and the fact that it is non-renewable, it is necessary
to find other energy source replacement.
Crude Oil is burned at a power station just
like coal to generate heat to generate the steam that drives a turbine
connected to the generator that generate electricity. |
