Published on Petroleum Equipment Institute (https://testing.pei.org)

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Light Ends [1]

A term used in the petroleum industry to identify products that condense at the top of the distillation tower during the refining process.

In a refinery [2], crude oil [3] is heated causing vapors to rise up through a tower, where they condense at various levels. Those that condense at the highest point are sometimes referred to by oil people as light ends. 

Propane [4] distilled from crude oil is a light end.

See also Refining process [5].

 
Source URL (modified on 10/21/2014): https://testing.pei.org/wiki/light-ends

Links
[1] https://testing.pei.org/wiki/light-ends
[2] https://testing.pei.org/node/258
[3] https://testing.pei.org/node/252
[4] https://testing.pei.org/node/280
[5] https://testing.pei.org/node/256