Converting Heavy Fuel Oil into Light Fractions by Using Thermal Cracking

Abstract

Global developments have led to a steady increase in demand for light petroleum derivatives, which are more valuable than heavy derivatives. Therefore, it was necessary to seek unconventional methods for supplying them, such as the use of thermal cracking technology. In this research, the residual crude oil produced from atmospheric distillation unit was selected and a study was conducted to convert it into light petroleum derivatives using the thermal cracking process. The efficiency and accuracy of the technology used in this research were studied by selecting parameters such as API gravity and conversion ratio from used heavy fuel oil (API = 15.5) to light petroleum products. To achieve optimum operating conditions and the best desired process results, experiments were designed using response surface methodology (RSM). The process study was selected to be within the temperature range (350-450°C) and time (30-60 min), where the best possible specifications for the resulting light petroleum derivatives would be achieved, with an API density of (32.1), a conversion rate of (79.2%), a time of (45) min, and a temperature of (421)°C