VBT-DB / DBT SERIES · COMPLETE ENGINEERING SOLUTION

Waste Oil to Base Oil Engineering Solution

A complete plant from feedstock testing and vacuum dehydration to lubricant-fraction recovery, product refining and grade-separated storage.

Designed for characterized used lubricating oil and waste mineral oil. The standard output is regenerated lubricant base oil. Capacity, technology route, viscosity cuts and guaranteed data are established from the real feedstock, product target and site conditions.

View Complete Process Open 18-Chapter Index

1–100 TPD

Capacity

80–90%*

Typical Product Yield

EPCM

Complete Project Service

PLC + SCADA

Automatic Control

CORE SEPARATION

05

Vacuum Distillation

Feedstock-based design

Eight connected process units

Standard NCG energy recovery

Project-specific capacity

01

ENGINEERING SOLUTION

Project Overview

The VBT-DB / DBT plant conditions qualified used lubricating oil, applies one selected vacuum-distillation route, separates different base-oil fractions by fractionation and adds refining only when the product target requires it.

PROJECT PURPOSE

A buildable, operable and verifiable waste-oil-to-base-oil plant.

VBOLT turns the feedstock analysis, target viscosity grades, capacity, utilities and site conditions into process design, equipment configuration, automation, safety interlocks, manufacturing, commissioning, training and acceptance documents.

FEED

Used lubricating oil

Representative testing required

DISTILLATION

One of three routes

Batch, continuous or thin film

SEPARATION

Fractionation

Different base-oil fractions by boiling range

CAPACITY

Project-specific

10 T/D is one worked example

02

ENGINEERING SOLUTION

Design Basis & Feedstock Conditions

Plant capacity, technology route, vacuum duty, heating surface, product cuts and refining system are calculated only after representative used-oil data and operating conditions are defined.

Applicable Feedstocks

01 Waste engine oil

02Used lubricating oil

02Waste hydraulic oil

02Waste gear oil

02Waste transmission oil

02Tested waste mineral-oil blends

REQUIRED FEEDSTOCK TESTS

Test the oil before sizing the plant.

Test ItemEngineering Use
WaterDehydration load and heat demand
Solids / ashFiltration, fouling and residue system
Density / viscosityPumping, heat transfer and target cuts
Sulfur / TANRefining route and product assessment
Distillation rangeBase-oil recovery and cut points
Flash pointSafety and light-fraction assessment
Metals / additivesFouling, colour and refining-media demand
DESIGN INPUTS Feedstock analysis Daily capacity Operating mode Target viscosity grades Refining level Utilities and site data

03

ENGINEERING SOLUTION

Target Product & Applications

The standard product is regenerated lubricant base oil. Its viscosity fractions and quality level depend on the feedstock, selected distillation route, fractionation cut points and optional refining system.

Base-oil quality is defined by complete laboratory data.

Release testing covers colour, density, kinematic viscosity at 40°C and 100°C, viscosity index, flash point, pour point, water, TAN, sulfur, ash and carbon residue.

STANDARD

Vacuum distillation, controlled fractionation and silica-gel or solvent refining can produce regenerated Group I-type base-oil fractions when supported by testing.

≥50 T/D UPGRADE

Large projects may select hydrotreating for higher product targets. Final product classification requires the complete process configuration and third-party test confirmation.

01

Colour

02

Viscosity 40°C

03

Viscosity 100°C

04

Viscosity Index

05

Flash Point

06

Pour Point

07

TAN / Sulfur

08

Ash / Carbon Residue

04

ENGINEERING SOLUTION

Complete Process Flow

The route is reception and testing, sedimentation and filtration, integrated vacuum dehydration and light-fraction removal, one selected distillation route, fractionation into different base-oil fractions, optional refining and grade-separated storage.

PROCESS UNIT 01

Waste Oil Reception & Testing

Receive, sample, test and classify each used-oil batch before processing.

INPUT

Used lubricating oil / waste mineral oil

OUTPUT

Accepted or isolated feedstock

CONTROL

Water, solids, density, viscosity, sulfur and distillation range

1 / 7

PROCESS UNIT 02

Sedimentation & Filtration

Remove free solids, sludge and suspended mechanical impurities before heating.

INPUT

Accepted waste oil

OUTPUT

Pre-treated oil and filter residue

CONTROL


Settling time, temperature, filter differential pressure and element condition

2 / 7

PROCESS UNIT 03

Vacuum Dehydration & Light Fraction Removal

Remove water first, then remove fuel-range and other low-boiling components in one integrated vacuum process unit.

INPUT

Pre-treated waste oil

OUTPUT

Conditioned oil, separated water and separately collected light fraction

CONTROL

Dehydration stage 55–180°C; light-removal stage 180–260°C; vacuum, condensation and separate collection

3 / 7

PROCESS UNIT 04

Selectable Distillation Route

One of Three Engineering Routes

Select batch twin-kettle, continuous tubular-furnace or thin-film vacuum distillation according to feedstock, capacity and operating mode.

INPUT

Conditioned used oil

OUTPUT

Base-oil vapour and separately discharged vacuum residue

CONTROL

Vacuum, temperature, feed rate, residence time, heating duty and residue discharge

4 / 7

PROCESS UNIT 05

Fractionation & Base Oil Fraction Separation

Separate base-oil vapour by boiling range before each fraction is condensed and collected.

INPUT

Base-oil vapour from the selected distillation route

OUTPUT

Separate light, medium and heavy base-oil fractions

CONTROL

Column temperature profile, reflux, cut points, condenser duty and product viscosity

5 / 7

PROCESS UNIT 06

Optional Refining

Select silica-gel adsorption, solvent extraction or hydrotreating for projects of 50 T/D or above according to the required product quality.

INPUT

Separated base-oil fractions

OUTPUT

Refined base oil and route-specific by-products

CONTROL

Adsorbent dosage, solvent ratio and recovery, or hydrogen pressure and catalyst conditions

6 / 7

PROCESS UNIT 07

Finished Base Oil Grade Storage

Store tested base-oil fractions in dedicated grade tanks with complete batch traceability.

INPUT

Qualified base-oil fractions

OUTPUT

Finished regenerated lubricant base oil by grade

CONTROL

Grade segregation, level, temperature, sampling, testing and release

7 / 7

05

ENGINEERING SOLUTION

Process Unit Description

Select any of the seven process units to see its purpose, inlet, outlet, equipment duty and key control conditions without opening a long page.

UNIT 01/08

PROCESS UNIT 01

Waste Oil Reception & Testing

PURPOSE

Receive, sample, test and classify each used-oil batch before processing.

FEED

Used lubricating oil / waste mineral oil

OUTPUT

Accepted or isolated feedstock

KEY CONTROL

Water, solids, density, viscosity, flash point, sulfur, ash and distillation range

UNIT 02/08

PROCESS UNIT 02

Sedimentation & Filtration

PURPOSE

Remove free solids, sludge and suspended mechanical impurities before heating.

FEED

Accepted used oil

OUTPUT

Pre-treated oil and filter residue

KEY CONTROL

Settling time, temperature, filter differential pressure and element condition

UNIT 03/08

PROCESS UNIT 03

Vacuum Dehydration & Light Fraction Removal

PURPOSE

Remove water first, then remove fuel-range and other low-boiling components in one integrated vacuum process unit.

FEED

Pre-treated used oil

OUTPUT

Conditioned oil, separated water and separately collected light fraction

KEY CONTROL

Dehydration stage 55–180°C; light-removal stage 180–260°C; vacuum, condensation and separate collection

UNIT 04/08

PROCESS UNIT 04

Selectable Distillation Route

PURPOSE

Select batch twin-kettle, continuous tubular-furnace or thin-film vacuum distillation according to feedstock, capacity and operating mode.

FEED

Conditioned used oil

OUTPUT

Base-oil vapour and separately discharged vacuum residue

KEY CONTROL

Vacuum, temperature, feed rate, residence time, heating duty and residue discharge

UNIT 05/08

PROCESS UNIT 05

Fractionation & Base Oil Fraction Separation

PURPOSE

Separate base-oil vapour by boiling range before each fraction is condensed and collected.

FEED

Base-oil vapour from the selected distillation route

OUTPUT

Separate light, medium and heavy base-oil fractions

KEY CONTROL

Column temperature profile, reflux, cut points, condenser duty and product viscosity

UNIT 06/08

PROCESS UNIT 06

Optional Refining

PURPOSE

Select silica-gel adsorption, solvent extraction or hydrotreating for projects of 50 T/D or above according to the required product quality.

FEED

Separated base-oil fractions

OUTPUT

Refined base oil and route-specific by-products

KEY CONTROL

Adsorbent dosage, solvent ratio and recovery, or hydrogen pressure and catalyst conditions

UNIT 07/08

PROCESS UNIT 07

Finished Base Oil Grade Storage

PURPOSE

Store tested base-oil fractions in dedicated grade tanks with complete batch traceability.

FEED

Qualified base-oil fractions

OUTPUT

Finished regenerated lubricant base oil by grade

KEY CONTROL

Grade segregation, level, temperature, sampling, testing and release

OPTIONAL REFINING

Three quality routes, selected by project conditions.

Silica-gel adsorption and solvent extraction are optional refining systems. Hydrotreating is available only for projects of 50 T/D or above when higher product quality, hydrogen supply and investment conditions support it.

PRACTICAL POLISHING

Silica-Gel Adsorption

Adsorption removes selected polar compounds and improves colour, odour and storage stability. Spent silica gel is collected separately for compliant treatment.

SELECTIVE REFINING

Solvent Extraction

A project-selected extraction solvent separates aromatic and polar compounds. The engineering scope includes extraction, phase separation, solvent recovery and solvent purification.

LARGE-PROJECT UPGRADE

Hydrotreating

Hydrotreating is available only for projects of 50 T/D or above when feedstock testing, target quality, hydrogen supply and investment conditions support the route.

06

ENGINEERING SOLUTION

Material Balance

For every representative 10 tonnes of used oil processed, the page shows the quantity of regenerated base oil, water, light fraction, non-condensable gas and vacuum residue and where each stream goes.

INPUT BASIS

10 TON

Waste Oil Feed

One representative operating-day balance.

Regenerated base oil

8.0–8.5 t 80%–85%

Distillation vapour → fractionation → separate base-oil fractions → optional refining → grade storage

Separated water

<0.5 t <5%

Integrated vacuum unit → separate water collection → wastewater treatment

Light fraction

≈0.5 t≈5%

Integrated vacuum unit → separate light-fraction collection

Non-condensable gas

0.3–0.5 t3%–5%

Safe recovery → process heating

Vacuum residue

0.2–0.5 t2%–5%

Asphalt use, industrial-boiler fuel or compliant handling

10-TONNE EXAMPLE

Typical screening values for project evaluation. Actual recovery and fraction distribution depend on feedstock composition, selected distillation route, fractionation cut points and refining losses. The final closed material balance follows representative testing.

StreamQuantity from 10.0 t FeedShare of FeedDestination
Regenerated base oil8.0–8.5 t80%–85%Fractionation, optional refining and separate grade storage
Separated water<0.5 t<5%Separate collection and wastewater treatment
Light fraction≈0.5 t≈5%Separate collection for fuel use or treatment
Non-condensable gas0.3–0.5 t3%–5%Recovered as process fuel
Vacuum residue0.2–0.5 t2%–5%Asphalt use, industrial-boiler fuel or compliant handling

07

ENGINEERING SOLUTION

Utilities & Energy Consumption

The utility schedule covers electricity, heating, cooling water, instrument air, nitrogen, vacuum duty and the consumables required by the selected distillation and refining routes.

UtilityUsersProject OutputMain Variables
ElectricityPumps, vacuum package, fans and PLCInstalled load, running load and kWh/tCapacity, selected route and automation
Heating fuelIntegrated dehydration/light-removal unit and distillationFuel type, heating value and hourly useFeed water, route, heat recovery and load
Thermal oilThin-film or indirect-heating routeDuty, circulation and supply/return temperature≥400°C system rating where >380°C is required
Cooling waterFraction condensers, product coolers and vacuum systemCirculation, makeup and supply/return temperatureAmbient temperature and condensation duty
Nitrogen / airPurging, valves and instrumentsPressure, normal and peak flowEquipment volume and control-valve count
Silica gel / extraction solventSelected optional refining routeConsumption, circulation, makeup and recoveryFeedstock and product quality target
Hydrogen and hydrotreating utilitiesHydrotreating projects ≥50 T/D onlyHydrogen demand and auxiliary utilitiesFeedstock, pressure, catalyst and product target

DEHYDRATION STAGE

55–180°C

Water removed and collected separately

LIGHT-REMOVAL STAGE

180–260°C

Low-boiling components collected separately

THIN-FILM ROUTE

<20–30 mbar

Typical high-vacuum design target

THERMAL OIL

≥400°C

System rating where high-temperature service is used

ENERGY BASIS

Final electricity, fuel, cooling-water and consumable figures are calculated from feedstock water, the selected batch, continuous or thin-film route, heat recovery, vacuum system, ambient conditions and refining level.

08

ENGINEERING SOLUTION

Major Equipment Configuration

The equipment list identifies each tag, equipment name, process duty, quantity basis and whether the item is standard or optional.

09

ENGINEERING SOLUTION

Automation & Control System

Choose local PLC + HMI control or a plant-wide PLC + SCADA system. The PLC executes real-time control and interlocks; SCADA adds centralized monitoring, history, alarm management and reporting.

STANDARD CONTROL

PLC + HMI

Local plant operation

ADVANCED CONTROL

PLC + SCADA

Central control room

STANDARD CONTROL

PLC + HMI

Local plant operation with real-time control, alarms, interlocks and operating records.

Live Process Display Trends Alarm History Batch Records User Access Interlock Status

CONTROL ARCHITECTURE

01

Field Instruments

02

PLC & Remote I/O

03

Local HMI

PLC: real-time control, sequences and interlocks. 

HMI: operation, monitoring and records.

ADVANCED CONTROL

PLC + SCADA

Plant-wide supervision with centralized monitoring, historical data, alarm management and production reporting.

Central Control Room Historian Alarm Management Shift Reports Energy & Yield Data Audit Trail

CONTROL ARCHITECTURE

01

Field Instruments

02

PLC & Remote I/O

03

Industrial Network

04

SCADA Server

05

Operator / Engineer Stations

PLC: real-time control, sequences and interlocks. 

SCADA: operation, monitoring and records.

Temperature

Pressure & Vacuum

Level

Flow

Combustion

Emergency Shutdown

10

ENGINEERING SOLUTION

Safety Interlocks & Off-Gas Treatment

The safety system defines exactly how the plant alarms, isolates heat and feed, and moves to a safe state after high temperature, high pressure, vacuum failure, flame failure or cooling-water loss.

Demister → Gas-Liquid Separator → Flame Arrester → Automatic Shut-Off Valve → Pressure Regulator → Fuel-Gas Buffer Vessel → Burner

STANDARD NCG SAFETY TRAIN

Entrained liquid is removed before the gas passes through separation, flame arresting, isolation, pressure regulation and buffering. Low pressure, high pressure and flame-failure signals are interlocked with the burner.

11

ENGINEERING SOLUTION

Waste Treatment & Resource Recovery

The plant can combine wastewater treatment, off-gas energy recovery, flue-gas alkali scrubbing and vacuum-residue utilization in one environmental-control system.

PROCESS PLANT

Three controlled outlet routes

01 WASTEWATER

Secondary Discharge

Water condensate from the integrated vacuum unit and oily drainage

Collection Oil Separation Treatment Unit Filtration

VBOLT OPTIONAL SUPPLY Designed to meet the applicable secondary discharge standard after water analysis.

02 OFF-GAS & FLUE GAS

Fuel Recovery + Alkali Scrubbing

NCG is recovered as process fuel; combustion flue gas is cleaned before discharge.

NCG Recovery Combustion Spray Scrubber Alkali Neutralization

ENERGY RECOVERY Demisting, separation, flame arresting and pressure control protect the fuel-gas route.

03 VACUUM RESIDUE

Resource Utilization

Vacuum residue is collected separately from filter solids and refining by-products.

ASPHALT PLANT
Raw material for asphalt blending or road paving

BOILER FUEL
Industrial energy recovery when properties and local rules permit

SEPARATE HANDLING Filter solids, spent silica gel, extraction by-products and hydrotreating catalyst are handled by qualified contractors as applicable.

Final wastewater and air-emission limits, residue classification and utilization routes follow the project location’s regulations and representative laboratory analysis.

12

ENGINEERING SOLUTION

Plant Layout & Installation Conditions

The layout follows process flow, vacuum equipment elevation, safety spacing, operating access, lifting and maintenance routes, utility tie-ins and future expansion requirements.

01 Feedstock & Pre-treatment

02 Integrated Dehydration & Light Removal

03Selected Distillation Route

04 Fractionation & Fraction Condensation

05 Optional Refining & Utilities

06 Client Tank Farm & Loading

13

ENGINEERING SOLUTION

What VBOLT Supplies

VBOLT supplies the engineered base-oil recovery plant, in-skid systems, selected automation and project services up to clearly marked connection points.

TANK FARM
VBOLT SUPPLY AREA
FIRE SYSTEM
UTILITIES

ORANGE VBOLT-engineered plant and services

VBOLT SUPPLY

Inside the process-plant boundary

Engineering, vacuum process equipment, auxiliaries, automation and project services are supplied to the defined battery limits.

01

Engineering & Documents

Process design, layout, datasheets, control logic and interface documents

02

Main Process Equipment

Pre-treatment, integrated dehydration and light removal, one selected distillation route, fractionation and fraction condensation

03

Auxiliary Systems

High vacuum, heating, condensation, NCG recovery and grade-separated transfer

04

Automation & Safety

PLC/HMI or PLC/SCADA, instruments, alarms and safety interlocks

05

In-Skid Piping

Piping, valves, supports and connections inside the equipment boundary

06

Commissioning & Training

Installation guidance, trial operation, acceptance support and operator training

TANK FARM
VBOLT SUPPLY AREA
FIRE SYSTEM
UTILITIES

BLUE Client-built site infrastructure

CLIENT CONSTRUCTION

What the Client Needs to Build

The client constructs the foundations, grade-separated tank farm, loading area, external utilities, fire-protection system and site connections shown in blue.

01

Civil Works & Foundations

Site grading, equipment foundations, plant building, roads and drainage

02

Plant Building & Steelwork

Operating platforms, stairs and site structural steel outside VBOLT skids

03

Feedstock & Product Tank Farm

Waste-oil tanks, separate base-oil grade tanks, light-fraction tanks and tank-farm piping

04

Loading & Unloading Area

Truck unloading, product loading, transfer pumps and site piping

05

External Utilities

Power, fuel, cooling water, instrument air, nitrogen and drainage connections

06

Fire Protection & Site Safety

Fire water, extinguishing systems, alarms, grounding and emergency access

DEFINED CONNECTION POINTS Feed Inlet Grade Outlets Electrical Power Cooling Water Fuel / Thermal Oil Wastewater Outlet
OPTIONAL VBOLT PACKAGES Silica-gel adsorption Solvent extraction Hydrotreating ≥50 T/D Wastewater treatment PLC + SCADA

15

ENGINEERING SOLUTION

Installation, Commissioning & Acceptance

Four controlled stages define the work, deliverables, client support and release gate from approved design to final plant handover.

TURNKEY DELIVERY CONTROL

From Design Freeze to Plant Handover

VBOLT CLIENT JOINT WORK

STAGE 01

Engineering

Confirm feedstock, capacity, product target, utilities and site interfaces.

DELIVERABLE

Approved process, layout, equipment and control documents

CLIENT SUPPORT

Provide project inputs and approve interface documents

RELEASE GATE

Drawings approved

STAGE 02

Manufacturing & Delivery

Fabricate, inspect, pressure-test, preserve, mark, pack and ship the equipment.

DELIVERABLE

Equipment, inspection dossier and packing list

CLIENT SUPPORT

Complete the site and prepare lifting and receiving resources

RELEASE GATE

Ready for shipment

STAGE 03

Installation & Start-up

Verify installation, complete cold testing, hot circulation and gradual feed-in.

DELIVERABLE

Installation checks, test records and commissioning report

CLIENT SUPPORT

Provide utilities, qualified feedstock and operating personnel

RELEASE GATE

Stable operation

STAGE 04

Acceptance & Handover

Run under agreed conditions, sample the product and complete operator training.

DELIVERABLE

Performance record, test results and operating documents

CLIENT SUPPORT

Participate in sampling, testing and final sign-off

RELEASE GATE

Acceptance signed

Mechanical Completion Safety Interlock Test Stable Operation Product Sampling Final Acceptance

16

ENGINEERING SOLUTION

Operators & Maintenance

Staffing and maintenance are defined by plant capacity, batch or continuous operating mode, automation level, refining route and the client’s existing maintenance and laboratory resources.

Operating Roles

Maintenance Frequency

17

ENGINEERING SOLUTION

Project References & Third-Party Testing

A credible base-oil project reference connects site photographs to feedstock, capacity, distillation route, operating record, viscosity cuts and the corresponding product test report.

Third-Party Verification

Matched Sample Viscosity Grade Testing Laboratory Complete Indicators Report Number

18

ENGINEERING SOLUTION

Client Project Data Form

Submit feedstock, capacity, operating mode, target base-oil grades, refining level, utilities and site data so VBOLT can define the process route, equipment sizes, consumption and battery limits.

PROJECT INPUT

Engineering starts with real project data.

01 Feedstock & Capacity

02 Base Oil & Refining

03Utilities & Site

04 Contact & Requirements

1. Interested Solutions *Select the project you are planning to invest in.

Interested Solutions

2. Contact InformationGet Started — Your information will be kept confidential.

3. Project Requirements