conversion

industrial process

Written by

The Information Architects of Encyclopaedia Britannica

Last updated

June 24, 2026

Quick Summary

Conversion is a key process in petroleum refining that chemically alters the molecular structure of crude oil components to increase the yield of valuable hydrocarbon compounds. This is particularly important for transforming heavy residual fuels into lighter products like gasoline and diesel fuel, meeting market demands that have shifted away from heavy industrial oils.1

Processes like visbreaking and thermal cracking heat feedstock to high temperatures to break down large molecules. Visbreaking primarily reduces the viscosity of residual fuel, while thermal cracking converts a larger portion of the feedstock into lighter oils. Coking is a more severe form of thermal cracking that produces coke, a solid carbonaceous substance, along with lighter products. These conversion processes are essential for maximizing the production of transportation fuels from crude oil.1

Summary created from Britannica articles using AI. AI can make mistakes, so verify using Britannica articles.

5 Britannica Sources

Ask Britannica AI about this topic

Britannica doesn't have a full article on this topic, so we've curated a list of our relevant coverage.

papermaking
Finishing and converting
The rolls of paper produced by the paper machine must still undergo a number of operations before the paper becomes useful to the consumer. These various operations are referred to as converting or finishing and often make use of intricate and fast-moving machinery.
Read More
The rolls of paper produced by the paper machine must still undergo a number of operations before the paper becomes useful to the consumer. These various operations are referred to as converting or finishing and often make use of intricate and fast-moving machinery.
Read More