Air Blowing Bitumen

 

The vacuum Bottom (VB) is the remnant of the vacuum distillation tower. In order to produce bitumen, the vacuum baton is aerated in the bitumen production unit (bitumen production tower). The temperature of the vacuum Bottom (VB) inside the bitumen production tower is 240 to 320 degrees Celsius, and the passage of air through the vacuum Bottom (VB) at this temperature causes an oxidation process to occur, and as a result the aeration process improves the residual properties.

Crude oil is converted into its components in the refinery by distillation towers, and the crude oil components are separated due to the difference in boiling points in different parts of the tower. In the initial distillation process (distillation at ambient pressure), some heavy material remains at the bottom of the tower, which is transferred to the distillation towers in a vacuum, and its various components are separated by vacuum distillation. The rest of this tower, which is known as vacuum Bottom (VB), is used to produce bitumen. In order to produce bitumen, the vacuum Bottom (VB) is aerated in the bitumen production unit (bitumen production tower). The temperature of the vacuum Bottom (VB) inside the bitumen production tower is 240 to 320 degrees Celsius, and the passage of air through the vacuum Bottom (VB) at this temperature causes an oxidation process to occur, and as a result the aeration process improves the residual properties. The most important effect of blowing air on a vacuum Bottom (VB) is to convert light molecules of Molten to heavier molecules, namely Asphaltenes. This conversion reduces the degree of bitumen penetration and increases the softness of the bitumen.