Petroleum products, which are very diverse, are used in many industries today and have many applications. Basically, dozens of different materials are obtained from the distillation of crude oil, and vacuum bottom bitumen is one of them. This material is also known as bitumen feed because it is the main and primary material of bitumen production. Vacuum bottom bitumen, like other petroleum products, can have many features, specifications and applications, which will be fully reviewed in the following article.
What is bitumen vacuum bottom?
Vacuum baton bitumen or Vacuum baton (VB) or bitumen feed is actually the residue that is obtained after the distillation of crude oil in the distillation towers. This material is composed of hydrocarbons with carbon number more than 35, and in addition to providing the raw materials of bitumen, it is also effective for providing the raw materials of some industrial oils, fuel oil, and fuel oil. In the past, this material was discarded as petroleum waste and had no application in industries, but with the advancement of various sciences and technologies, it is used in many ways today. 70% of fuel oil raw material consists of VB.
Specifications of vacuum bottom
Vacuum baton, like Gilsonite and other petroleum products, can have unique features and capabilities. This material is very similar to bitumen and has a similar color, smell and appearance. Vacuum baton bitumen is highly flammable and can be dangerous. As mentioned, this material consists of hydrocarbons that have more than 35 atoms and at 25 degrees Celsius, it will have a density of 1020 kg/m3. The permeability of this bitumen is estimated to be 23 mm. Also, the viscosity of VB at a temperature of 100 degrees Celsius is from 450 to 900, although the viscosity of this material can be affected by the oxidation process.
Characteristics of bitumen vacuum bottom
Vacuum bottom bitumen, like natural bitumen, mineral bitumen and all types of industrial bitumen, can have unique characteristics in addition to chemical and physical characteristics. As mentioned, this material looks very similar to bitumen and is available in black and brown colors. The level of chemical stability of this material is high, although it is highly flammable. One of the most important characteristics of bitumen feed is its very low resistance to dynamic and mechanical loads and pressures, and it is necessary to make changes and corrections on it. The temperature of the vacuum baton inside the distillation towers is 240-320 degrees Celsius, and when the air passes through the bottom of the vacuum at this temperature, the oxidation process begins, which can affect the density and fluidity of the bitumen. The properties of this material are improved by blowing air, and meltan molecules are converted into heavier molecules, asphaltene, and this process causes bitumen with a low penetration degree and greater smoothness to be produced.
Application of bitumen vacuum bottom
When the crude oil enters the distillation towers in the refineries, it is divided into its components under different temperature and pressure conditions. Basically, the separation of each ingredient is due to the difference in boiling point in different parts of the distillation tower. The lowest layer that remains as a result of crude oil distillation under vacuum conditions in tar towers is called the vacuum bottom. In the past, this material was known as oil sludge and waste, but today special processes are carried out on it and it becomes a useful material. The most important applications of vacuum bitumen are as follows:
- Normal bitumen production
- Fuel oil production
- Production of power plant fuels
- Production of fuel oil and industrial oils and...
How to produce bitumen from vacuum bottom
As mentioned, VB has molecules called maltan. When air passes through the baton vacuum at a certain temperature, a chemical reaction will occur and as a result of this reaction, meltan molecules will be converted into asphaltene molecules. Asphaltene molecules have more weight than maltan, and because of this, the bottom of the vacuum turns into bitumen and bitumen is produced.
The final conclusion
Vacuum bottom bitumen is known as one of the petroleum products that is separated as oil sludge due to the distillation of this substance. This material consists of hydrocarbons with carbon number more than 35 and can be used in bitumen production, fuel oil production, industrial oil production, etc. Vacuum bottom bitumen, like other types of bitumen, has unique chemical and physical characteristics and constitutes more than 70% of the raw material of fuel oil.
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