Table of Contents
- 1 How does an oil refinery match the supply of petrol with the demand for it?
- 2 What changes occur in the fractions as the number of carbons increases?
- 3 Why are longer hydrocarbons broken down into shorter ones?
- 4 Why is broken porcelain used in cracking?
- 5 How does heating oil affect diesel fuel prices?
- 6 How does supply and demand affect the oil industry?
How does an oil refinery match the supply of petrol with the demand for it?
The supply is how much of a fraction an oil refinery produces. The demand is how much of a fraction customers want to buy. Since cracking converts larger hydrocarbons into smaller hydrocarbons, the supply of fuels is improved. This helps to match supply with demand.
What changes occur in the fractions as the number of carbons increases?
As the number of carbon atoms increases:
- the intermolecular forces between alkane molecules become stronger.
- more energy is needed to overcome these forces.
- the boiling point increases.
How do petrol and bitumen fractions differ in their properties and uses?
petrol or bitumen and at least one use of petrol and at least one use of bitumen eg petrol has a lower boiling point and is used as a fuel in cars, bitumen is more viscous and is used to surface roads.
What causes the dead sea creatures to turn into crude oil?
The mud eventually turned to rock. This rock put a lot of pressure on the dead animals and plants. Rocks around them also heated them up. Together the heat and the pressure turned the remains into crude oil.
Why are longer hydrocarbons broken down into shorter ones?
Crude oil often contains too many large hydrocarbon molecules and not enough small hydrocarbon molecules. There is more demand for shorter alkane molecules and alkenes than for many of the longer chains formed during fractional distillation. This is where cracking comes in.
Why is broken porcelain used in cracking?
As the porcelain chips are heated the vapour from the paraffin is ‘cracked’, or broken down into smaller hydrocarbons. Cracking them into smaller hydrocarbons makes them easier to use.
What are the properties of petrol?
Fuel Properties Comparison
| Gasoline/E10 | Hydrogen | |
|---|---|---|
| Energy Content (lower heating value) | 112,114–116,090 Btu/gal (c) | 51,585 Btu/lb (c) 33.3 kWh/kg |
| Energy Content (higher heating value) | 120,388–124,340 Btu/gal (c) | 61,013 Btu/lb (c) |
| Physical State | Liquid | Compressed gas (lighter than air) or liquid |
| Cetane Number | N/A | N/A |
How does demand for distillate fuel affect diesel prices?
International demand for distillate fuel affects U.S. diesel fuel prices. Because heating oil and diesel fuel are practically the same fuels, changes in demand for one fuel may affect prices for the other fuel.
How does heating oil affect diesel fuel prices?
During the fall and winter, the demand for heating oil affects diesel fuel prices. Because heating oil and diesel fuel are produced at the same time, seasonal increases in heating oil demand can also put pressure on the diesel fuel market.
How does supply and demand affect the oil industry?
Furthermore, they often have to continue producing oil even when prices fall because the equipment has no other uses. Since both supply and demand for oil are not very responsive to price changes, oil price swings tend to be dramatic. Furthermore, oil price changes often impact the rest of the economy.
What happens to crude oil in fractional distillation?
(Fractional distillation). The crude oil is heated meaning that it turns from a liquid to a gas. In the column in which the crude oil is burnt, what happens to the temperature?