differences between simple and fractional distillation of crude oil?

Question

i know that you should use fractional distillation for crude oil but whats the difference when you use simple distillation instead.( I only need to compare the process of the two distillation methods for my research)

Answer 1

Due to the nature of crude oil, continuous equilibrium distillation cannot be performed because en equilibrium cannot be reached. For a batch simple distillation of crude oil (petroleum), the lighter (lower boiling) components will evaporate and the then condense first. These will be followed by heavier (higher boiling) components. These remix in the collection container. Only the heaviest (tars and other non-volatile substances) will remain in the original container.

For fractional distillation, once the volatile components are boiled, they are collected in such a manner that they are not allowed to remix. This is done by either sequential collection (changing receiving vessels) or the use of a tower separator leading to different collecting vessels simultaneously.

Answer 2

You cannot use simple distillation because simple distillation is used to seperate
1 solution from the solute (the dissolved substance)
2 only one solution from the dissolved solute.

However:
1 crude oil has more than 1 liquid mixture
2. crude oil mixture are all miscible liquid (liquid that can be mixed together - eg alcohol and water)

You can still use simple distillation for seperation of crude oil if you maintain it at the different boiling points of the fractions of crude oil and then repeat the same process for each fraction.

Fractional distillation is a combination of a lot of simple distillation to get more pure distillate in one process.

Answer 3

Unless u distill fractionally u wont get the various components used for various purposes seperated.
Crude on its own is not useful,the components are more useful


Simple distillations:
The two most elementary forms of distillation are a continuous equilibrium distillation and a simple batch distillation.

In a continuous equilibrium distillation, a continuously flowing liquid feed is heated or reduced in pressure (flashed) so as to cause partial vaporization. The vapor and liquid disengage while flowing through an open drum, and the products emerge as vapor and liquid streams. The vapor product can be condensed to form a liquid distillate. It is also possible to use a vapor feed, subjected to cooling and thereby partial condensation, again followed by disengagement of the resultant vapor and liquid in an open drum.

In a simple batch distillation, an entire batch of liquid is initially charged to a vessel and is then heated, typically by condensation of steam inside a metal coil within the vessel. Vapor is thereby continuously generated, and may be condensed to form a liquid distillate, which is collected. In the batch distillation, increments of vapor are formed in equilibrium with all liquid compositions ranging from the original to the final, whereas the continuous equilibrium distillation gives vapor in equilibrium with only the final liquid composition. Since the distillate consists primarily of the more volatile components and the feed liquid contains more of these substances than does the final liquid, the simple batch distillation gives a more enriched distillate than does the continuous equilibrium distillation.

Fractional distillation:
Unless the vapor pressures of the species being separated are very dissimilar, a simple distillation does not produce highly purified products. Product purities can be increased by repeated partial vaporizations and condensations. The liquid from an initial continuous equilibrium distillation can be partially vaporized by additional heating. The remaining liquid can again be heated and partially vaporized, forming another liquid and so forth. Each liquid is progressively enriched in the less volatile substances. Similarly, successive partial condensations of the vapor fraction from the initial continuous equilibrium distillation produce vapor products successively enriched in the more volatile components

Answer 4

Simple distillation is just as the name suggests. a flask is boiled an the distillate cooled and collected. several different boiling point samples or fractions can be collected.

n fractional distillation a fractionating column is introduced. This has the effect of effectively increasing the number of distillations. It produces a more efficient separation of the fractions.

If you want me to go into phase-phase separation let me know.