As part of the overall revitalization project of the Cubatão Unit, RPBC acquired around 700 valves from Crane Pacific, just for the Aviation Gasoline Plant. The valves are designed for use in the alkylation process and licensed to work with hydrofluoric acid (HF).
Alkylation is a process used to produce high-octane gasoline from isobutane, formed mainly during catalytic cracking, with the objective of bringing together two molecules, usually an olefin and an isoparaffin, in order to create a third molecular weight higher and more branched, through the catalytic reaction of hydrofluoric acid.
Hydrofluoric acid (HF) is a colorless, aqueous element that produces vapors harmful to the human body and releases an irritating odor, in addition to being extremely aggressive when in contact with various materials such as: glass, concrete, natural rubber, leather and many materials Organic. For this reason, it requires extra care in its handling and special equipment such as Crane valves, with components manufactured in Monel and perfectly adapted PTFE gaskets, a design that eliminates any possibility of leakage, either through the seat, the body or stem .
The Crane Valves group, with its Pacific - HF division, has developed and manufactures Male, Globe, Retention and Drawer valves for applications with hydrofluoric acid (HF). The valves are approved and certified by licensing bodies such as UOP and Phillips Petroleum, the latter being technically responsible for applying the valves in the alkylation of the Aviation Gasoline Plant, located at RPBC.