VISBREAKER Meaning and
Definition
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A visbreaker is a noun that refers to a petroleum refining process used to break down heavy hydrocarbon molecules to lighter fractions, specifically converting viscous crude oil into lighter and more valuable products. It is an essential part of the overall refining operations, allowing the transformation of thick, high boiling point materials into lighter fractions like gasoline, diesel, and other intermediate hydrocarbon streams.
The visbreaking process involves heating the heavy hydrocarbon feedstock to high temperatures typically between 850 to 980 degrees Fahrenheit (454 to 527 degrees Celsius), under reduced pressure. During this thermal cracking, the complex and long hydrocarbon chains are shortened, resulting in the production of lower viscosity products. This technique helps improve the quality and value of the feedstock, making it easier to handle and process further in other refining units.
Visbreaking is commonly employed as a secondary or supplementary process within a petroleum refinery, alongside other conversion methods like fluid catalytic cracking (FCC) or hydrocracking. The primary goal of visbreaking is to increase the yield of valuable light distillates, such as gasoline or diesel, while also reducing the production of heavy residual oils or asphalt-like residue.
In summary, a visbreaker is a refinery unit that employs high temperature and reduced pressure to break down heavy crude oil into lighter and more marketable fractions, resulting in improved product quality and increased yields of valuable petroleum commodities.
Common Misspellings for VISBREAKER
- cisbreaker
- bisbreaker
- gisbreaker
- fisbreaker
- vusbreaker
- vjsbreaker
- vksbreaker
- vosbreaker
- v9sbreaker
- v8sbreaker
- viabreaker
- vizbreaker
- vixbreaker
- vidbreaker
- viebreaker
- viwbreaker
- visvreaker
- visnreaker
- vishreaker
- visgreaker
Etymology of VISBREAKER
The word "visbreaker" has its etymology rooted in the combination of two terms: "vis" and "breaker".
The term "vis" originates from Latin, where it means "force" or "strength". It later entered Middle English as "vis", retaining the same meaning. Over time, "vis" evolved into "vigour" in English and is still used today in certain contexts.
The term "breaker" comes from the Old English word "brecan", which means "to break". It refers to something that breaks or crushes a substance or material.
When these two words are combined, "vis" conveys the idea of force or strength, while "breaker" implies the action of breaking or crushing. In the context of an industrial process, a "visbreaker" is a specialized tool or piece of equipment that applies force or pressure to break down a substance or material.
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