Plasma-Chemical Processing of Fuel Oil

Abstract

A plasma-chemical method is proposed for processing fuel oil, at a rate of 1000 kg/h. Mild plasma-chemical treatment results in considerable cracking of the high-boiling fuel-oil component. In plasma-chemical processing of fuel oil and subsequent distillation of the liquid components, the products are 6.7% gas, 48.0% residue, 11.2% solvent (from the onset of boiling to 250°C), and 34.1% heating oil (251–360°C). Distillation of the heating oil yields the following: 0.3% gas, 30.2% SMT low-viscosity marine fuel (251–330°C); and 3.6% number 5 fuel oil (331–360°C). The residue is characterized by penetration 150 dmm and softening temperature (by the ring and ball method) 73°C. It may be used in highway bitumen and as a raw material for delayed coking. The total power consumption in the plasma-chemical processing of 1000 kg of fuel oil is around 30–40 kW (including 6–8 kW in operation of the plasma-chemical reactor).