Inqubo kaphethiloli ingenye yemisebenzi ebaluleke kakhulu yezimboni emhlabeni wanamuhla, iguqule uwoyela oluhlaza lube yizibaso, amafutha okugcoba, nezinto zokwakha amakhemikhali ezisebenzisa cishe zonke izici zokuphila kwansuku zonke. Ngaphandle kwezinyathelo ezithuthukisiwe ezihilelekile enqubeni yokuhlanza uwoyela oluhlaza, uketshezi olumnyama oluqinile olukhiqizwa emifuleni engaphansi komhlaba lungahlala lungasetshenziswa kwezokuhamba, ukushisa, ukukhiqiza ugesi, nokukhiqiza izinto. Ukuqonda ukuthi izimboni zokuhlanza zihlukanisa, ziguqule, futhi ziphathe kanjani ama-hydrocarbon kubalulekile hhayi kuphela kochwepheshe bemboni kodwa nanoma ubani onentshisekelo ukuphepha kwamandla, ukunakekelwa kwemvelo, kanye nekusasa lokukhiqizwa kwezibaso ezisimeme. Ukwakheka kukaphethiloli eminyakeni eyizigidi ngaphansi komhlaba kwadala ingxube eyinkimbinkimbi yama-hydrocarbon edinga ubunjiniyela obunembayo ukuze kukhululwe inani layo eligcwele. Ngaphezu kwalokho, inqubo yokukhiqiza uwoyela oluhlaza iqala uhambo olude oluletha uphethiloli, u-diesel, uphethiloli wezindiza, i-asphalt, neminye imikhiqizo eminingi kubathengi emhlabeni wonke. Lesi sihloko sihlinzeka ngokuhlola okuphelele ngokulandelana kokuhlanza kaphethiloli ngenkathi kugcizelelwa ukubaluleka okukhulayo kwezindlela ezihlanzekile, eziphumelela kakhudlwana enkathini yokuqwashisa ngesimo sezulu kanye noshintsho lwamandla.

I-refinery kaphethiloli yesimanje ikude kakhulu kunokuba isitshalo esilula sokudiliza; iyindawo yokucubungula amakhemikhali ehlanganisiwe enyusa kakhulu imikhiqizo enenzuzo enkulu kusuka kuwo wonke amabhelo kawoyela ongahluziwe. Inqubo yokucubungula uwoyela ongahluziwe isishintshe kakhulu kusukela ezinsukwini zokuqala zokudiliza okulula, iqhutshwa isidingo sezinsimbi ezinama-octane aphezulu, imithetho eqinile yezemvelo, kanye nesidingo sokucubungula uwoyela ongahluziwe osindayo, osunqamile kakhulu. Namuhla, i-refinery evamile ingaguqula ngaphezu kwamaphesenti angamashumi ayisishiyagalolunye kawoyela ongahluziwe odingekayo ube imikhiqizo ewusizo, uma kuqhathaniswa namaphesenti angaphansi kwamashumi amahlanu eminyaka eyikhulu eyedlule, ngenxa yezobuchwepheshe obuthuthukisiwe bokuguqula nezinqubo zokukatalisa. Inqubo yokucubungula uwoyela ongahluziwe iphinde ibe umnikelo omkhulu kwezomnotho womhlaba, isekela izigidi zemisebenzi futhi ivumela cishe yonke imikhakha yezokuthutha ukuthi isebenze ngokuthembekile. Ukuqonda ukwakheka kukaphethiloli njengomthombo okhawulelwe, okhawulwe ngokwemvelo kugcizelela ukuthi kungani ukusebenza kahle nokusimama ekucubunguleni kungewona okukhethwa kodwa kuyadingeka kakhulu kuhlelo lwamandla esikhathi eside. Ngaphezu kwalokho, inqubo yokukhipha uwoyela ongahluziwe iqondisa ngqo kuma-refinery, okusho ukuthi izinqumo ezingenhla mayelana nokwakhiwa komthombo, ukwaphulwa, nokuphathwa kwendawo yokugcina zinemiphumela engaphansi kwezomnotho wokucubungula kanye nekhwalithi yomkhiqizo.

Uguquko lwamafutha oluvela emafutheni olwandle lube yimikhiqizo eqediweyo lwenzeka ngokulandelana kwezinyathelo ezihlelwe ngokucophelela, ezokwenziwa kanye nezezimiso, ngayinye ihlelwe ukuhlukanisa, ukuguqula, noma ukuhlambulula izingxenye ezithile zamacarbohydrates. Lesi sigaba sihlukanisa izigaba ezintathu eziyinhloko zenqubo yokucwengwa kukaphethiloli: ukuhlukanisa, ukuguqula, nokwelashwa ngokuhlanganisa. Isigaba ngasinye sithembele ekulawuleni okunembayo kwezinga lokushisa, ingcindezi, kanye ne-chemistry yekhethali ukuze kufezekiswe uhlu lomkhiqizo olufunwayo ngenkathi kuncishiswa ukusetshenziswa kwamandla kanye nokukhiqizwa kukadoti. Ukuqonda lezi zigaba kubalulekile kubasebenzi, onjiniyela, nabatshalizimali abafuna ukuthuthukisa ukusebenza kwezindawo zokucwengwa kukaphethiloli futhi bavumelane nezidingo zemakethe eziguqukayo zamandla ahlanzekile.

Ukwahlukanisa kuqala ngokuhlukaniswa kwe-crude oil ngokushisa okuhlukahlukene, inqubo yomzimba esebenzisa umehluko kumaphuzu abilayo ukuhlukanisa i-crude ibe izingxenye ezihlukahlukene kusuka kumagesi kanye ne-naphtha kuya ku-gas oil kanye ne-residual fuel. Embhoshongweni wokuhlukanisa nge-atmospheric, i-crude oil ifudunyezwa ibe cishe degrees Celsius ezingu-350–400 bese ifakwa embhoshongweni, lapho izinto ezishisayo zinyuka ngezigaba zamathreyi noma izinto zokupakisha, ziqiniseke ezingeni elihlukahlukene ngokwesisindo sazo samajekwele kanye nebanga lokubila. Izingxenye ezilula njenge-propane, i-butane, nezingxenye ze-gasoline ziphuma phezulu, kanti izingxenye ezisindayo njenge-kerosene, i-diesel, kanye ne-atmospheric gas oil zikhethwa ezindaweni eziphakathi embhoshongweni. Ingxenye engezansi, eyaziwa ngokuthi i-atmospheric residue, isanamajekwele asetshenziswayo asakwazi ukushiswa ngaphansi kwengcindezi evamile ngaphandle kokubangela ukushiswa okukhulu. Le residue bese ithunyelwa kuyunithi yokuhlukanisa nge-vacuum, lapho ingcindezi encishisiwe yehlisa amaphuzu abilayo wezingxenye ezisindayo, ivumela ukwahlukanisa okwengeziwe kube yi-vacuum gas oil kanye ne-vacuum residue ngaphandle kokubola okukhulu. Ngakho-ke, ukuhlukaniswa kwe-crude oil ngokushisa okuhlukahlukene kuyisinyathelo sokuqala esinquma ukusatshalaliswa komkhiqizo wokuqala futhi sibeka isiteji sokuguqulwa okungezansi. Ngaphandle kwalokhu kuhlanganiswa kokuqala okunembayo, inqubo yokuhlanza i-crude oil yayizobheka ikhwalithi kanye nokungaguquguquki kwe-feedstock okudingekayo kumayunithi wokuhlanza nge-catalytic kanye ne-hydrotreating.

Izinqubo zokuguqula yizona ezibalulekile ezindaweni zokuhlanzwa kwezinto zikagesi zesimanje, eziklanyelwe ukwehlisa amamolekyuli amakhulu, anenani eliphansi ama-hydrocarbon abe amancane, anenani eliphezulu noma ukuguqula izakhiwo zamamolekyuli ukuthuthukisa ukusebenza kukaphethiloli. Ukuqhekeka okushisayo kwakuyindlela yokuqala, kusetshenziswa izinga lokushisa eliphezulu nomfutho ukuze kuhlukaniswe izingxenye ezisindayo zibe imikhiqizo elula, kodwa isishintshwe kakhulu ukuqhekeka okubangelwa amakhemikhali, okusebenzisa isikhuthazi esisekelwe ku-zeolite ukuze kutholwe imiphumela ephezulu ye-gasoline nama-olefins ezingeni lokushisa eliphansi nomfutho. Ukuqhekeka okubangelwa amakhemikhali okubhabhadisayo kuyindlela yokuguqula esetshenziswa kakhulu emhlabeni, esebenza nge-vacuum gas oil nezinye izinto ezisindayo zibe i-gasoline, i-diesel, kanye negesi elula ezihambisa izitshalo zamakhemikhali. I-Hydrocracking ihlanganisa ukuqhekeka okubangelwa amakhemikhali nokuhlanganiswa kwe-hydrogen, esebenza ngomfutho ophakeme we-hydrogen ukuze iguqule izinto ezisindayo zibe izinto eziphakathi njenge-diesel kanye ne-jet fuel ngenkathi isusa izinto ezimbi zesulfur ne-nitrogen. Ngakolunye uhlangothi, i-catalytic reforming ithatha i-naphtha ephansi ye-octane evela kumshini wokuhlukanisa futhi ihlele kabusha isakhiwo sayo samamolekyuli ukuze ikhiqize i-reformate ephezulu ye-octane, okuyingxenye ebalulekile yokuhlanganisa i-gasoline kanye nomthombo omkhulu wama-aromatics embonini yamapayipi. Lezi zinyathelo zokuguqula zibalulekile ekulinganiseni isidingo semakethe semikhiqizo elula ngokumelene nomphumela wemvelo we-crude oil, ovame ukuba nezingxenye ezisindayo eziningi kunezingxenye ezifunwa yimakethe. Inqubo kaphethiloli ngeke ibe nenzuzo ngokomnotho ngaphandle kobuchwepheshe obunjalo ngoba ukuhlukaniswa okulula wedwa akukwazi ukukhiqiza i-gasoline noma i-diesel eyanele ukuhlangabezana nezidingo zabathengi.

Ngaphambi kokuba imikhiqizo kaphethiloli ithunyelwe emakethe, kufanele ihlolwe kakhulu ukuze kususwe izinto ezingcolile futhi ihlangane nezimfuneko zekhwalithi eziqinile zokusebenza, ukuphepha, kanye nokuhambisana nemithetho yezemvelo. I-Hydrodesulfurization yiyona inqubo yokwelashwa ebaluleke kakhulu, esebenzisa i-hydrogen phezu kwe-catalyst ye-cobalt-molybdenum noma i-nickel-molybdenum ukuguqula izinhlanganisela zesulfure eziphilayo zibe yi-hydrogen sulfide, bese ihlukaniswa futhi iguqulwe ibe yi-sulfur elemental noma i-sulfuric acid. Lesi sigaba sibalulekile ngoba isulfure emafutheni idala ukukhishwa kwe-sulfur dioxide lapho ishiswa, okubangela imvula enesihlava kanye nokungcola komoya, futhi imithetho yesimanje emazweni amaningi ikhawulela okuqukethwe isulfure kuya kumalitha ayishumi kuphela ezigidini ku-diesel nogesi. Ngaphezu kwe-desulfurization, izinqubo zokwelashwa zisusa izinhlanganisela ze-nitrogen, amaminerali, kanye ne-oxygenates ezingadala ukuthi ama-catalyst asebenze kabi noma abangele izici zokushiswa ezingafuneki. Uma imifudlana yama-hydrocarbon ngayinye ihlanzekile, iyahlanganiswa ngezilinganiso eziqondile ukuze kwakhiwe imikhiqizo eqediwe njenge-gasoline evamile ne-premium, izinhlanganisela ze-diesel zasebusika nezasehlobo, kanye nezigaba ezahlukahlukene zamafutha endiza kanye namafutha okushisa. Ukufakwa kwezithako kwandisa kakhulu izici zomkhiqizo ngokungeza ama-detergents ukuvimbela ukwakheka kwezinto emshinini, ama-antioxidants ukuthuthukisa ukuzinza kokugcina, ama-lubricity agents ezinhlelo zamafutha e-diesel, kanye nama-conductivity improvers ukunciphisa ubungozi be-static electricity. Isigaba sokugcina sokuhlanganisa siyubuciko nesayensi, sidinga ama-analyzer ayinkimbinkimbi asebenza ngesikhathi sangempela kanye nesofthiwe yokwenza kahle ukuze kuhlangatshezwane nezimfuneko ngenkathi kuncishiswa ukulahleka kwezinto ezinokubaluleka okuphezulu. Lesi sigaba senqubo yokuhlanza uwoyela oluhlaza siqinisekisa ukuthi amafutha afinyelela kubathengi asebenza ngokuthembekile ezimweni ezahlukahlukene zokusebenza futhi ahambisana nezindinganiso zemvelo eziba nzima kakhulu.

Izinqolobane zamafutha ziyizindawo ezinkulu zezimboni ezisingatha ivolumu enkulu yezinto ezivutha kalula, ezinobuthi, futhi ezingaba yingozi, okwenza ukuphathwa kwemvelo kube yinto ehamba phambili kubasebenzisi nabalawuli ngokufanayo. Izilawuli zokukhishwa zisetshenziswa kuwo wonke amayunithi amakhulu, okuhlanganisa namayunithi okubuyisa isulfure athwebula i-hydrogen sulfide, izinhlelo zokunciphisa i-catalytic ezinciphisa i-nitrogen oxides egazini eliphuma emiyingweni, kanye nezihlanza izinhlayiya ezisusa izinto eziyimpucuko ezivela kumagesi aphuma ku-fluid catalytic cracker. Ukukhishwa kwezinto ezi-volatile organic compounds kulawulwa ngezinhlelo zokubuyisa umusi ezindaweni zokugcina izinto, izindawo zokulayisha, kanye namapayipi okudonsa amanzi, kanti ukukhishwa okungazelelwe okuvela emavalvu, amaphampu, kanye nama-flanges kuqashwa kusetshenziswa izithombe zegesi ezibonakalayo kanye nezinhlelo zokuthola ukuvuza. Ukuphathwa kukadoti ezinqolobaneni zamafutha kuhilela ukwelashwa kwamanzi angcolile ngamafutha ngokusebenzisa izihlukanisi zamanzi namafutha, ukudonswa komoya okuncibilikisiwe, kanye nezinhlelo zokwelashwa kwamagciwane ngaphambi kokukhishwa noma ukusetshenziswa kabusha, kanye nokulahlwa ngokuphepha kwezikhuthazi ezisetshenzisiwe, izinto eziyimpucuko ezansi kwamathangi, kanye okunye udoti oluqinile ezindaweni zokulahla ezinemvume noma ngokusebenzisa kabusha ezindaweni zokubuyisa insimbi. Ukusebenza kahle kwamandla kungenye into ebalulekile yemvelo ngoba izinqolobane zamafutha zingezinye zezindawo zezimboni ezisebenzisa kakhulu amandla, zishisa igesi yemvelo negesi yamafutha ukuze kutholwe ukushisa okudingekayo, ukukhiqizwa kukaswidi, kanye nokukhiqizwa kwe-hydrogen. Ukusebenzisa ukuhlanganiswa kokushisa ngokusebenzisa i-pinch analysis, ukufaka amayunithi okukhiqiza amandla noswidi ngesikhathi esisodwa, kanye nokwenza kahle ukuphathwa kwe-hydrogen kuyizindlela eziqinisekisiwe zokunciphisa izindleko zokusebenza kanye nokukhishwa kwegesi elibangela umthelela wokushisa komhlaba. Ukwakheka kukaphethiloli njengomthombo wekhabhoni ogxilile kusho ukuthi ibhodlela ngalinye elicutshungulwa linomthelela wekhabhoni, kodwa izinqolobane zamafutha zesimanje zenza inqubekela phambili ebonakalayo ekunciphiseni umthelela wazo kwemvelo ngokuthuthukiswa kwezinqubo kanye nokutshalwa kwezimali.

Imboni yokuhlanzwa kukaphethiloli iyadlula ezinguqukweni ezinkulu njengoba umhlaba usiya ezinhlelweni zamandla ezinekhabhoni ephansi, futhi izindawo zokuhlanzwa zikhethekile ukusebenzisa ingqalasizinda yazo eseyikhona kakade ukuze kukhiqizwe izinsiza-mandla ezivuselelekayo kanye ne-hydrogen eluhlaza. Ukuhlanganisa amafutha emifino namafutha ezilwane kanye kukaphethiloli ojwayelekile ezindaweni zokwelashwa nge-hydrotreaters sekuyinto eyenzeka manje kwezentengiselwano, ekhiqiza u-diesel ovuselelekayo kanye ne-aviation fuel esimeme ezifana nalezo ezenziwe nge-fossil kodwa ezinekhabhoni ephansi kakhulu emjikelezweni wazo. Izindawo zokuhlanzwa ezizinikezele eziguqula i-biomass ye-cellulosic ngokusebenzisa i-gasification kanye ne-Fischer-Tropsch synthesis noma ngokusebenzisa i-hydrothermal liquefaction nazo zihlanganiswa ezindaweni zokuhlanzwa ezikhona, zihlanganyela izinsiza, izindawo zokugcina, kanye nezokuthutha. I-Hydrogen, eseyisisekelo esibalulekile sokuhlanzwa kwe-hydrodesulfurization kanye ne-hydrocracking, ikhiqizwa ngokwengeziwe kusuka ku-water electrolysis kusetshenziswa ugesi ovuselelekayo esikhundleni sokushisa i-methane kusuka ku-natural gas, okwenza izindawo zokuhlanzwa zikwazi ukunciphisa ukukhishwa kukakhabhoni emisebenzini yazo futhi zithengise i-hydrogen enekhabhoni ephansi njengohlobo lwezinsiza-mandla zokuthutha kanye nezinto zokwakha izimboni. Ubuchwepheshe bedijithali njengobuhlakani bokwenziwa, ukufunda ngomshini, kanye ne-digital twins buyayiguqula imisebenzi yezindawo zokuhlanzwa ngokuvumela ukuthuthukiswa okungokoqobo kwezici zenqubo, ukugcinwa okubikezelayo kwemishini ejikelezayo, kanye nokulawulwa okuthuthukisiwe kwenqubo okunciphisa ukusetshenziswa kwamandla ngenkathi kwandisa inani lemikhiqizo. Inqubo yokukhipha ukhaphethiloli kanye nenqubo kaphethiloli izoxhunyaniswa ngokwengeziwe ngokusebenzisa izinkundla zokuhlanganisa idatha ezithuthukisa lonke uchungechunge lwezindinganiso kusuka endaweni yokugcina kuya emkhiqizweni oqediwe. Lezi zimo zikhombisa ikusasa lapho izindawo zokuhlanzwa zingeyona nje izindawo zokucubungula izinsiza-mandla ze-fossil kodwa izikhungo zamandla namakhemikhali eziguquguqukayo ezikhiqiza uhlu oluhlukahlukene lwemikhiqizo enekhabhoni ephansi yomhlaba oya ekunciphiseni ikhabhoni.

Inqubo yokuhlanzwa kukaphethiloli isalokhu iyisisekelo esibalulekile sesistimu yamandla emhlabeni wonke, kodwa ukuzinza kwayo esikhathini eside kuncike ekubeni nemboni ikwazi ukwamukela ukuzinza kuzo zonke izici zemisebenzi yayo. Kusukela ekuhlukaniseni uwoyela ongahlanzekile ngokushisa ezindaweni eziphansi naphakathi kwefektri yokuhlanzwa kuya ekuhlanganiseni kokugcina nasekwenzeni izithako ezingeziwe ekugcineni, isinyathelo ngasinye sinikeza amathuba okunciphisa ukukhishwa, ukuthuthukisa ukusebenza kahle, nokuhlanganisa izinto ezivuselelwayo. Izinkampani ezifana no-IKHAYA(Hebei Kaiyuan Oil Proppant Co., Ltd.) banikelela uhlangothi olungaphezulu lwe-energy value chain ngokukhiqiza ama-fracturing proppants asezingeni eliphezulu avumela ukukhiqizwa kahle kukaphethiloli ongahluziwe emifuleni engavamile, okubonisa ukuthi ubuchwepheshe bezimboni obukhethekile busekela lonke uhlelo lwe-petroleum. IMAYELANA NATHI ikhasi le-Hebei Kaiyuan ligcizelela ukuzibophezela kwabo ekulawuleni ikhwalithi kanye nezinqubo ezisimeme, okuhambisana nomfutho omkhulu embonini ngokuya ekuthuthukisweni kwezinsiza ngokuziphendula. Okwabo IMIKHIHWAYO umugqa uhlanganisa izixazululo ze-proppant ezenziwe ngendlela efanele ezithuthukisa ukukhiqizwa komthombo futhi zinciphise umthelela wezemvelo wezinqubo zokuhlukumeza ngamanzi. Ngokutshalwa kwezimali okuqhubekayo ku Ucwaningo Nokuthuthukiswa, inkampani ithuthukisa izinto ezintsha ezithuthukisa ukusebenza kahle kwenqubo yokukhipha uwoyela ongahluziwe, okuthinta ngqo ikhwalithi nokuvumelana kwezinto ezilethwa ezindaweni zokucwenga. Ngaphezu kwalokho, okwabo Okwenziwe Ngokwezifisoizinsizakalo zivumela abasebenzisi ukuthi benze izici ze-proppant zibe ngaphansi kwezimo ezihlukile zesitoreji, zithuthukise ukubuyiswa okuphelele kwezinsiza ngenkathi kuncishiswa udoti. Ukuqonda ukwakheka kukaphethiloli nohambo oluyinkimbinkimbi oluthatha kusuka ezindaweni zokugcina ezingaphansi komhlaba kuya emikhiqizweni eqediwe kunika amandla ababambiqhaza kuwo wonke amazinga ukuthi benze izinqumo ezinolwazi ezilinganisa izinto ezibalulekile zezomnotho, zemvelo, nezenhlalo. Njengoba imboni iqhubeka nokuguquguquka, ukuhlanganiswa kobuchwepheshe obuhlanzekile, izimiso zomnotho oyindilinga, kanye nokuqanjwa kwezinto zedijithali kuzonquma ukuthi ngabe ukucwengwa kuhlala kungumlingani ophethe umthwalo wemfanelo ekuguqukeni kwamandla omhlaba.

Kubafundi abafisa ukujulisa ukuqonda kwabo ngenqubo kaphethiloli nezihloko ezihlobene, imithombo eminingi enegunya iyatholakala ngemibutho yezimboni, izikhungo zemfundo, kanye nemibutho kahulumeni. I-American Petroleum Institute ishicilela iziqondiso ezinemininingwane ngenqubo yokucwenga uwoyela ongahluziwe, okuhlanganisa nezindlela zokuhlola ezijwayelekile kanye nezinqubo ezingcono kakhulu zemvelo ezibhekiselwa kabanzi onjiniyela nabalawuli. I-U.S. Energy Information Administration inikeza idatha yamahhala, evuselelwa njalo ngomthamo wokucwenga, ukusetshenziswa, kanye nemiphumela yomkhiqizo, okuyigugu kakhulu ekuhlaziyeni kwemakethe kanye nokuqagela izitayela. Imiphakathi yobungcweti njenge-American Institute of Chemical Engineers kanye ne-Society of Petroleum Engineers ihlinzeka ngamaphepha ezobuchwepheshe, ama-webinar, kanye nezinhlelo zokuqinisekisa ezihlanganisa konke kusukela ekuhlukaniseni uwoyela ongahluziwe kuya ekwakhiweni kwezinhlelo eziphambili zokukhiqiza amakhemikhali. Izinkundla zokufunda eziku-inthanethi njenge-Coursera ne-edX zihostela izifundo ngokuqotshwa kukaphethiloli kanye namandla amandla ahlala njalo avela emanyuvesi ahola phambili, okwenza kube lula kubafundi abazifundela. Ekugcineni, ukuvakashela amawebhusayithi abakhiqizi abakhulu bezobuchwepheshe bokucwenga njenge-Honeywell UOP, i-Shell Catalysts & Technologies, kanye ne-Axens kungahlinzeka ngemininingwane ngobuchwepheshe bakamuva ku-hydroprocessing, reforming, kanye namathuluzi okuthuthukisa idijithali ashintsha ikusasa lemboni.