6 replies to this topic

[gegio1960]

I have very limited knowledge of lube oil production from Hydrocracking.

I read that both GII and GIII base oils can be produced from HCK (plus Catalytic Dewaxing) but I don't find which are the main operating conditions (eg pressure, hydrogen, catalyst....) that differentiate their production.

On the other side, the incentives, I can't estimate the differential prices involved in their commercialization (ie GII vs GIII).

Anyone can kindly help?

Thanks in advance and kind regards,

gegio

[P.K.Rao]

Please follow  the link:

 

http://www.machinery...base-oil-groups

[PingPong]

I am not an expert on lube base oils, but the only difference is that G III base oils have a higher VI (viscosity index) than G II , requiring more hydrogenation.

 

Whether an existing HCU can produce G III base oils can best be answered by the licensor and/or catalyst vendor. That will also depend on the crude source of the VGO feedstock: the less aromatics in it the better.

 

If your refinery is planning a new HCU to produce base oils then you should think about which types of crude oils the refinery is planning to operate on the next 20 years.

 

Prices of base oils vary over time, like all oil products,  Moreover within each group there are different base oils with different viscosities for different applications and they have different prices.

 

Prices are published by paid services like Argus. To have some idea you can download a sample copy from their website with prices of februari 2016:

http://www.argusmedi...-oils.pdf?la=en

[gegio1960]

Hi PingPong.

Thank you for your contribution....

In fact, I hope to find someone, in our community, that has already been exposed to the decision of choosing between GII and GIII production.

Also the stories of design/operation around this kind of plants would help.

In the present hystorical period and for the involved regions, the crudes should be Iranian. I know from previous experience that they can be used for this application... but I don't know how much they "fit" with it.

Kind regrads,

gegio

[gegio1960]

going ahead on this study, I understood (maybe!):

- group I, also defined as SN (solvent neutral), are produced thru the old "lube chain"

- group II, also defined as N (neutral), are produced thru Hydrocracking of VGO

- group III, identified by their viscosity in cst (4, 6, 8... at which temperature?), are produced thru Hydrocracking (at more severe conditions), plus Catalytic Dewaxing (plus Isomerization of Waxes?)...

the differences in terms of Saturates, Sulfur and Viscosity Index are clear... by their definition.

there is a number near SN or N, like 70/100/150/350.... various sources gives different explanations: it is a viscosity

- Saybolt Universal Seconds @100°F?

- centistokes at ? temperature?

....

I'd be delighted if someone could kindly comment the above... and add other things :-)

Thank you!

[PingPong]

group III, identified by their viscosity in cst (4, 6, 8... at which temperature?)

cSt @ 100 ^oC

there is a number near SN or N, like 70/100/150/350.... various sources gives different explanations: it is a viscosity

- Saybolt Universal Seconds @100°F?

Yes.

[gegio1960]

Thank you, Ping Pong.

Anyway, it's a quite complicated picture :-(