Coking

Abstract

Currently, conventional oil is used as the main source for the petrochemical industry. However, conventional oil’s capacity is declining, and that source will probably be exhausted in the near future. Heavy oil and petroleum residues have become a suitable alternative source to meet global energy demand. However, heavy oil and oil residues require many upgrading processes before turning to be valuable products. Among the various upgrading processes, delayed coking, which is capable of processing any residue at a low investment cost, garnered tremendous importance. Petroleum coke is one of the coking products that is divided into three types: shot coke, sponge coke and needle coke, depending on the feed properties and operating conditions of the process. Needle coke is used as a valuable product in the production of graphite electrodes used in electric arc furnace (EAF) for melting scrap metal and producing steel.