What does the acronym "VTB" refer to in a refinery?

The term "VTB" in a refinery context stands for "Vacuum Tower Bottoms." This refers to the heavy liquid fractions that are collected at the bottom of a vacuum distillation column or vacuum tower. In refinery operations, vacuum distillation is used to separate heavier crude oil fractions that cannot be effectively distilled at atmospheric pressure due to their high boiling points.

The collection of vacuum tower bottoms is significant because these fractions often contain valuable heavier hydrocarbons that can be further processed into various products, such as fuel oils and feedstock for conversion units. Understanding the role of VTB helps in optimizing refinery processes and maximizing the yield of valuable products from crude oil.

The other acronyms do not correctly represent commonly used terms in refinery operations: "Vapor Transfer Bottoms" and "Volume Treatment Bottoms" are not standard terms in this context, and "Vertical Tank Bottoms" typically refers to something unrelated to the processes occurring in a vacuum distillation tower. Thus, recognizing "Vacuum Tower Bottoms" as the correct identification is essential for anyone involved in refinery operations and processing.