CH20 : Profit 270%

The contract included a clause to transfer the abandoned factory in return for a 5% increase in refining efficiency, along with securing a priority on naphtha. The signatures were now complete.

"Shall we enhance the refining efficiency then?"

"Are you going to demonstrate it yourself?"

"Of course. Please ask the person in charge to bring the plant PFD."

"...PFD as well..."

PFD stands for Process Flow Diagram, a critical document that outlines how the factory distils crude oil.

"To conduct the demonstration, I need to know which distillation tower and reactor to use."

"...Of course. That makes sense."

Though they might not like it, they had no choice but to show it.

With the contract already signed, Malton's request for the PFD was natural from an engineer's perspective.

"Hey, bring the PFD blueprint to my office immediately. No need to explain, just bring it! Quickly."

Malton ordered the staff to bring the PFD immediately.

Alright, time to show a miracle.

***

"This distillation tower should be suitable."

I decided on the appropriate distillation tower after looking at the PFD.

The distillation tower is a large cylindrical structure erected in the refinery, referred to as a "Tower" in American English and a "Column" in British English. It's used for distillation, extraction, absorption, and scrubbing purposes.

On the surface, it looks like a large vertical stainless steel pipe, but when heated crude oil is injected, it separates into gasoline, diesel, naphtha, and heavy oil depending on the vertical position.

Naturally, storage tanks for each petroleum product are connected in a row.

By properly controlling the storage tanks and the distillation tower, continuous catalytic reactions can be implemented correctly.

Though it sounds simple, it's a matter of expertise.

"This is a distillation tower for trial production. You might as well test it on the main distillation tower."

The staff who brought the PFD challenged me.

Provoking me to test it on the main distillation tower if I was confident about increasing the refining efficiency by 5%.

If I messed up the main distillation tower, the damage would be astronomical, so they were threatening to sue me for damages and ruin my life.

"Look, I chose this distillation tower because it's connected to the heavy oil tank. Just follow my instructions without unnecessary confrontations."

"Are you telling me to assist you? I am the technical manager here."

"Don't you know which valve is connected where?"

"What are you talking about? I'm the plant manager. I even know where every rivet is!"

So, he was the plant manager?

No wonder he felt humiliated just by handing over the PFD.

If I improve the refining efficiency by 5%, this man will lose his title as the top expert here.

"Enough, either help me or step aside. I'll ask Malton to call someone else."

I pointed to Malton, who was standing far away, intimidated by the machinery, and threatened the plant manager.

"Call someone else? Do you think it's that easy?"

"Look, I have no intention of competing over trivial pride with you. I don't even need to. Because I am Korean."

"Wh... What do you mean?"

"It means we operate on entirely different levels. No matter how skilled I am, it's hard to succeed in an American company. I have no choice but to succeed in Korea. But what about you, a white man? If you learn my know-how, you could become a vice president at the U.S. headquarters."

In the 60s, racial discrimination in the U.S. was severe.

At this time, due to the 'Asian Exclusion Act' in American immigration law, Asians were not eligible for U.S. citizenship. It wasn't until the mid-to-late 60s that the act was finally repealed.

Entering the U.S. with a 21st-century mindset would at best earn you ridicule, if not getting shot.

"!!! Are you saying you'll share the know-how with me?"

The plant manager's face changed in an instant.

Typical Americans are inherently capitalistic.

Mention making money, and they immediately turn polite.

"Of course. Only you and I should know how to handle this catalyst."

I said, pointing to the sack in my hand.

Mixing bentonite, treated with sulfuric acid, into the heavy oil makes it extremely difficult to analyze the material and even harder to replicate the catalytic reaction.

It's like finding a needle in a haystack.

"Is it a win-win situation if we keep the know-how?"

"Now you're talking. I supply the catalyst exclusively, and you monopolize the process recipe. How about that? We wouldn't betray each other, right?"

In the petrochemical industry, it's common to maintain know-how as a secret rather than registering it as a patent.

Petrochemical processes are not like mathematics or mechanical engineering with definitive answers; they vary depending on plant facilities and utilities.

Knowing only the technological concept makes it very easy to bypass patents, so registering it is tantamount to disclosing the know-how.

That's why security is strict in refineries.

Refinery facilities significantly impact the national economy and are treated as national first-class security facilities due to the risk of explosion, making it easier to maintain security.

"So, only we know the process recipe."

"Of course. That's why I'm asking you to help. Can't remember it all on your own? Want to call someone else?"

"No, no. I'll do it. I'll do it!"

The plant manager hastily waved his hands.

"Shall we start then?"

"Yes, Mr. Woo."

My title was immediately elevated from 'you' to 'Mr. Woo.'

"Stand by!"

"Stand by!"

"Turn on the heavy oil chamber heater! Increase by 2 degrees per minute! Target temperature 90 degrees!"

The plant manager adjusted various switches according to my instructions.

At that time, there were no control computers, so operations had to be performed manually by looking at the gauges on-site.

Judging by his skilled manipulation, he was indeed familiar with the plant.

"Turn on the steam chamber! Steam valve at 12 psi!"

Heavy oil, being solidified like hard candy, needs heat to flow through the pipes, and hot steam must be mixed by connecting it to the steam chamber.

"Okay. Hold the steam chamber on!"

"Yes Master"

Finally, my title became 'Master.'

It's a term used by technicians to show respect for a superior technician.

Honestly, at my level, I'm higher than a Master.

If I disclosed all the chemical engineering conditions I've memorized, I could win the Nobel Prize in Chemistry of this era.

I'm not doing it because making a fortune with the technology is a hundred times better than the Nobel Prize.

Swish.

As I connected the sack containing the catalyst powder to the steam chamber inlet, the powder was instantly sucked in.

At 12 psi, a slight vacuum is created, making it happen.

"Feeder open! Mixer open!"

"Feeder on! Mixer on! Master."

Rumble. Hiss.

"Ugh! Something's wrong, Master. The pressure is rising too high."

Of course. The catalyst reacting with the heavy oil causes gasoline and diesel to gush out like crazy.

"Stay calm! Open the riser! Normal target pressure 30 psi!"

"30 psi is too high, Master!"

"Shut up and watch the gauge, idiot! It'll blow up!"

In my haste, I swore without realizing it.

In the 21st century, it would have been controlled by a computer, but now it's manual.

Though, even in this era, actual production would involve controllers on each valve for automation, now it's a manual operation since it's a trial run.

"Yes, sir!"

"Read the pressure gauges for each section of the cyclotron!"

"Bottom section 17 psi, middle section 28 psi, top section 34 psi! Master."

"Open the top section extraction! Target pressure 25 psi!"

"Got it! Top section extraction open! Pressure 33, 31, 30... 25! Gasoline! Gasoline is gushing out."

The plant manager's eyes widened.

Of course. Seeing high-grade gasoline gushing out of heavy oil usually used for ship fuel or asphalt material.

"It's not over yet. Focus! Open the middle section! Target pressure 20 psi!"

"Middle section extraction open! Pressure 28, 27, 26... 20! Holy... This is crazy."

With diesel gushing out like tap water from the middle of the distillation tower, the plant manager was stunned.

What's so surprising?

In the 21st century, there are refining technologies three times more efficient. I'm only revealing this much to use later.

"Gasp, the heavy oil chamber pressure gauge is rising. 15, 18! 22 psi! The catalyst seems to be entering the heavy oil chamber. What should we do? Master."

"Don't worry, that's normal."

"This is normal?"

"Yes, the heavy oil and catalyst mixing and circulating automatically is the know-how of this process. Now, take your hands off the valves and enjoy."

"...Automatic... automatic circulation... unbelievable..."

This is the unique feature and greatest advantage of this process.

Gasoline and diesel are extracted from the distillation tower, and the increased pressure causes the heavy oil residues to return to the initial heavy oil chamber and be distilled again.

In other words, it's like repeatedly squeezing oil from already-pressed sesame seeds mixed with new sesame seeds.

And it circulates automatically.

"How is it? Hard for others to imitate, right?"

"Haha, blindly copying this would ruin the entire facility."

"Can you handle it alone?"

"Of course. Once it's running, it's automatic circulation. Provided Master supplies the catalyst."

"I'll give it to you cheap. Ten thousand dollars per ton."

Since the catalyst can be recycled, selling it expensively is justified. Technicians also find it natural.

"Thank you, Master."

The plant manager would treat these process conditions like treasure until he gets a significant promotion.

Once Daes Group supplies the catalyst and mixes it with heavy oil, maintaining security wouldn't be too difficult.

Though information will eventually leak, it'll be safe for at least 4-5 years.

"Oh, Mr. Woo. Is this really just a 5% increase in refining efficiency?"

"It might exceed 5%. It guarantees a minimum of 5%."

As the distillation tower stabilized, Malton approached with a broad smile.

Though talking to me, his eyes were busy scanning the green lights flashing everywhere.

In those days, refineries weren't computer-controlled, so when gasoline and diesel were pouring out, the gauges attached to the valves would flash green lights for visualization.

In other words, flashing green lights meant the refinery was pouring out money.

"With this level of efficiency, we should have included the catalyst in the contract."

"Malton! You've already signed."

I smirked, tapping the pocket with the contract.

A 5% increase in refining efficiency might seem trivial, but seeing it in action is astonishing.

Though I secured the naphtha rights and the abandoned factory, I couldn't disclose the catalyst.

The more Gulf uses this technology, the more catalysts I'll sell and get rich.

And by the time this technology leaks, I'll switch to a more efficient catalyst.

"Haha, just kidding. Since you're buying all the naphtha, we'll buy the catalyst from you."

"President, you can't buy the catalyst elsewhere even if you want to. This heavy oil reprocessing technology must be treated as a top secret. Only you and I should know."

The plant manager subtly interjected.

"...Yes, plant manager. It is indeed a top-secret technology, isn't it?"

"It is indeed top-secret technology. Only I can replicate it. Isn't that right, Master?"

"Of course. Only experts like the plant manager can apply my technology to actual plants."

"Wonderful. With a technology expert, a facility expert, and a management expert, all that's left is to rake in the money."

Malton suddenly joked.

Standing in the middle, he grabbed and shook hands with both the plant manager and me. Showing he's at the centre of this matter.

"I'll contact you when the abandoned factory is refurbished. Please connect the naphtha immediately."

"Certainly. Master."

"I must catch a flight to the U.S. right away. I need to discuss this with the board at the headquarters."

Sure, he'd want to play politics at the U.S. headquarters.

Go ahead.

I'm getting wings with this deal.

"I'll change the main process. Please deliver the catalyst immediately."

"I'll deliver 10 tons right away. That's exactly 100,000 dollars."

"Haha, I'll deposit 100,000 dollars right away."

Everyone laughed happily.

I made a 270 times profit in a single day.

I bought 10 tons of bentonite for 100,000 won and sold it for 100,000 dollars, which is 27 million won.

All I did was mix bentonite with water and sulfuric acid and boil it.