Classification of petroleum products: types, hazard classes, characteristics

2024 Author: Howard Calhoun | [email protected]. Last modified: 2023-12-17 10:16

The importance of oil and petroleum products in many industries today cannot be underestimated. The industry in the field of hydrocarbon production produces at least five hundred different types of products. Depending on a certain type, the requirements for them also differ, because the application takes place in specific conditions. Nevertheless, the classification of oil and oil products is possible - for this, it is enough just to choose the right criteria and selection parameters.

Main types and principles of their separation

The method can be based on a variety of variations. Commercial petroleum products, for example, can be subdivided according to parameters such as chemical composition, production method, physical properties, or hazard class. Requirements are largely dictated by the market on the part of consumers. As a result, classifications are often narrowly focused and based on the possibilitythe application of any particular resulting product in a particular industry according to the need for its practical use. The produced hydrocarbons are used in many national economic activities.

The most common is the classification of petroleum products by purpose. it looks like this:

• motor fuels of various types;
• special petroleum products;
• Binders and hydrocarbon materials;
• various petroleum oils;
• energy fuels;
• raw material for petrochemical applications.

Each of the above groups has a number of branches, further specifying their scope.

Motor fuels

This category is considered the most in demand in the modern world due to the widespread distribution of road transport. The principle for classifying commercial petroleum products from this group is the type of engines in which they are used. Traditionally, motor fuels are divided into gasoline, jet and diesel. Moreover, the first of these also has two subspecies - aviation (kerosene) and automobile.

Each country may have its own designations for gasoline motor fuels. In Russia, the letter “A” is used for this and an indication of the octane rating next to it through a hyphen, for example, A-76, A-80, A-92, A-95 and A-98. Drivers are well aware that only certain types of fuel should be refueled.for a given vehicle. The octane number must not be lower than that recommended by the manufacturer, otherwise the engine will begin to wear out much more, and continuous use will certainly lead to its breakdown.

Other types of motor fuels according to the classification of petroleum products are also used in certain scenarios. For example, reactive is used only for jet-type engines. The third type - diesel - is beginning to win the hearts of motorists across the country due to its more economical consumption than any gasoline option. In addition, earlier this option was also cheaper, but you must initially purchase a car with the right engine.

State standard

In Russia, there are special GOST standards that regulate the division of various hydrocarbon products into certain groups. These documents were developed and adopted back in the USSR. The Ministry of Chemical and Petroleum Industry was responsible for writing. The classification of petroleum products according to GOST is mentioned in regulatory and technical documents under the numbers 28549.0-90 and 28577.0-90. You can find them in the public domain and in the corresponding manuals.

This standard serves to establish a classification system for petroleum and other related products. The list also defines the classes of various lubricants and provides their designations. In general, the classification is quite similar to the one given above when divided by region.applications. However, if the scope of use could not be clearly distinguished, experts started from the type of product.

An excerpt with the classification of petroleum products and other related products can serve as an example:

1. Class F. Various fuels.
2. Class S. Chemical raw materials and solvents.
3. Class B. Miscellaneous bitumen.
4. Class L. Industrial oils, lubricants and similar products.
5. Class W. Various waxes.

Division according to flammability

This parameter is determined by the so-called flash point of combustible vapors, that is, the one at which vapors and gases begin to actively form above the surface. It is because of them that a fire occurs if there is a potential source of ignition nearby.

The three main groups in the classification of petroleum products by flash point include the following:

1. Flammable. This includes all combustible substances and materials for which exposure to some kind of low energy ignition source will suffice. As an example of the latter, any sparks, smoldering cigarettes or burning matches can be cited. At the same time, such an impact should be short-term - no more than 30 seconds.
2. Combustible or combustible. Such substances and materials may ignite spontaneously or burn after the immediate source of ignition has been removed.
3. Slow-flammable or slow-burning. This group of substances and materials is also capable ofignite from a fire source in the air, however, they cannot continue burning on their own after its removal.

Classification of hydrocarbon losses

There are many reasons why this process occurs. In particular, closed containers can "breathe", part of the product escapes from their loose walls, vapors are lost during measurements and sampling during maintenance.

Classification of oil and oil product losses includes:

1. Quantitative. Occur due to various types of leaks and spills.
2. Quality. Occur due to the deterioration of the final level of quality of the oil product, provided that its quantity has not changed in any way.
3. Quantitative-qualitative. This scenario is usually possible with excessive hydrocarbon evaporation.

However, this is not the only subdivision option envisaged in such situations. There is also a classification of petroleum products during storage. The two main options for such a division are presented below:

1. Operational loss. Occur due to leakage of liquid petroleum products, as well as evaporation and mixing of different grades. Also, such losses are possible when cleaning storage facilities, pipelines or other directly related equipment.
2. Accidental losses. These include violation of the rules for the technical operation of structures and devices during operation or damage to any important units, including oil loadingships, tank wagons or other structures. Sometimes natural disasters can be the culprit.

Tankers for petroleum products

Cars that transport hydrocarbons instead of a conventional body have special equipment and the tank itself itself. There are many options for this design.

Among the main criteria by which tank trucks for oil products are classified are the following:

• base chassis type;
• appointment of oil product;
• axle load of base chassis;
• type of oil product;
• patency and type of bearing element of the chassis.

An example is the classification into three main groups.

1. Tanker cars. Includes fuel and transport. The chassis is chosen for normal cross-country ability, and the design is made frame.
2. Tanker trailers. This includes filling stations and fuel oil options. As a chassis, models with increased cross-country ability are used, and the design is frameless.
3. Tanker semi-trailers. They are used to transport oils. They can have a chassis and a main structure from both the first and the second group.

Hydrocarbon storage facilities

These buildings, as a rule, include a set of installations and structures that perform the functions of receiving, storing and further dispensingpetroleum products to end consumers. Sending is carried out in this case through various types of messages, including rail, water, pipeline or road.

Classification of oil and oil product storage facilities is carried out according to one of the criteria below or their combination.

1. Total capacity and maximum volume of one tank. Warehouses are also divided into categories according to SNiP 2.11.03.93.
2. Annual cargo turnover. It includes five subclasses, ranging from 500 or more thousand tons per year to storage facilities through which only 20 thousand tons or less per year passes. Regulated in VNTP 5-95.
3. Functional purpose. The warehouse complexes are divided into transshipment, distribution and those that perform the functions of the first two at the same time.
4. Nomenclature of stored petroleum products. In this case, classification according to the degree of danger is implied. There are oil depots for flammable products, as well as general purpose oil depots.
5. Transport links for the acceptance and dispatch of products. Any of the warehouses can have both one way of communication, and be mixed. For example, if you combine the possibility of receiving and sending products through the pipeline, as well as by sea and river water transport.

Solid fractions of petroleum products

This type includes hydrocarbons that are obtained by special separation and purification procedures. Procedures are carried out withdewaxing, that is, the removal of paraffin from various oil fractions. Such hydrocarbon chemical raw materials, for example, include ceresin.

Total classification of solid petroleum products includes three main groups:

• aromatic carbohydrates, among which are xylenes, benzene, toluene and others;
• petrochemical raw materials for pyrolysis;
• solid hydrocarbons like paraffins and ceresins.

In the classification according to GOST, paraffins are denoted by the Latin letter W. Among finished goods on store shelves, such fractions usually reach the end consumer at the household level in the form of the same solvents. In industry, this group is more than important in a variety of chemical industries.

Petroleum lubricating oils

Is one of the most used options as an end product for sale. The classification of petroleum products in this case is done with an emphasis on the scope of use and includes motor, energy, industrial and transmission oils. Differences in the listed products allow them to be successfully used in highly specialized environments. For example, engine oils reduce friction in reciprocating and jet engines, and transmission oils successfully lubricate gears for tractors, diesel locomotives, wagons or cars.

Industrial options perform well when interacting with a variety of parts of industrial machines and equipment. In addition, such oils are divided into three more independent subgroups, including light, mediumand heavy. The last type - energy - lubricates the parts of machines and mechanisms that are used in the industry of the same name. The fact is that devices, as a rule, face increased loads, extreme temperatures there, or are under the permanent influence of hot steam, air masses or liquids.

It is also worth highlighting special non-lubricating types in the classification of petroleum products by oil groups. Their purpose is to pour such liquids into steam-jet pumps, braking systems or any capacitors, transformers, hydraulic mechanisms. In electrical cables, such oils play the role of insulators. Among the main types there are capacitor, hydraulic, transformer and vacuum. In other industries, there are non-lubricating perfume, cooling or medical oils.

Other classifications of oil and petroleum products

In addition to the standard, you can find other variants of the unit. There are special petroleum products that are widely used in a wide variety of human activities and manufacturing industries.

Such a classification divides products into the following groups:

• raw material for carbon black, or thermal gasol;
• elemental sulfur;
• hydrogen;
• kerosene for lighting;
• fuel additives;
• demulsifiers;
• oil additives;
• lubricating greases.

In addition, among the last of these, it is customary to distinguishprotective, sealing and antifriction. In this case, it is recommended to use the official source, which may change over time. In Russia, this is the state standard, or GOST.