Environment & Safety Gas Processing/LNG Maintenance & Reliability Petrochemicals Process Control Process Optimization Project Management Refining

Special Report: Corrosion Control

Improved corrosion prevention with acid-aided regeneration technology
Shell Global Solutions: Critchfield, J.  |  Valenzuela, D.  |  Brok, T.  |  Klinkenbijl, J.  |  Lee, D.

Enhancing regeneration in amine treating systems has proven beneficial in many applications by improving operations and relieving design limitations via reduced steamrates and/or improved treating performance.

Environment and Safety

Meet EPA Tier 3 clean fuel regulations through improved blending processes
Emerson Process Management: Truesdale, P.  |  Carugo, M.

This article will examine the impact of Tier 3 regulations on gasoline blending at refineries and terminals, and illustrate options that can contribute to compliance while keeping costs under control.

Design and implement a totally enclosed ground flare
WorleyParsons: Bourji, A.  |  Choroszy, M.
HP Editorial Staff: Prather, P.

As awareness of environmental issues increases to new levels, all emissions sources in industrial facilities are falling under more scrutiny than ever before.

Fluid Flow and Rotating Equipment

Limit the rate of change of fuel gas properties with mixing drum
Saipem SpA: Fantolini, A. M.
Saipem India Projects Pvt. Ltd.: Pandya, H.

The fuel gas mixing drum is an integral part of many plants, especially LNG plants.

Heat Transfer

Calculate thermal efficiency to optimize fired heater operation
Saudi International Petrochemical Co. (Sipchem): Ibrahim, M. E.  |  Shirpurkar, V.

In a Saudi International Petrochemical Co. petrochemical plant, fired heaters are designed to supply heat duty at 7 MW and are one of the major consumers of energy.

Minimize unplanned shutdowns of fired heater operations
John Zink Co. LLC: Baukal, C.
OnQuest Canada ULC: Newnham, R.
John Zink Hamworthy Combustion: Johnson, B.

There are many potential “rules,” or guidelines, for the safe operation of process heaters.

Maintenance and Reliability

Detect boiler leaks upstream of the shift reactor in H2 plants
Johnson Matthey Process Technologies: Ramakumar, K. R.

This example shows a simple method by which boiler leaks can be detected before it is too late.

Process Control/Instrumentation

Linear position sensors gain preference in industrial process control applications
TE Sensor Solutions: Otto, E.

Today’s industrial process control applications increasingly use automated systems to optimize operations and ensure a safer, more productive process.

Columns

Editorial Comment: Corrosion prevention is a necessary cost
Hydrocarbon Processing Staff: Blume, Adrienne

Corrosion is a major maintenance and reliability concern because it has the potential to impact not only plant operations and costs, but also the environment and worker health and safety.

Reliability: Avoid pump shaft failures
Hydrocarbon Processing Staff: Bloch, Heinz P.

We welcome and thrive on questions from reliability engineers and try to answer some as best we can.

Automation Strategies: Data analytics solutions require valid data
ARC Advisory Group: Rys, R.

Process plants collect enormous amounts of data, both from the sensors connected to the control system and from other sources, including edge devices in the plant and remote devices in the cloud.

Petrochemicals: Investigation into West Fertilizer blast shows room for safety improvement
Hydrocarbon Processing Staff: DuBose, Ben

The final investigation report on the massive West Fertilizer Co. fire and explosion in 2013 serves notice to the chemical industry that, while progress has been made, significant gaps often still remain within site safety protocols.

Project Management: Protect operating margins with outsourced asset management

The oil and gas sector is under pressure to maintain operating margins. Although oil prices have stabilized in recent months, they have, nonetheless, fallen dramatically in the last year. This has bee..

Engineering Case Histories: Case 89: Cracking of welds due to weld fatigue
Consulting Engineer: Sofronas, A.

Pressure vessels, piping and fabricated structures adhering to recognized welding codes rarely fail in static loading, unless they are damaged or severely overloaded.

Industry Perspectives: Political analysts shed light on US election implications for the downstream

As the exclusive show daily provider for the AFPM Annual Meeting, <i>Hydrocarbon Processing</i> will be live at the meeting in San Francisco with full coverage of all conference presentations.

Business Trends
Hydrocarbon Processing Staff: Nichols, Lee

This month’s Business Trends focuses on five major trends affecting the downstream industry. These include: a forecast on global demand for industrial valves to 2020, how the approval of Chinese teapot refinery crude import licenses could lead to a fuel supply glut, the surge in US ammonia and urea plant construction, the start of Nigeria’s DSDP program and the consolidation of Japan's refining industry.

Industry Metrics
Hydrocarbon Processing Staff: Rhodes, Mike

Refinery margins weakened in the US due to lower winter demand.

Global Project Data
Hydrocarbon Processing Staff: Nichols, Lee

Presently, Hydrocarbon Processing’s Construction Boxscore Database is tracking over 2,100 projects around the world.

People
Hydrocarbon Processing Staff: Rhodes, Mike

Clariant has appointed Britta Fuenfstueck as a new member of its executive committee.