00:00:09.050 --> 00:00:15.810 from the outside an oil refinery looks like a small city a city composed of 00:00:15.810 --> 00:00:20.849 pipes tanks and towers but if you went inside you might be surprised to find 00:00:20.849 --> 00:00:26.400 one of the most technologically advanced industries in the United States here 00:00:26.400 --> 00:00:30.960 engineers and scientists have figured out how to turn raw crude oil into the 00:00:30.960 --> 00:00:42.379 valuable fuels lubricants and components we need to make millions of products 00:00:42.379 --> 00:00:49.109 refining begins with a process called distilling after oil is superheated it 00:00:49.109 --> 00:00:55.769 becomes vapor the vapor is fed into the distillation unit as it rises and cools 00:00:55.769 --> 00:01:02.789 the vapor turns back into a liquid using stacks of trays the liquid is easily 00:01:02.789 --> 00:01:08.640 collected and separated by weighting the lighter and medium weight liquids 00:01:08.640 --> 00:01:13.860 require less processing before they're ready to be used in cars and trucks the 00:01:13.860 --> 00:01:21.659 heavier liquids need more processing to become useful 00:01:23.270 --> 00:01:30.310 a process called cracking is used to maximize the usefulness of heavy oil 00:01:30.310 --> 00:01:38.630 heavy oil has long strings of carbon and hydrogen molecules using a catalyst 00:01:38.630 --> 00:01:44.240 these molecules can be broken into smaller chains transforming the heavy 00:01:44.240 --> 00:01:51.850 oil into lighter more valuable fluids 00:01:51.850 --> 00:01:56.689 reforming is a process that increases the amount of gasoline produced from 00:01:56.689 --> 00:02:01.789 crude oil one of the products separated in the distilling process is a liquid 00:02:01.789 --> 00:02:08.060 called naphtha the number of carbon atoms in naphtha is about the same as 00:02:08.060 --> 00:02:13.510 the number found in gasoline but their structure is more complex reforming 00:02:13.510 --> 00:02:21.310 rearranges the naphtha molecule turning it into a usable gasoline like molecule 00:02:29.849 --> 00:02:34.299 blending is a process of mixing different refinery products to make 00:02:34.299 --> 00:02:40.689 finished petroleum fuels gasoline for example is blended to achieve octane 00:02:40.689 --> 00:02:46.359 standards creating the grades of gasoline you see at the pump regular mid 00:02:46.359 --> 00:02:57.760 grade and premium that are necessary to meet the needs of specific engine types 00:02:58.049 --> 00:03:03.790 treating is a process used to produce cleaner gasoline which helps protect 00:03:03.790 --> 00:03:09.400 both the environment and our health gasoline molecules contain impurities 00:03:09.400 --> 00:03:16.000 like sulfur that can be removed when the molecules are heated and come in contact 00:03:16.000 --> 00:03:21.340 with a special catalyst a chemical reaction occurs that strips the sulfur 00:03:21.340 --> 00:03:28.230 away these sulfur compounds are used as fertilizers and in pharmaceuticals 00:03:28.230 --> 00:03:33.849 nothing goes to waste in a refinery 00:03:33.849 --> 00:03:40.450 in fact by expanding existing refineries and improving their efficiency we've 00:03:40.450 --> 00:03:49.989 increased production of refined products by more than 40% since the 1970s so the 00:03:49.989 --> 00:03:55.060 next time you drive by a refinery think about the scientists and engineers who 00:03:55.060 --> 00:04:00.040 are helping to efficiently transform raw crude oil into the fuels and products we 00:04:00.040 --> 00:04:05.799 use every day their innovative work helps keep prices low for the many 00:04:05.799 --> 00:04:11.079 things we use in our daily lives and think about how refining like other 00:04:11.079 --> 00:04:16.150 types of manufacturing supports entire communities put it all together and 00:04:16.150 --> 00:04:21.209 you'll see how refineries keep America moving
Office location
Engineering company LOTUS®
Russia, Ekaterinburg, Lunacharskogo street, 240/12