Process Optimization
Retrofitting CO2 capture in a petroleum refinery
This article examines the application of solvent absorption-based post combustion capture for refinery/site-specific factors and quantifies the impact this will have on CCS CAPEX/OPEX. This analysis helps to determine the optimum approach for any individual refinery site.
Zero-liquid discharge: A stepping stone to water sustainability—Part 2
This article will evaluate zero-liquid discharge technologies and the preliminary treatment, disposal or further treatment for a preliminary treated system.
Refinery/petrochemical makeup water treatment: A general guide for technical personnel—Part 2
A very important—and sometimes overlooked—unit operation within processing 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. This article serves as a guide for those employees who may be on a steep learning curve when it comes to makeup system understanding.
Thermal decomposition of particulate mercury sulfides in petroleum—Part 1
Traces of particulate mercury sulfide (HgS) in stabilized crude oils transform to elemental mercury below 400°C in refinery distillation units. The authors evaluated this transformation and measured reaction rates and activation energies in crude oil and Hg-spiked mineral oil, using glass vessels at atmospheric pressure and a microunit at 1,000 psig.
Prompt engineering: Extracting operational excellence knowledge from AI—Part 1
Prompt engineering is an emerging discipline at the intersection of AI and process engineering and will undoubtedly contribute to the hydrocarbon and green molecules processing industries. Parts 1 and 2 (October 2024) of this article explore and provide a glimpse of how this technique can help process engineers and operators to manage the power of advanced AI models to optimize processes, contribute to solve complex problems, and improve operational efficiency in refineries and petrochemical plants.
Monitoring cyclone reliability in fluid catalytic crackers
The authors’ company has developed a novel approach with a digital algorithm to effectively estimate the current cyclone erosion and predict future erosion based on operating conditions. With this approach, refiners get an automatic way to better predict abrasion lining erosion for both reactors and regenerator cyclones daily from digital analytics, thus helping refiners quantify their monitoring.
YECC awards ECI Group licensing contract for 150,000-tpy copolymer plant
ECI Group has signed a licensing agreement with Shaanxi Yanchang China Coal Yulin Energy & Chemical Co., Ltd. (YECC) to deliver a 150,000-tpy copolymer plant project, using ECI Group’s proprietary hybrid reactor technology.
Control Station launches System Health Monitoring offering, delivers industry-spanning operational insights
Control Station has launched System Health Monitoring (SHM), a tiered service offering that leverages intelligence captured by the company’s PlantESP Loop Performance Monitoring solution.
Rio Tinto pilots Pongamia seed oil as a feedstock for renewable diesel
Rio Tinto will develop Pongamia seed farms in Australia as part of a new biofuels pilot. The project will explore the potential of Pongamia seed oil as a feedstock for renewable diesel.
SAFFiRE Renewables breaks ground on SAF pilot plant in Kansas (U.S.)
The SAFFiRE plant, located at Conestoga Energy's Arkalon Energy facility in Liberal, Kansas, will ultimately be capable of processing 10 tons of corn stover daily, yielding cellulosic ethanol that can be upgraded into SAF with a carbon footprint at least 83% lower than conventional jet fuel.
- 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
