Downstream & energy
Refinery Operations
5 self-contained study topics — notes, diagrams, formulas, and worked examples for exams and GATE.
Topics
- Crude Distillation UnitCrude distillation is the primary refinery separation where atmospheric and vacuum towers split crude into boiling-range fractions.
- Catalytic CrackingFCC converts heavy fractions into gasoline and LPG using hot regenerated catalyst in a short-contact riser reactor.
- Hydrotreating and ReformingHydrotreating cleans feed by removing contaminants, and reforming upgrades naphtha octane while generating refinery hydrogen.
- Refinery UtilitiesRefinery utilities provide steam, power, fuel gas, cooling, and safety systems that keep process units reliable and compliant.
- Refinery Product BlendingProduct blending combines intermediate streams to meet final fuel specifications at minimum cost and maximum margin.