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

Equipment

What is the ‘refinery of the future’?

Hydrocarbon Processing Staff: Romanow, Stephany

For years, technology experts and engineers have discussed the elements and operations that will define the refinery of the future. The refining industry has made great progress from the early days. H..

Improve performance of exchangers in quench-water services

Wieland-Werke AG: Lang, T.  |  El-Hajal, J.
Technip: Provost, J.

Dual-enhanced (DE) tubes are widely used in shell-and-tube heat exchangers (HEXs) in a range of industries. They have become a standard in multiple clean services for the hydrocarbon processing indust..

A chemist’s perspective on organic fouling in ethylene operations

Nalco Champion: Hancock, J. M.
SABIC Technology & Innovation: Van Zijl, A. W.  |  Robson, I.  |  Vachon, J.  |  Hashmi, A.

Since organic fouling cannot be completely eliminated, ethylene producers must use operational, chemical and mechanical methods to minimize heat transfer losses and equipment downtime.

Targeted liquid injection improves shed deck performance

Valero Benicia Refinery: Riley, C.  |  Wicklow, C.
Valero Energy Corp.: Hanson, D.  |  Brown Burns, J.

This case study shows how the installation of an unique piping and lance design achieved targeted liquid injection, quenched vapor hot zones and reduced resid entrainment into the heavy coker gasoil product.

HP Reliability: Normalization of deviance can kill

Hydrocarbon Processing Staff: Bloch, Heinz P.

On January 28, 1986, the space shuttle Challenger (mission STS-51-L) broke apart just 73 seconds after launch. The seven-member crew of the shuttle lived until 3 minutes and 58 seconds after launch, w..

HP Project Management: Better strategies avoid project delays—Part 3

Tecnicas Reunidas: Corrales-Pérez, J.

The first two parts of this series analyzed the root causes of project delays and proposed strategies to avoid schedule overruns. This final part reviews construction planning.Construction planningOne..

HP Water Management: What should cooling tower owners do about legionella?

MarTech Systems, Inc.: Huchler, L. A.

The first awareness of the risks of legionella bacteria in cooling water was the outbreak of Legionellosis at the hotel hosting the Legionnaires’ Convention in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, in 1976..

HP Engineering Case Histories: Case 79: Integral compressor failures

Consulting Engineer: Sofronas, A.

Recently, the author received information regarding the failure of a large reciprocating compressor. In this example, the pistons for power and compressor cylinders are powered by the same crankshaft...

Use dynamic models when designing high-pressure vessels

Honeywell Process Solutions: Stephenson, G.  |  Renfro, J.
Shell Global Solutions International BV: Marques-Riquelme, E.  |  Vandu, C.

By definition, a pressure vessel is a closed container that is designed to hold gases and/or liquids at pressures substantially different from ambient conditions. They are used in many applications su..

Case history: Optimization of aromatics complex

Neste Jacobs Oy: Bergman, S.  |  Yli-Opas, K.  |  Karlsson, S.  |  Frejborg, A.
Borealis Polumers Oy: Vettenranta, J.
Borealis Polymers Oy: Rönkä, M.

Borealis Polymers executed an online optimization project at its phenol and aromatics plants in Porvoo. The plantwide application increased the output rate by 9% and greatly improved the stability of operations.