API® Tech Data Book, 9th Edition
For the Improved Design and
Operation of Petroleum Refineries
API® Tech Data Book 9
Technical Overview
An API Standard - Developed/Maintained under API Funding for over
50+ years.
Mission Statement: provide a critically reviewed compilation of the physical and
thermodynamic data and correlations that are of most interest to petroleum refiners
for process evaluation and equipment design
Provides the technical expert’s recommendations on what data and methods
should be employed to accurately predict the phase equilibrium and thermo-
physical properties of chemical and refining streams.
This information is necessary for the cost effective design of and for the safe
and efficient operation of process units.
Stewardship/Critical Review – API Technical Data Committee
Over 10,000 copies of the printed Data Book have been sold in the US and
abroad
Unmatched accuracy for key technical data used in the design and operation
of chemical and refining facilities in the 9th Edition:
Hydrocarbon – Water Solubilities
Physical Properties of Sulfur Containing Components
Petroleum Fraction Characterization
An educational tool in thermodynamics for the practicing Chemical Engineer
API® Tech Data Book 9
Product History
1966 - First edition released
1970 to 1997 – Five new editions based on twelve interim revisions
1996 – Technical Data Committee decides to develop an electronic Data
Book counterpart – RFP process completed in 1997 and contract awarded to
EPCON International
1998 – First electronic version was introduced as the API Tech Database –
40% coverage of the Tech Data Book topics
1999 – 13th revision package - the last update to the printed version
2001 – Version 2 electronic – 70% coverage of the Tech Data Book topics
2002 – Version 3 electronic – 100% coverage of the Tech Data Book topics
(distribution of the printed 6th Edition is discontinued)
2005 – The 7th Edition marks the completion of the re-mastering process of
the Data Book into searchable text format and the 4th version of the software
interface (first new, printed Data Book available since 1999).
2007 – The 8th Edition released as the 40th Anniversary Edition
2009 – Version 8.1 with all data book updates released.
2013 – Version 9 with all new software components will be released
API® Tech Data Book 9
Current API Technical Data
Committee Membership
Cal Spencer, Chair (KBR)
David Bluck (Invensys)
Joel Glassett (BP)
Jack Heidman (ExxonMobil)
Homy Maerefat (CBI/Lummus)
Patrick Malone (Shell Global Solutions)
Paul Mathias (Fluor)
Henry Ren (Chevron)
Greg Cantley (Marathon Petroleum)
Howard Wilson (Phillips 66)
Todd Willman (EPCON International, ex-officio)
Duane Brown (API Staff Support)
API® Tech Data Book 9
Technical Coverage
Volume I - General Properties and Characterization
Chapter 1 - General Data
Chapter 2 - Characterization of Hydrocarbons
Chapter 3 - Petroleum Fraction Distillation Interconversions
Chapter 4 - Critical Properties
Chapter 5 - Vapor Pressure
Chapter 6 – Density
Volume II - Thermal Properties and Phase Equilibria
Chapter 7 - Thermal Properties
Chapter 8 - Vapor-Liquid Equilibrium K-Values
Chapter 9 - Phase Equilibria in Systems Containing Water
Volume III - Surface & Transport Properties and Combustion
Chapter 10 - Surface and Interfacial Tension
Chapter 11 - Viscosity
Chapter 12 - Thermal Conductivity
Chapter 13 - Diffusivity
Chapter 14 - Combustion
Chapter 15 - Adsorption Equilibria
Chapter 16 – Software Applications
API® Tech Data Book 9
API Funded Data Book Development
1959 to 1999 Conducted at Pennsylvania State University
Principal Investigators: Fenske, Braun, Daubert, Danner
Total API funding of $3.5MM
2000 to 2013
Total API funding of $900K+
Core research of $50K-$75K each year
Development/Maintenance revision handled by
• EPCON International – oversees all software and data revisions
• Sr. Consultant: Costa Tsonopoulos (Exxon, 20 year Technical Data
Committee member, Chairman 1999-2000)
• Membership in DIPPR
Over $4MM in Direct Research & Development
Funded by API
API® Tech Data Book 9
API Funded Related Research
1989 to 1995
Phase equilibrium on Oxygenates (MTBE, TAME, ETBE) in Hydrocarbons and prototype
Gasolines
$315K
1989 to 1994
VLE of prototype systems at Hydroprocessing conditions (H 2, NH3, H2S, H2O in
Hydrocarbons/Oils)
$250K
1989 to 1998
Crude Oil Characterization Study
$750K
1996 to 1997
Reid Vapor Pressure data on prototype petroleum products and crude oils
$50K
2000 to 2005
Phase equilibrium of sulfur compounds in gasoline/diesel
$175K
API® Tech Data Book 9
API Funded Related Research (2)
2011 to 2013
Phase equilibrium of Mercury - Light Naphtha systems
$20K
2012 to 2013
Improved correlation for viscosity of Heavy Oils (+1000 ºF NBP)
$150K
Over $2MM in Related Research Funded by API and its
Members
API® Tech Data Book 9
API TDB Corporate Licensees
Corporate – Unlimited Use
Bechtel (1999-2009)
BP (1998-2013)
Chevron (1999-2013)
Citgo (1999-2013)
ConocoPhillips (1998-2013)
Foster Wheeler (1999-2013)
KBR (1998-2013)
Marathon (1998-2013)
Phillips 66 (2008-2013)
Shell Oil (1998-2013)
Over $1MM in Software Development funded by EPCON using Licensing Fees
API® Tech Data Book 9
Common Uses for API Tech
Independent cross-check of process simulator results
Research and development tool for conceptual design and feasibility studies
User-friendly design tool for engineers who infrequently use simulation
software
Can be used as a basis for guarantees, commodity transfer, etc. as a
commonly accepted industry standard
Useful in companies without readily available/timely technical support
through a central engineering group
Good estimation tool for refineries and operating facilities (allows
consistency with the central office)
Education/Training tool for young engineers and undergraduates in chemical
engineering programs
Low-cost alternative for the consulting engineer to provide highly accurate
flash and mixture properties of chemical and petroleum streams
API® Tech Data Book 9
Example Data Book Strength
1. Thermal Conductivity (API Crude Oil Characterization Study in 2000 – closest shown blue)
Sample: Temp, F Experimenta API Tech 8 Simulator 1 Simulator 2 Simulator 3
San Joaquin l Btu/hr-ft-F Btu/hr-ft-F Btu/hr-ft-F Btu/hr-ft-F
Valley Crude Btu/hr-ft-F
SG=.9483 104 .0694 .0729 .0627 .0975 .0602
BP=696 F 212 .0658 .0684 .0587 .0912 .0564
302 .0626 .0670 .0552 .0858 .0531
SG=.9872 104 .0747 .0768 .0585 .1019 .0556
BP=926 F 212 .0704 .0721 .0554 .0964 .0527
302 .0665 .0681 .0527 .0916 .0501
API® Tech Data Book 9
Example Data Book Strength
2. Kinematic Viscosity (API Crude Oil Characterization Study in 2000 – closest shown blue)
Sample: Temp, F Experimenta API Tech 8 Simulator 1 Simulator 2 Simulator 3
Composite l cS cS cS cS
Petroleum cS
Cut
SG=.973 212 81.4 70.5 470.0 76.0 444.6
BP=1127 302 14.8 14.8 115.4 21.1 95.8
SG=.9872 158 46.0 30.8 1169.7 41.6 18554
BP=926 F 212 16.8 13.3 373.4 21.4 4185
302 5.4 5.1 93.9 9.9 556
API® Tech Data Book 9
Example Data Book Strength
3. Hydrogen Solubility (comparison to experimental data from several sources)
System: Temp, F Pressure, Experimenta Predicted % deviation
psia l [Link]
[Link].
Hydrogen – 10 822 .04 .0361 -9.75
n-Butane 40 2390 .111 .110 -.90
75 1130 .062 .0648 4.52
Hydrogen – 100 650 .04 .0373 -7.50
n-Hexane 160 1000 .064 .0684 6.88
Hydrogen – 372.7 726 .0678 .0648 -4.42
n-Decane 372.7 1463.7 .131 .121 -7.63
Hydrogen - 137.9 348.1 .01247 .0117 -6.17
Cyclohexane 211.7 390.2 .01785 .0168 -5.88
211.7 636.7 .02951 .0276 -6.47
Hydrogen - 320 500 .0175 .0185 5.72
Benzene 320 1500 .0592 .0604 3.43
API® Tech Data Book 9
Example Data Book Strength
4. Mutual Solubilities of Water-Hydrocarbon Systems
Can be Calculated on 3 Platforms in the API Tech Data Book
Direct Solubility Equation (semi-empirical, temperature dependent correlation)
NRTL (Flash/Mixture Calculations)
SRK-Kabadi-Danner (Flash/Mixture Calculations)
The Solubility Equation provides the best fit of the experimental data (i.e. the
correct answer)
NRTL parameters for 100+ hydrocarbons and water have been highly tuned
to fit the experimental data and essentially provide the same results of the
Solubility Equation plus extremely accurate solubility for:
Mixtures versus pure components
Pressures other than Atmospheric
Temperatures other than Ambient
SRK-KD provides reasonable estimates for Water-Hydrocarbon when
accurate NRTL parameters are not available
API® Tech Data Book 9
Water – Propane Solubilities
Data Type Water in Propane Propane in Water
(140 Deg.F) (mole%)
Experimental Data .184 .0202
API Solubility Equation .186 .0200
API-NRTL .186 .0200
API-SRK-KD .250 .0270