öljynjalostuslaitos

An oil refinery, known in Finnish as an öljynjalostuslaitos, is an industrial plant where crude oil is transformed into more useful products such as gasoline, diesel fuel, kerosene, and asphalt. The process begins with crude oil, a complex mixture of hydrocarbons extracted from the ground.

The first stage in an oil refinery is typically distillation, where crude oil is heated and separated into different fractions based on their boiling points. Lighter fractions, like gasoline, have lower boiling points and vaporize at lower temperatures, while heavier fractions, such as lubricating oils and asphalt, have higher boiling points and remain liquid or vaporize at higher temperatures.

Following distillation, further processing steps are employed to refine these fractions into specific products. These processes can include cracking, which breaks down large hydrocarbon molecules into smaller, more valuable ones; reforming, which rearranges hydrocarbon molecules to improve fuel quality; and treating, which removes impurities like sulfur. These refining processes are crucial for meeting the specific requirements of various fuel types and industrial applications.

The final products from an oil refinery are then stored and transported to consumers. Oil refineries are large and complex facilities, requiring significant investment in infrastructure and technology to operate safely and efficiently. They play a vital role in the global energy supply chain, providing essential fuels and materials for transportation, industry, and everyday life.