Process Control
Vibration studies offer valuable lessons for correcting problematic operations
All plants have a vibration monitoring program for rotating equipment. Portable instruments measure vibration at the bearing housing of machines at horizontal (x), vertical (y) and axial (z) directions. The frequency spectrum helps diagnose the causes of vibration.
Advance analytics to keep pace with production
Predicting the state of the energy industry a year or two from now is difficult. At best, potential scenarios can be envisioned, as in the International Energy Agency’s (IEA) World Energy Outlook 2016. Through this analysis of data and market reports, the IEA casts its projections for different scenarios to the year 2040. The IEA expects the fastest growth to occur in renewable energy, given recent climate pledges by global governments.
Expand crude diet flexibility through comprehensive oil management
One of the primary means for refiners to boost profitability is to improve crude diet flexibility. Many refiners are challenged with increasing their margins while the quality of the global crude oil supply declines.
Driving innovation in the downstream: IRPC returns to New Delhi
Gulf Publishing Company and Hydrocarbon Processing are pleased to announce that IRPC 2017 will be held April 18–20 in New Delhi.
Innovations
Siemens Water Solutions has chosen a ceramic flat-sheet membrane for use in a powdered activated carbon technology (PACT) membrane bioreactor (MBR).
Reduce coke formation and save operating costs with optimization of DMDS into ethane cracking furnaces
Steam cracking furnaces produce olefins, which are high-value feeds in the petrochemical industry. Coke formation is an unavoidable part of a thermal cracking furnace.
Improve plant work processes with enhanced alarm response programs
One of the unfortunate realities of automation in process industries is the stubborn inability to improve on the weakest link of the chain: human beings.
Automation Strategies: Rethinking automation: A stepwise approach to the IIoT
Energy producers are under tremendous pressure to reduce operational costs and maximize efficiency throughout the value chain. This is easier said than done.
Key design considerations for vacuum process condensers
The crude oil refining and petrochemical industries make extensive use of condensers that operate under vacuum (i.e., below atmospheric pressure). Distillation is the most common process using these condensers, either as a process precondenser ahead of an ejector system, or as an intercondenser within an ejector system.
Automation Strategies: Drive maximum asset capability with operational technologies
Owner-operators across the hydrocarbon processing industry (HPI) strive to gain maximum business value from their process plant assets. Here, automation assets and other operational technology (OT) typically play a major role.
- Petrobras wrapping up due diligence to buy back refinery from Mubadala 7/26
- US court rejects EPA denials of 2022 small refinery biofuel waivers 7/26
- Mexico seeks more 2025 fuel import deals after refinery delays 7/26
- PETRONAS, Eni and Euglena reach FID to construct a biorefinery in Malaysia 7/26
- ExxonMobil signs carbon capture agreement with CF Industries in Mississippi (U.S,) 7/26
- WoodMac: LNG truck sales impacting Chinese road diesel demand 7/26
- Digital Exclusive: SPECIAL FOCUS: Digital Technologies—Utilize process simulation digital twin to optimize condensate yield
- Digital Exclusive-Flare system design: Liquid pockets in flare headers
- Hydrogen-rich content gasoline: A new concept for paraffinic gasoline reformulation
- Alarm rationalization at Kuwait National Petroleum Company (KNPC) refineries
