VISBREAKING Meaning and
Definition
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Visbreaking, short for "viscosity breaking," refers to a refining process employed in petroleum industries to reduce the viscosity or thickness of heavy hydrocarbon feedstocks, known as residuum or heavy gas oils. This thermal cracking technique is commonly used to convert these high-viscosity crude oil fractions into more valuable and lighter products, such as gasoline, diesel, and heating oil.
The visbreaking process typically involves heating the feedstock at elevated temperatures, typically between 400 to 500 degrees Celsius, in the presence of a catalyst or high temperature. The aim is to break the large, complex hydrocarbon molecules present in the heavy feedstock into smaller, simpler molecules. This cracking reaction results in a decrease in the feedstock's viscosity, allowing it to flow more easily and therefore increasing its market value.
Visbreaking is typically conducted using two processes: partial conversion visbreaking, which involves breaking down only a portion of the feedstock, and full conversion visbreaking, which aims to break down the entire heavy fraction. Partial conversion visbreaking is commonly used when the feedstock is desired for specific heavier products, while full conversion visbreaking is favored when maximizing the yield of lighter, more valuable products is the main objective.
The end products obtained from the visbreaking process retain their fuel properties, such as octane rating and cetane number, while having reduced viscosity and improved thermal stability. This makes them more suitable for use in various downstream applications, including transportation fuels, industrial heating, and power generation. Overall, visbreaking is an important refining technique that helps to optimize the utilization of heavy hydrocarbon feedstocks, enhance the quality of processed fuels, and improve the overall efficiency of petroleum refining operations.
Common Misspellings for VISBREAKING
- cisbreaking
- bisbreaking
- gisbreaking
- fisbreaking
- vusbreaking
- vjsbreaking
- vksbreaking
- vosbreaking
- v9sbreaking
- v8sbreaking
- viabreaking
- vizbreaking
- vixbreaking
- vidbreaking
- viebreaking
- viwbreaking
- visvreaking
- visnreaking
- vishreaking
- visgreaking
Etymology of VISBREAKING
The word "visbreaking" is a technical term used in the petroleum refining industry, specifically in the context of converting heavy crude oil into lighter products, such as gasoline. The etymology of "visbreaking" can be understood by breaking down the components of the word:
1. "Vis-" is derived from the Latin word "viscum", which means "sticky substance" or "birdlime". This root word is related to the concept of viscosity, which refers to the thickness or resistance to flow of a fluid.
2. "-Breaking" refers to the process of breaking down or transforming a substance. In the case of visbreaking, heavy crude oil undergoes thermal cracking or pyrolysis, which involves subjecting the oil to high temperatures and pressures to break it down into lighter hydrocarbon fractions.
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