Current Issue: December 2024

Flare and relief systems are the last line of defense against plant emergency overpressure and loss of containment. Therefore, the efficient design, management and maintenance of these systems are vital for safe operations throughout the lifecycle and operation of a plant. This article focuses on areas where major benefits can be achieved early in the front-end engineering design (FEED) stage of the project. 

The aim of any successful project is to achieve consistent trouble-free operation at the rated capacity. Certain pinch points have been identified that must be addressed early in the process to avoid delays. These points are applicable for normal “stick-built” plants and not for plants with a high degree of modularization. 

Modular pilot and demonstration-scale plants have emerged as crucial tools in accelerating this transition as the global community grapples with reducing carbon footprints and transitioning to cleaner energy sources. These plants are instrumental in effectively transitioning between laboratory research and full-scale commercial deployment, offering a pragmatic approach to testing, optimizing and improving new technologies in a controlled, scalable manner. 

This article describes a method for the simultaneous separation of a mixture containing hydrogen, methane and carbon dioxide, which may result from certain shifted synthesis gas (syngas) mixtures.

Mass transfer rate-based simulation has been used to study hydrogen cyanide ingress and accumulation in amine systems in unprecedented detail. In this article, the chemistry, prevention and possible mitigation using water washing arrangements and reflux purging are discussed quantitatively.

Today’s refining and petrochemical complexes are increasingly adopting digital model technologies. One such tool, digital twins, has proven to be an excellent solution for the design and operational stages. With digital twin models, plants can achieve optimized business sustainability, improving environmental impacts, asset performance and financial criteria. 

Lipid-based conversion processes for sustainable aviation fuel are similar to fossil-based aviation fuel processes, but they have some critical differences. This article highlights the technical challenges associated with measuring and controlling biofuel-based aviation fuel processes, and provides suggestions to optimize conversion, while minimizing downtime and maintenance costs. 

The authors’ company has developed a novel technologya for the transport of large volumes of H2. This technology is based on the use of a liquid organic H2 carrier (LOHC) and utilizes both an “off-the-shelf” hydrogenation catalyst as well as a proprietary and now-proven dehydrogenation catalyst.

Through a combination of case studies and practical insights, this article explores the benefits and challenges of implementing visualization tools in LPG plants. Moreover, it discusses strategies for optimizing operator training and workflow integration to maximize the effectiveness of these tools in improving operational performance, safety and overall plant productivity.

Control valves play a critical role in manufacturing units as a final control element. Each valve’s performance impacts production quality and quantity. However, it can also have detrimental effects on a plant’s environmental footprint, as poor control valve maintenance can lead to the escape of fugitive emissions. This article provides tips and guidelines to ensure efficient control valves operations.

This article will review various maintenance activities, including emergency repairs, routine preventive and predictive maintenance, annual turnaround and computerized maintenance management.