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Formosa Plastics wins EPA permits for Texas olefins expansion

HP Editorial Staff: HP News

Formosa is expanding its petrochemical complex, located near Victoria, and taking three actions with its turbines unit, olefins unit and low-density polyethylene (LDPE) plant.

Gasoline rises, crude falls as US refiners cut rates

Gasoline headed for the biggest one-day gain since June, widening the profit refineries make from processing a barrel of crude into the fuel. Plants cut their operating rate by the most since June.

Mexichem acquires German PVC producer Vestolit

Mexichem is acquiring Vestolit from Strategic Value Partners for a total of €219 million in cash, supporting Mexichem’s strategy of global growth in high-end specialty products.

California enlists Linde to develop two more hydrogen-fuel stations

HP Editorial Staff: HP News

The award is part of the $46.6 million funding program the California Energy Commission has committed this year to expand the infrastructure of its retail hydrogen fueling.

Sulzer buys US electromechanical services group Grayson Armature

Founded in 1980, Grayson Armature offers electro-mechanical repair services (at an in-house machine shop), re-manufacturing, re-design, upgrades, modifications and other additional services.

Rockwell to automate LSB ammonia expansion

Rockwell will serve as the main automation contractor, providing a $3.5 million PlantPAx process automation system with electrical, controls and instrumentation services, and a motor control system.

Update on secondary seals for fluid machines

Hydrocarbon Processing Staff: Bloch, Heinz P.
AESSEAL plc: Carmody, C.

Elastomer-based O-rings are used as secondary sealing components in millions of fluid machines. Although O-ring seals are primarily intended for fluid containment between different but nonrotating com..

Improve compressor reliability with advanced chemical treatments

Although many olefin plants are making big investments in hardware and metallurgy to improve compressor performance and to extend run lengths, the reliability, efficiency and throughput capacity of the CGC are still key influences on plant profitability.

Triple-offset valves offer advantages in emergency services

Pentair Valves & Controls: Casaroli, S.  |  Ferrara, M.

Liquid hydrocarbon storage facilities have used triple-offset valves (TOVs) in traditional tank farm applications for decades. Due to more stringent health, safety and environment (HSE) requirements, ..

Case history: Troubleshooting a leaking valve in a hydrogen unit

A Middle East refinery installed a hydrogen plant that was designed to produce 20,000 Nm3/hr of pure hydrogen (H2) to support a diesel hydrotreater. The unit was commissioned in 2006. This H2 plant wa..