256 ANNUAL REPORT SMITHSONIAN INSTITUTION, 1947 



controlled in properties to meet very exacting requirements and a 

 far cry from the older types of byproduct soap. 



WHAT HAS HAPPENED TO THE REFINERY 



As we have traced refinery history in the preceding discussion many 

 new processes have been developed to handle the requirements for 

 the many new and improved petroleum products now in demand. The 

 process flow of a refinery has become almost a maze. Figure 5 depicts 

 a typical refinery flow, corresponding in chronology approximately to 

 the start of our historical survey. Without commenting on the details 

 the main thing to note is the relative simplicity of processing and 

 number of products. 



Figure 6 depicts a typical refinery flow today, without including 

 the details of some of the previously mentioned complex chemical 

 processes. A comparison with the preceding figure explains why pres- 

 ent-day refineries must be heavily staffed with technically trained per- 

 sonnel and must operate hand in hand with large and competent re- 

 search and development departments. Today a petroleum refinery 

 is not only that but has also become a large-tonnage chemical manu- 

 facturing plant ; and we are still going strong. 



CONCLUSION 



In conclusion it can be said that the petroleum-refining industry 

 has in either active or contemplated production materials used in : 



Alcohols and antifreezes, 



Lacquers, paints, varnishes, and solvents, 



Rayons and plastics, 



Dyestuffs, textile oils, and leather oils, 



Synthetic rubbers and paper, 



Medicines, poisons, and toilet goods, 



Explosives and anesthetics. 



Detergents, emulsifiers, and wetting agents, 



in addition to bottled household fuel gas, motor fuels, kerosene, fur- 

 nace oil, lubricants, and heavy fuel oils which are generally consid- 

 ered the refiner's main stock in trade. Does it seem strange to hear 

 that coal is hauled to market by a Diesel oil engine ? 



Thus refining is rapidly becoming a broad and versatile chemical- 

 manufacturing business and the refinery chemist has reason to believe 

 that he can derive from oil practically every hydrocarbon that can 

 be derived from coal, many products now or formerly derived from 

 vegetable and animal materials, and many products that cannot be 

 obtained on commercial scale from any of these sources. 



The last 10 years of petroleum-refining developments have been in- 

 teresting and exciting, and rapid obsolescence of processes and prod- 

 ucts has given truth to the statement that "there is no such thing as 

 an up-to-date refinery" since it will be obsolete, at least in part, before 

 it can be completed. 



