August 25, 2017 Filtration Process in the Petroleum Industry

Be it any industry, the process of filtration is an essential prerequisite. The same goes true for the petroleum industry as well. Petroleum industry deals in oil. It is found deep inside the earth’s crust, hidden in the layered structures. Naturally, it is crude or raw and remains mixed with impurities. Hence, filtration of oil to purify it and get it rid of the impurities becomes a necessity. Filtration means straining the impure components from the liquid to make it suitable for human consumption in any form.

The different types of oil filters are – mechanical, cartridge, magnetic, sedimentation, centrifugal, and high-efficiency. Depending on the requirement, these are used accordingly in the industrial sector.Industrial Revolution in 17th century Europe gave birth to the industrial sector, which required the production and consumption of energy. Coal was widely used to meet this objective. Soon after petroleum was discovered and it gave a great boost to this industry leading it to flourish manifolds.

Like water, oil is also an indispensable element for the humans. Oil can be defined as a chemical substance that is high in carbon and nitrogen content. They may be volatile or non-volatile in nature. In origin, oils can be of three types- vegetable, animal and petrochemical. The usage of oil has its significance in almost all the industries, which includes- Aeronautics, Automobiles, Ceramics, Dairy, Food and beverages, Edible Oil, Electronics, Mining, Paints and Inks, Pharma and Biotech, Power Plant, Refineries, Sugar Industry, Water Treatment, Aerospace, Defence and Marine, Cement, Chemicals, Electroplating, Fertilizers, Oil and Gas, Petrochemicals, Pipe, Pulp and Paper, Steel Industries, Textile.

Oil used as fuel, precisely known as fuel oil, is a heating oil that is required to generate heat or power specifically in engines. Normally, fuel oil is obtained from crude oil. The common fuel oils used are petroleum, diesel, kerosene, Aviation Turbine Fuel (ATF). Also for lubrication purpose motor oils are the one that can be used. Nonetheless, oil needs refinement for its usage in automobiles otherwise it may pose a threat to the engines. A variety of oil is used in food, like, refined oil, mustard oil, olive oil, avocado oil, peanut oil, palm oil, sesame oil, soybean oil, canola or rapeseed oil, coconut oil, almond oil among others. In medical or the pharmaceutical sector, mineral oil is a necessity for the manufacture of different medicines and cosmetics. Liquid paraffin is a highly refined mineral oil that is used for the purpose.

Petroleum industry or the oil industry involves the processes of exploration, extraction, refinement, transportation and marketing of petroleum products. Companies like, ONGC, IOCL, HP, GAIL, Reliance are some of the Indian organizations dealing in petroleum and natural gas. Some of the countries that have rich oil reserves are Saudi Arabia, Canada, Iran, Iraq, Kuwait, UAE and Russia.

Depending upon the type of oil, the concerned industries use various types of oil filters; filter housing, oil filtration systems, industrial filter bags, oil adsorbing bags, oil absorbing filters and oil absorbents. The state of refinement of oil after extraction is the stage where it undergoes purification before being transported, distributed and marketed. The major oil industrial titans have huge area covering refinery divisions where the process takes place. They are in serious need of good filtration products of various pore sizes, material and shapes for decontaminating the oil.

Since presence of petroleum is crucial for survival and maintenance of the industrial civilization, its refinement, cleansing and sanitization through proper filtration process is equally important for making the product ready and fit for consumption.

Like in all other Industries Filtration Process is an essential prerequisite for the petroleum industry. Oil & fluid found from deep inside the earth’s crust, it will have hidden layered structures and remains mixed with impurities.

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