Technology Unit

Residual oil from the Vacuum Distillation Unit (sometimes including High-Boiling Oils from other sources within the Refinery) is pumped, along with some injected Steam, is pumped into the bottom of the Distillation Column called the Main Fractionator. 

Pumping the incoming Residual Oil into the Bottom of the Main Fractionator, rather than directly into the Furnace, preheats the Residual Oil by having it contact the Hot Vapors in the Bottom of the Fractionator. At the same time, some of the Hot Vapors condense into a High-Boiling Liquid, which recycles back into the Furnace along with the Hot Residual Oil.

The Drum Effluent is directed to Main Fractionator where it is separated into the desired boiling point Fractions.