Why does'nt crude oil catch fire in a distillation tower?
Crude oil is heated to about 1250 degrees farenheit. It still doesnt catch fire. I understand that gasoline is ‘derived’ from crude and am not confusing the two. Still, the crude oil has enough flammability to catch fire if it touches a direct flame. Yet, it withstands boiling upto such high temperatures. How? Why?
June 17th, 2010 at 12:18 am
They go to great lengths to make sure the distillation tower is in an oxygen-free environment.
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June 17th, 2010 at 12:18 am
Lack of oxygen.
June 17th, 2010 at 12:18 am
you can’t have fire without oxygen
June 17th, 2010 at 12:18 am
There’s no Oxygen in a distillation tower….
However, should there be a pressure above atmospheric in the system, and there was a leak, then the temperature will be enough for it to ignite without an ignition source as it hit the atmosphere.