What does the acronym "Delayed Coker Unit" signify in refinery operations?

The acronym "Delayed Coker Unit" refers to a specific process used in refinery operations that predominantly focuses on converting heavy crude oil residues into valuable products, with a significant end product being petroleum coke. This process involves heating the heavy oil to high temperatures in a coking drum, where the thermal decomposition occurs. The term "delayed" signifies that there is a waiting period for the heavy oils to be subjected to this thermal cracking process, allowing for the optimal formation of coke while also producing lighter hydrocarbons as by-products.

The thermal breakdown in the coker produces solid carbonaceous material known as petroleum coke, along with lighter liquid hydrocarbons, which can be further refined into fuels or chemicals. Thus, the focus of the Delayed Coker Unit is not merely on crude processing or distillation methods, nor solely on generating petroleum by-products in a broad sense; rather, it zeroes in on the specific transformation of heavy oils to coke and liquid products through an intricate and controlled heating process. This makes the reference to producing coke from heavy oils the most accurate interpretation of the acronym in this context.