Petroleum Process Petroleum Process EngineeringEngineeringSpring 2008Spring 2008

OverviewPhysical PropertiesImportance and UsesSpecifications and Relative

QualityEDELEANU Process

Today’s Agenda Today’s Agenda ‘Kerosene’‘Kerosene’

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Kerosene is a water-white liquid first obtained by Abu Baker Al Razi in the 9th centuryKnown in the UK and South

Africa as “Paraffin” and inThe US, Canada, and Australia

as “Kero”Known in Egypt as “Gas”

OverviewOverview

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Sp. Gravity: Average of 0.8Color: Water-whiteRange: From C12 to C15Withdrawal from the tower:

Between 170 ˚C-250 ˚CCalorific Value: 45000 J/kg

Physical PropertiesPhysical Properties

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Though its importance has much declined recently, kerosene finds the following applications:1. Fuel:

Heating and cooking (Stove Kerosene): widely used in Japan for heating (Kerosene Heaters) and in portable stoves (e.g: primus) in some

less developed countries

Importance and UsesImportance and Uses

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1. Fuel: Illumination (Illumination Kerosene): formerly used for lightening purposes (Wick Lamp) Power Kerosene: Used as a fuel in tractors

2. Others: Used sometimes as an additive to diesel to

prevent waxing at low temperatures Used to produce LAB, an important

petrochemical that is used in detergent industries

Importance and UsesImportance and Uses

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2. Others: Used to remove lice from hair, though it has

been limited since the process is painful and dangerous

Used in fire dancing in some cultural performances

Used to treat poolsOf standing waterTo prevent mosquitoesFrom breeding

Other minor uses

Importance and UsesImportance and Uses

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Like any petroleum fraction, kerosene has some specifications to determine its quality

Due to the various uses of kerosene; the concept of relative quality appears

The following slides discuss some important specifications for kerosene

SpecificationsSpecifications

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1. Flash Point: ◦ Defined as the minimum

temperature at which enough vapors are found to produce a surface of combustion of the fuel when heated in a standard apparatus under standard conditions

◦ This spec is important for light fractions to determine storage and handeling precautions

SpecificationsSpecifications

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1. Flash Point: ◦ The minimum limit for the kerosene

flash point in Egypt is 100 ˚F using pensky-martins closed cup apparatus

SpecificationsSpecifications

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