Aaron O'Neill
Research lead for society, economy, and politics: Europe & global
Get in touch with us nowOil products produced during refining, by temperature
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After crude oil is extracted from the earth's surface, it is then refined so that the various hydrocarbons contained within are separated into useable fuels or products. Crude oil is injected through a furnace where it is vaporized at temperatures of around 600°C (1,100°F), before it then passes into a distillation column, where it separates into different fuels - these fuels form when the various hydrocarbons that make up crude oil begin to condense at different temperatures.
For example, as the vapor cools as rises up the distillation tower, the hydrocarbons that make up diesel condense at roughly 300°C and are then extracted, while the hydrocarbons that make up gasoline condense at around 150°C. This means that diesel is thicker than gasoline when both are at the same temperature, which can help explain their differences in use as vehicle fuel - diesel burns more slowly and has greater torque and fuel efficiency, while gasoline burns faster and produces more power.
For example, as the vapor cools as rises up the distillation tower, the hydrocarbons that make up diesel condense at roughly 300°C and are then extracted, while the hydrocarbons that make up gasoline condense at around 150°C. This means that diesel is thicker than gasoline when both are at the same temperature, which can help explain their differences in use as vehicle fuel - diesel burns more slowly and has greater torque and fuel efficiency, while gasoline burns faster and produces more power.
