Petrochemical equipment is a general term for a large category of equipment. The working principles of different types of petrochemical equipment vary significantly. Below is an introduction to the working principles of the core categories:
Reaction Equipment (Core Production Unit)
Catalytic Cracking Reactor: Utilizing the triple action of high temperature (400-600℃), high pressure (tens of MPa) + catalyst, the raw materials complete a chemical reaction in a sealed container: high temperature activates the raw material molecules, high pressure promotes the formation of target products, and the catalyst lowers the reaction activation energy, ultimately converting heavy crude oil into high-value-added products such as gasoline and diesel.
Cracking Furnace: A tubular reactor that allows naphtha, light hydrocarbons, and other hydrocarbon raw materials to undergo free radical cracking reactions at high temperatures of 750-900℃. The reaction direction is controlled by an extremely short residence time (less than 0.1 seconds), producing basic chemical raw materials such as ethylene and propylene. After the reaction, a quench boiler terminates the secondary reaction and recovers heat.
Stirred Tank Reactor: This reactor uses a stirring paddle to create a specific flow field, ensuring uniform contact of materials and maintaining heat and mass transfer. Heat is exchanged through a jacket or internal coil, stabilizing the reaction temperature within the required process range. It is commonly used in batch/semi-continuous reaction processes in fine chemicals.
Tower Equipment (Component Separation Unit)
Catalytic Cracking Fractionation Tower: This tower separates components based on their relative volatility in the gas and liquid phases. Superheated oil and gas are fed from the bottom of the tower; the vapor rises from bottom to top, while the liquid descends from top to bottom. The two phases come into contact on each tray, and through multiple partial condensations and partial vaporizations, lighter components are enriched in the gas phase, and heavier components are enriched in the liquid phase, ultimately achieving the separation of different fractions. A dedicated deheating section at the bottom of the tower is used to cool the oil and gas and wash away catalyst dust.
Plate Columns: Liquid flows down the top tray to the bottom tray under gravity, continuing downwards after flowing laterally across the tray. Gas, propelled by the pressure difference, flows upwards through the pores of the tray, dispersing and bubbling as it passes through the liquid layer on the tray. Mass transfer occurs through close contact between the gas and liquid phases on the tray, achieving component separation.
Structured Packed Columns: Liquid forms a thin film on the packing surface and flows downwards, while gas flows counter-currently upwards. Mass transfer separation is completed on the surface of the packing film. The initial uniformity of liquid distribution directly determines the separation efficiency. These columns are often used in vacuum conditions requiring low pressure drop and high separation precision.