Petroleum Processing Systems

What You Will Learn

• 1 Learn the fundamental principles of petroleum refining and the economic drivers behind refinery configuration selection.
• 2 Understand crude oil characterization methods including API gravity, sulfur content, TBP curves, and how these properties dictate processing paths.
• 3 Apply atmospheric and vacuum distillation theory to fractionate crude into boiling-range cuts and optimize side-stripper operation.
• 4 Analyze thermal conversion processes such as delayed coking and visbreaking to maximize conversion of heavy residues.
• 5 Implement catalytic cracking and hydrocracking process parameters to produce high-octane gasoline and middle distillates.
• 6 Explore catalytic reforming and isomerization reactions that upgrade naphtha for octane improvement and aromatic production.
• 7 Understand hydrotreating and hydroprocessing mechanisms for sulfur, nitrogen, and metal removal from intermediate streams.
• 8 Examine gas processing and fractionation systems to recover ethane, propane, butane, and natural gasoline from refinery gas streams.
• 9 Develop product blending strategies using linear programming and property prediction models to meet specification targets.
• 10 Apply safety frameworks, environmental regulations, and process optimization techniques to sustain refinery reliability and emissions compliance.