February 2010

To process bitumen-derived residue, success depends on the engineering design concepts and methods applied

Advanced methods use molecule management to upgrade heavy ends

It is not just steam and feed costs that determine processing methods for hydrogen generation

Several processing options can provide cost-effective ways to maximize diesel make and limit gasoline production

Common-sense guidelines detail when it is beneficial to reuse catalysts

Following these steps may prevent potential damaging hot spots

The model was used to study the effects of the many variables that affect coke formation

Novel tuning method enables a conventional PI controller to explicitly handle the three important operational constraints of a liquid level loop in an optimal manner as well as copes with a broad range of level control from tight to averaging control

Where will process control money be spent in 2010? The choices include field instruments, safety systems (SISs), control system upgrades (DCSs), multivariable predictive control (MPC) and decision-sup..

In general, process pump manufacturers are asked to provide pumps as a "set" or assembled package comprising pump, driver and baseplate (Fig. 1). After ascertaining correct shaft separation to accommo..

Replacing analog 4-20 mA technology with a digital network was a major driver behind developing FOUNDATION fieldbus technology. However, what really differentiates FOUNDATION fieldbus from Profibus PA..

Forget smoke-and-mirrors fuel cell engine that exudes only water vapor, a German company has developed one that emits substantial amounts of carbon dioxide (CO2), and this may be a very good thing. I..

Earth's temperature is a chemical process system. Review of control system engineering of Earth's thermostat with anthropogenic CO2 in 1997 proved it will never work because it is an unmeasurable, uno..

 Floren, John      Comments? Write: editorial@HydrocarbonProcessing.com   It is widely believed that in coming years, the United..

High-efficiency multistage pump New high-pressure ring-section pump is said to deliver up to 3,100 gpm (700 m3/hr), with heads to 3,300 ft (1,000 m), and pressures to 1,500 psi (100 bar). The Model 33..

  Rentech, Inc. and ClearFuels Technology Inc. have been selected to receive up to $23 million as a grant from the US Department of Energy to construct a biomass gasifier at Rentech's Energy Tech..

  Petrobras has awarded several contracts for the construction of the Abreu e Lima refinery in the state of Pernambuco, Brazil. The contracts together total R$8.9 billion. For the construction ..

  ABB has an order worth $26 million from Hellenic Petroleum SA to provide an integrated power and automation system for the upgrade of Hellenic Petroleum's Elefsina refinery in Greece. ABB wil..

Siemens Energy has an order from Samsung Engineering Co. Ltd. for five compressor trains, that will be employed in an air separation plant operated by Air Products in Al Jubail, Saudi Arabia. The end ..

  Chiyoda Singapore (Pte) Ltd. has a contract with Shell Eastern Petroleum Ltd. for a basic design and engineering package for desulfurization facilities at the Pulau Bukom refinery in Singapore...

Achieve safe and reliable operations with enterprise risk management According to a recent survey by the IBM Institute for Business Value, which included more than 100 in-depth intervie..

Method could make refineries more efficient Refineries could trim millions of dollars in energy costs annually by using a new method developed at P..

The US Energy Information Administration's (EIA) short-term energy outlook, published in January, offers a variety of interesting tidbits. The EIA projects the price of West Texas Intermediate (WTI) c..

The production and use of biofuels is increasing. Ethanol in particular is the lead biofuel in the US, but question have begun to emerge regarding whether ethanol and other biofuels have an overall po..

  NPRA files comments opposing EPA's PSD, greenhouse gas tailoring rule The National Petrochemical & Refiners Association (NPRA) submitted comm..