Environment
Best practices for proper alarm management
Process alarms are critical safeguards put into place on operating units to enable operators to avoid incidents that impact a company’s safety, reliability and bottom line. It is absolutely essential to any safe facility operation that alarms are properly managed and utilized to address real and consequential operational issues before they become incidents.
Utilize a hydrogen reactions lab to optimize renewable fuels processing
Leading technology developers in the refining space are utilizing various catalysts to enhance the adjusted reaction chemistry, but this does not directly address how to optimize hydrogen utilization for the hydrodeoxygenation and isomerization/cracking processing steps. To ensure the right equipment outlay and calibration for these hydrogenation applications, replicating the process in a lab setting can help identify efficiencies and yield improvements for a fraction of the cost that a refiner would incur attempting to achieve that optimization through modifications at commercial scale.
Case study: Developing mildew-resistant coatings on ethanol tanks
Scientists from the authors’ company determined how best to combat persistent black mildew on aboveground storage tanks by first using a novel strategy to identify it. This discovery led to the identification of coating formulations with superior capacity to prevent mildew growth. The scientists proved the performance of the coatings by conducting field tests involving painting sample patches onto an ethanol storage tank.
Refinery/petrochemical makeup water treatment: A general guide for technical personnel—Part 1
New personnel are often confronted with challenges that require knowledgeable and quick action, which they may have difficulty providing without thorough training. A very important—and sometimes overlooked—unit operation within these facilities is makeup water treatment for steam generators and other processes. Many cases have been documented in which makeup system upsets have led to boiler tube failures that partially or completely shut down unit processes. Parts 1 and 2 (September 2024) of this article serve as a guide for those employees who may be on a steep learning curve when it comes to makeup system understanding.
Zero liquid discharge: A stepping stone to water sustainability—Part 1
Among the available technologies of wastewater treatment to recover reusable water, zero-liquid discharge (ZLD) has become the most frequently used term in oil and gas refineries and petrochemical plants. It has been effectively used in the treatment of brine to maximize the recovery of freshwater or recycled water and to recover salt and other chemicals that are used in other industries.
UCF researcher develops lotus-inspired tech to convert CO2 to fuels, chemicals
In an effort to reduce the environmental impact of carbon dioxide (CO2) emissions, a University of Central Florida (UCF) researcher has developed a new technology that captures carbon dioxide and outputs useful fuels and chemicals.
Acer, Cathay Cargo and Dimerco join forces to reduce carbon emissions via SAF
Cathay Cargo and Dimerco Express Group are joining forces to reduce carbon emissions in aviation. Acer and its logistics provider Dimerco have signed an agreement to support sustainable aviation fuel (SAF) use on Cathay Cargo’s flights, beginning from 2024.
Digital Feature: Truly effective reliability requires predictive maintenance
To navigate this new world, organizations must find ways to bring in new technologies to support the limited personnel they have, but without increasing the complexity of those people’s jobs or overwhelming them with raw data they are not trained to use. The solution is to implement a predictive maintenance technology plan founded on a boundless automation vision of seamlessly moving contextualized data wherever it is needed.
Honeywell expands licensing agreement to support energy transition with new flare technologies
Honeywell announced a significant expansion of its licensing agreement with AFG Combustion and its subsidiary, Greens Combustion Ltd., to include Callidus flares. This expanded agreement not only doubles the range of greenhouse gas-reducing Callidus Ultra Blue Hydrogen process burners but also enhances global customer support.
Viking Energy becomes the world's first ammonia-powered platform supply vessel
Shipowner Eidesvik Offshore and partners will make “Viking Energy” the world’s first ammonia-powered platform supply vessel. In 2026, the vessel will operate on ammonia for Equinor, reducing GHG emissions by 70% or more.
- ExxonMobil plans 1 Blbs/yr of advanced recycling by 2027 11/22
- Gauging the likely Trump effect on U.S. energy and power sectors 11/22
- Russia's Lukoil restoring cracker at NORSI refinery, gasoline output rising 11/22
- Nigeria's local currency crude sales fall short of target, Dangote refinery says 11/22
- U.S. October gasoline imports hit post-pandemic low on slump in European shipments 11/22
- Clean Hydrogen Works awards McDermott FEED contract for Ascension Clean Energy (ACE) project 11/21
