Oil blending is essential in oil processing!

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Preface: Blending production is the final step in the production of finished fuel oil； It is a scientific and essential production process for finished fuel oil. Commercially available fuel oil is also known as refined oil, and refined oil refers to fuel oil that has been blended and processed to meet technical standards ； It can be simply considered that unblended fuel oil is a semi-finished fuel oil; in the industry, it is conventionally referred to as component oil ； 90# gasoline is produced by blending straight-run gasoline and catalytic gasoline. 93# gasoline is produced by blending straight-run gasoline, catalytic gasoline, and reformed gasoline — excerpted from the corporate standards of Sinopec Group and XX (gasoline) enterprise. Proper use of DC gasoline can improve the evaporation properties, cold-start performance, and warm-up performance of the finished gasoline ； DC gasoline is an auxiliary component in gasoline blending ； I. Objectives of fuel oil blending production (1) Scientific utilization of petroleum resources. (2) Balance the quality of oil from individual components, to avoid excess amounts of any single component and to compensate for any deficiencies in the quality of certain components ； (3) Finished gasoline is not a simple liquid fuel; it is a mixture of hydrocarbons in precise proportions ； Production is adjusted to meet quality standards and environmental protection requirements. The blending production of fuel oil involves mixing various crude oils together. It is a necessary production process for converting crude oil components into finished products, aimed at complementing each other’s strengths, improving the overall quality of gasoline, and meeting quality standards. In the world, gasoline, diesel, and fuel oil all require scientific blending and production ； II. Differences between local refineries in Shandong and blended oils produced by society: There is a fundamental difference between local refineries in Shandong and home-based oil refining operations as well as those using small-scale refining facilities. In recent years, Shandong’s local refineries have made substantial investments and achieved rapid development. With the construction of many new refining units, they employ the most advanced technologies, and there is a large pool of skilled professionals in refining technology who are also sent to various parts of the country. Hydrogenation units are widely used, ensuring stable oil quality. A single oil refining company operates two hydrogenation refining units and one hydrocracking unit. Some refineries invest 80 million yuan in just one testing and analysis center. Many refining companies have a processing capacity of nearly or over 10 million tons, and their refining capabilities, the sophistication of their facilities, and their technical expertise are on par with those of companies bearing the \"Zhong\" brand. In recent years, well-known companies such as Sinopec, CNPC, CNOOC, AVIC Oil, and Shell have made large-scale long-term purchases of refined oil products produced in Shandong. The provincial branch of a group company purchases between 100,000 tons and over 300,000 tons of goods in Shandong each month. Sinopec has more than thirty quality standards for gasoline procurement, with strict inspection requirements that are far above **the standard quality requirements. Many local refineries in Shandong have purchase orders, which is sufficient to show that the gasoline produced by these refineries is of stable, reliable quality and meets the required standards. Otherwise, it would be impossible to enter the Zhongzi Brand gas station as well ； The gasoline you purchase at Zhongzi brand gas stations is very likely produced by Shandong-based refineries ； III. Commercial gasoline is fundamentally different from gasoline produced locally in Shandong. Commercial gasoline refers to gasoline that has been blended in an irregular manner in the market ； Such as methyl acetal gasoline ； Has **no whatsoever connection to standards** ； Saying that it meets national standards when what is actually met are just the so-called \"mouth standards\" does not mean it complies with the real national standards ； The detection of methyl acetal in gasoline is also very simple; corresponding testing equipment is required ； Methyl acetal is also known as ； Formaldehyde dimethyl acetal ； Dimethoxymethane. Its molecular formula is C3H8, with a molecular weight of 76.1; its boiling point is 42.3 degrees, and its density is 0.86. It is highly soluble in gasoline, and it can also dissolve to a limited extent in water. Methyl acetal is mainly used in insecticides, refrigerants, and low-boiling industrial solvents. The industrial grade has a content of 82–85%, with methanol and formaldehyde as the other impurities. The theoretical oxygen content is 42%, and the actual value is higher. Its actual calorific value is slightly higher than that of methanol, and its RON is very low; it cannot be detected by domestic octane rating testers, but can be detected by imported CFR testers – although the testing process may damage the expensive CFR tester (the author has tried this). Almost no one knows its exact octane rating ； Due to its good miscibility with gasoline, methyl acetal does not cause widespread engine shutdowns like methanol, and is therefore used in gasoline blending; it quickly became common across the country where standard gasoline is not used, though it is not a mainstream practice. It can also be considered as adulteration ； From 2011 to the beginning of 2012, the price of methyl acetate gasoline was about 1,200 yuan per ton lower than that of gasoline produced by domestic refineries. The acetal content in acetal gasoline ranges from about 5% to 20%. Methyl acetal has a high density and a low boiling point. During the mixing process, it is first necessary to adjust the density of methyl acetal to meet the requirements for gasoline density. To reduce the density, low-density light gasoline is required; for every 1 part of methylal, 2.5–3.5 parts of light gasoline are needed to lower the density. In such blended gasoline, there are very few gasoline fractions above 120 degrees, making it difficult to meet the combustion requirements of standard gasoline. To maximize profits and gain a competitive edge, methylal is sometimes added in excess; gasoline with excessive amounts of methylal has a very low octane rating. Low calorific value, high fuel consumption, and poor resistance to burning. Air blockage can occur easily. Methyl acetal gasoline can cause engine knocking and abnormal valve noises. Octane rating, power output, fuel consumption, and saturated vapor pressure of methyl acetal gasoline differ from those of conventional gasoline. To gain profits, pseudo-experts spread false claims exaggerating the quality of methyl acetate gasoline, thereby misleading gas station owners as well. Experts and professors also played a negative role by promoting their own products and technologies for profit. Experts and professors artificially, even deceptively, inflated the quality of methylal gasoline, misleading oil blenders and gas stations who have difficulty conducting tests and analyses. Methyl acetal gasoline has no connection with local refineries in Shandong ； IV. The technical aspects of oil blending: Believing that oil blending is a simple process is a sign of ignorance on the part of non-professionals. Oils are composed of hydrocarbons in strict proportions, with a regular distribution of carbon atoms ； Hydrocarbons of the same type have different molecular weights and thus different combustion properties ； Oil blending technologies stem largely from years of hard work, practical experience, and exploration. It involves petroleum refining, oil product analysis, organic chemistry, knowledge of additives, engine technology, and combustion science – representing an accumulation of interdisciplinary practical knowledge. Many people regard it as a skill to be kept to oneself, refusing to communicate or share it, thus maintaining a relatively closed environment. The technology for blending and producing fuel oil is complex ； The sophisticated fuel oil blending technology is reflected in the ability to address defects in fuel oil quality, the capability to resolve and prevent quality issues related to fuel oil, the ability to make use of various components for blending and generate profits, as well as the ability to solve quality problems associated with the final refined products. The Total gasoline incident in 2014, which resulted in compensation of over 200 million RMB, illustrates the technical aspects involved in fuel blending ； V. Reflections and Recommendations: The retail sale of gasoline takes place at gas stations ； Oil quality is the lifeblood of gas stations; poor quality will inevitably be punished by market rules and rejected by consumers. Social gas stations operate on the same competitive platform as Sinopec and CNPC gas stations, and quality is the prerequisite for survival. Improving the quality of petroleum products, promoting their quality, changing consumers’ perception of social gas stations, enhancing consumers’ confidence in them, and actively participating in competition are all necessary to increase the total volume of refined oil sold by social gas stations. Learn professional knowledge and advanced management practices to enhance their quality awareness, management skills, and competitiveness. Only then can the market share of social gas stations be increased. Increase the total volume of refined oil sold at retail stations, thereby raising their market share ； It’s a ‘good thing’ that brings joy to everyone in the oil industry. ‘How to do good things well requires careful consideration from those in the oil industry. Petroleum professionals also need to reflect deeply on how they can contribute positive energy to the petroleum industry.