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Old 11-02-2010, 08:03 PM   #31 (permalink)
rmay635703
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Quote:
Originally Posted by NeilBlanchard View Post
The details I would like to learn:

* How many kWh is used by a refinery (and how many therms of natural gas, too) in a day/week/month/year.

* How many gallons of gasoline are produced in a day/week/month/year.

* What percentage of the total output is gasoline vs the other products; and the proportion of the input energy used to make those other products.

...to arrive at an average kWh + therms embedded in each gallon of gasoline.
Also just as important what type of pollution is being freed from the crude in the form of liquid, solid and gas based pollutions. (remember the type of crude plays a role in that)

Also the type of crude massively effects efficiency, Cradle to grave gas isn't very efficient, location, drilling, extraction, filtration, transportation, cracking (refining), transportation, additive package, transportation, you.

I would estimate US based refineries choose the type of "crude" very carefully and likely there is preprocessing going on outside our country because not all crude is light and sweet without impurities.

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