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

January 2024

Archive

Special Focus: Sustainability and the Energy Transition

Plastic pyrolysis oils as feedstock for steam crackers: Opportunities and challenges—Part 1
Linde Engineering: Delhomme-Neudecker, C.  |  Schödel, N.  |  Tóta, Á.  |  Schmidt, G.

Plastic waste is a global challenge. Today, only a minimal amount of plastic waste is recycled, mostly mechanically.

Riding the wave of transition to a sustainable chemical industry
Aspen Technology: Khanlari, A.  |  Beck, R.

The chemical industry has shown resilience in addressing economic turbulence and supply chain disruptions after the COVID 19 pandemic.

Process Optimization

Innovative approach to accelerating the startup of a gasoline block and associated units at Saudi Aramco’s Jazan refinery complex

This article elaborates on the startup of a refinery’s heavy naphtha reforming unit with an alternative approach to the initial unit design, including an evaluation of several startup techniques to ensure the adequacy and practicality of the selected option.

Izmit FCCU revamp
Tüpraş: Genç, M.  |  Kantar, B. O.  |  Önen, M. F.  |  Tunca, O.

Tüpraş utilizes proprietary fluid catalytic cracking units<sup>a</sup> (FCCUs) at its Izmit and Izmir refineries. The Izmit unit was designed in 1968 and started up in 1972 with a side-by-side style reactor/regenerator.

Optimizing petroleum naphtha
GTC Vorro Technology: Liu, Z.

One of the interesting dimensions of chemical engineering is the management of processing operations related to the molecular composition of the raw material.

Catalysts

New catalyst system to produce renewable diesel and SAF
ART Hydroprocessing: Watkins, B.  |  Baillie, C.

Hydroprocessing investments in sustainable fuels are gaining momentum, with a pipeline of up to $50 B expected by 2025 involving more than 250 projects, the majority of which focus on hydroprocessed esters and fatty acids (HEFA).

Heat Transfer

Optimizing combustion processes for safety and efficiency
AMETEK Process Instruments: Tallon, T.

Combustion processes are critical for producing heat and power in nearly every industry.

Convection section cleaning approach achieves results at refineries worldwide
Integrated Global Services: Donson, S.  |  Korobeinikov. A.

Inefficient heat transfer in the convection section of a process heater is readily evident by an increase in stack temperature beyond design parameters.

Plant Turnarounds/Project Management

Nine steps for effective preparation of planned shutdowns—Part 1
Contributing Editor: Benomar, B.

Planned shutdowns (SDs) are critical events that can significantly impact production and expenditures. Poor planning and preparation can directly affect the success of any SD, making attention to detail imperative.

Environment and Safety

Sketching a robust audit and assurance management system
Contributing Author: Khan, A. J.  |  Verhulst, P.

Relying on a third party for safety assurance is like entrusting your gym instructor with your overall physical well-being.

Water Management

Hydrocarbon process industrial water reuse: Qualifying the ins and outs for optimum results
Veolia Water Technologies & Solutions: Eggert, T. W.  |  Harbs, D

Water reuse within a particular industrial facility is not a new idea. Power industry facilities operating in arid areas have been designed to be “zero liquid discharge” (ZLD) for more than 20 yr.

Achieve water authority compliance with automated wastewater treatment for industrial facilities with cooling towers
Sabo Industrial Corp.: Boutureira, S.

U.S. industrial facilities with cooling towers must meet U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) and local wastewater requirements for effluent, including those under the Clean Water Act. Failing to do so can result in severe fines that quickly escalate.

Columns

Editorial Comment: Hydrocarbon Processing’s evolution in digital media
Hydrocarbon Processing Staff: Nichols, Lee

For the past year, HP has been solely published on a digital platform. This evolution of the publication has provided readers with a more efficient pathway to access technical case studies written by their industry peers from around the world.

Executive Viewpoint: A lifecycle assessment on chemically recycling plastics: A conversation with Neste’s Maiju Helin
Neste Renewable Polymers and Chemicals: Helin, M.
Hydrocarbon Processing Staff: Nichols, Lee

HP spoke with Maiju Helin, Head of Sustainability and Regulatory Transformation Renewable Polymers and Chemicals, Neste, regarding Neste’s lifecycle assessment report on chemically recycling waste plastic.

Business Trends: How traders can capture value in sustainable fuels
McKinsey & Co.: Melgin, T.  |  Mucha-Geppert, A.  |  Veillard, X.  |  Warrell, A.

As countries around the world seek to limit their carbon emissions, sustainable fuels will play an important role. This category consists of a broad range of low-carbon fuels, including biofuels, eFuels and chemical byproducts.

Innovations: New AI-powered carbon emissions management software

GE Vernova’s Digital business has released its CERius™, a carbon emissions management software designed to help energy companies progress toward their net-zero goals using data precision and abatement planning capabilities.

Global Project Data
Hydrocarbon Processing Staff: Nichols, Lee

Gulf Energy Information’s Global Energy Infrastructure (GEI) database is tracking nearly 1,100 active projects in the hydrocarbon processing industry (HPI).

People
Hydrocarbon Processing Staff: Rhodes, Mike

Neste appoints Hanna Maula as VP, Communications and Brand