February 2008

This refiner candidly discusses 'green' and renewable fuels

Additive programs must be designed to handle higher ethanol concentrations in renewable fuels

Innovative dewaxing methods can be used to improve cold-flow properties for 'clean' diesel in cold winter climates

Lessons learned on a gasoil hydrotreater revamp show how to mitigate problems

Advances in catalysts enable cracking gasoils at moderate pressures

'Green' fuel technologies are pursuing different paths to achieve acceptance as credible transportation diesel

Hydrotreated vegetable oils are more compatible with engine design and operations

What a difference a year makes; progress regarding fuel specifications facilitates growing acceptance of renewables

How challenging is the task to provide 'green' transportation fuels without bankrupting the global economy?

Studying supply options for new refineries or expansions and evaluating possible synergies from 'over-the-fence' supply vs. typical self production

Advanced catalyst systems maximize middle distillate yields

Combining these testing methods is a fast and reliable way to measure sample contaminates

This methodology offers more accurate online physical characterization for improving the bottom line

Using this technology can improve analytical performance

Here are benchmark values for evaluating the effectiveness of existing units

The challenge for HPI managements competing for superior foresight is to create hindsight in advance

It is not the purpose nor is it within the scope of this column to give detailed field erection and installation specifications for the many rotating machines found in modern process plants. However, ..

Software tools, such as predictive or plant asset management (PAM), provide online analysis of process equipment health; however, they generally do not offer similar information on control system hea..

Two of the most important dates in the HPI's meetings calendar are upon us. This month in London, where I'll be headed, it's International Petroleum Week (www.ipweek.co.uk). A few weeks later, the Nat..

The LNG marketplace is complex and is becoming quite competitive. Accordingly, process control/automation systems should not be viewed as a commodity product—used to strictly minimize operation c..

LORAINE A. HUCHLER, Contributing Editor    Comments? Write: editorial@HydrocarbonProcessing.com Online analyzers are increasingly common i..

Wireless option for remote video display The patented QuickView pipeline zoom camera can reportedly transmit real-time inspection footage wirelessly to any truck-mounted video monitor or recorder. A n..

Wood Mackenzie's analysis of the clean fuels race in Asia-Pacific shows that the cost to refiners of compliance with Euro IV quality standards for gasoline and diesel could total as much as $25 billio..

Worldwide demand for thermoplastic elastomers (TPEs) is forecast to increase 6.3%/yr through 2011 to 3.7 million metric tons. China is projected to expand its share of the world market from under 30% ..

The Chinese programmable logic controllers (PLC) market is set for strong growth, driven by a vibrant and fast-growing economy that is giving high priority to establishing new factories and facilities..

 BILLY THINNES, News Editor       Comments? Write: BT@HydrocarbonProcessing.com   ..

  JBEK has a five-year alliance contract from DuPont Engineering to be the provider of engineering, procurement and construction management services for US plant-based projects up to $10 million..

Petrobras has awarded Axens process licenses for its new Rio de Janeiro petrochemical complex (COMPERJ) in Itaborai, Brazil. Investment in COMPERJ is expected to total an estimated $8.5 billion. The ..

BASF plans to raise production capacity in Ludwigshafen, Germany, for higher oxo alcohols by 80,000 metric tons to a total of 390,000 metric tpy. The additional capacity is earmarked mainly for the m..

The Linde Group has an agreement with the Abu Dhabi National Oil Corp. (ADNOC) for the production and long-term supply of industrial gases to customers in Abu Dhabi, UAE. Linde and ADNOC have partner..

Chevron Corp.'s Angola liquefied natural gas (LNG) project is moving forward to the construction phase. Angola LNG Ltd. has an investment contract with the Angolan government and Sonangol to develop ..

  Chevron Corp.'s main Chinese subsidiary has signed a 30-year production-sharing contract with China National Petroleum Corporation (CNPC) for the joint development of the Chuandongbei natural g..

Popular, universal industrial protocol A white paper available from Moore Industries, "Using MODBUS for Process Control and Automation," describes how MODBUS works and how it can be used in new and le..

Nano technology's implications Recognizing the possibility for "a looming global energy crisis of an unimaginably large scale," Ellen Stechel, mana..

The virtual seizing-up of large parts of global money markets is a very serious event. A healthy, functioning money market is absolutely central to the functioning of a modern economy. So says Adam Si..

Until the mid-1980s, not much attention was paid to gasoline and diesel fuel quality. However, from the mid-1980s to early 1990s in Europe, an increasing awareness developed over quality. With Euro I ..

Citing the potential for acts of terrorism on any of the thousands of chemical processing plants throughout the country, M. Sam Mannan, a Texas A&M University chemical engineering professor and author..

More on risky trends As expected, last month's article, "Eliminating Risky Trends in Reliability Management" generated considerable reader feedback comments. Allow us to respond and further explain a..

HPI market continues robust growth cycle