November 2001

Archive

Special Report: Fluid Flow

Cost-effectively improve hydrotreater designs
de la Fuente, E., Low, G., Haldor Topsoe

When retrofitting for clean fuels specifications, consider present and future flexibility of licensed hydrotreating technologies

Special Report: Refining Developments

Consider improving refining and petrochemical integration as a revenue-generating option

FCC operations may be an increasing propylene source due to new processing methods

Control refinery NOx emissions cost-effectively
Seebold, J. G., Chevron Corp.; Waibel, R. T., Webster, T. L., John Zink Co. LLC

Refiner uses new ultra low-NOx burner technology to control emission levels from major sources

Update hydrotreaters to process ‘green’ diesel
Lawler, D., Robinson, S., Stone & Webster Ltd

Worldwide, refiners must adopt processing strategies to achieve nearly sulfur-free fuels. It is possible when utilizing newer catalysts and improved design technologies

Control iron contamination in resid FCC
Rautainen, E., Albemarle Catalysts BV; Foskett, Akzo Nobel Catalysts

With new techniques, refiners can detect and recover from this poisoning

How to ‘spec’ diesel fuel additives for winterization
Pipenger, G. G., Amalgamated, Inc.

The analytical methods that determine parameters for premium diesel fuels are discussed

Bonus Report: Instrumentation

Thermowell design and selection
Bertran, D. S., Kinsey, J. M., Meier, W. J., Patty, K. E., Phan, T. T., Yee, R., Monsanto Enviro-Chem Systems; Frikken, D. R., Solutia Inc.

A principal stress model is proposed as a basis for selection in high-velocity or corrosive services

Tank gauging or metering: guidelines for selection
Sivaraman, S., SS Tech Services; Comstock, D., Comstock Consulting LLC; Ikawa, S., SK Energy

Here are the deciding factors for custody transfer applications

Using a single final control element to regulate two process variables
Needham, M. J., Technip Upstream

This analysis showed the loops would be stable

Instrumentation

Monitoring for hot spots and leaks using fiber-optic technology
Nicholls, P., Sensa

Many applications have yet to be discovered

Loss Prevention/Management Guidelines

Ergonomics is still good business

Though legislation in the U.S. has stalled, these principles and resources can be applied to improve productivity

Ergonomics is still good business (1)
Weiss, W. H., Consultant

Though legislation in the U.S. has stalled, these principles and resources can be applied to improve productivity

Refining Developments/Electrical

Reduce electrical energy costs
Malinowski, J., Baldor Electric

High-efficiency motors offer energy savings and longer life

HP Interview

HP talks with Humberto Vainieri, President and CEO, UOP LLC

The only constant for the refining industry is change. Technology licensors are reshaping the refining process to provide users with new, improved methodologies for achieving product(s) goals. So, how..

Columns

HP Control: All together now
Kane, L., Hydrocarbon Processing Staff

The National Petrochemical & Refiners Association (NPRA) held its annual Computer Conference & Showcase October 1 – 3 in Dallas, Texas. As reported in last month's column, the ISA show is a good ..

HP Reliability: Strategic mechanical seal partnerships
Bloch, Heinz P., Hydrocarbon Processing Staff

Not all mechanical seal supplier agreements benefit both parties equally. We have recently seen some rather one-sided ones. At a recent users conference, the suggestion that the "partner" should discl..

HP Automation Safety: Safety certification or proven in use?
Goble, W., exida LLC

In almost every safety system design class, the question is asked: "Do I need special equipment for safety instrumented systems?" Some available equipment has been certified by organizations like T..

HP Water Management: How corrosive is demineralized water?
Huchler, L. A., MarTech Systems, Inc.

In petrochemical facilities, the most common application of demineralized water is for makeup feed for high-pressure boilers. For example, ammonia, methanol and hydrogen are several processes that req..

HP Impact: HPImpact: Methanol industry's critical drivers
Weirauch, Wendy, Hydrocarbon Processing Staff

Industry analysts at CMAI (www.cmaiglobal.com) recently presented their views of where the methanol market is headed. For 2000, most anticipated supply far outdistancing demand. The world had yet to r..

HP Impact: HPImpact: Making zero accidents an industry reality
Weirauch, Wendy, Hydrocarbon Processing Staff

During the last decade, the construction industry has become more enlightened about worker safety. On some projects, clients and contractors seriously adopted the belief that projects could be constru..

HP Impact: HPImpact: Experts examine MTBE global demand prospects
Weirauch, Wendy, Hydrocarbon Processing Staff

Worldwide demand for MTBE will reach a peak of more than 520 thousand barrels/day (Mbpd) in 2001, following a decade and a half of extremely rapid growth – averaging more than 10%/yr since 1992. ..

HP Impact: HPImpact: Canada's natural gas future lies in western sector
Weirauch, Wendy, Hydrocarbon Processing Staff

Natural gas production from western Canada will continue to be the mainstay of Canada's gas supply. The frontier regions will supplement the volumes available from the western Canada sedimentary basin..

HP Impact: HPImpact: NPRA elects new officers
Weirauch, Wendy, Hydrocarbon Processing Staff

The board of directors of the National Petrochemical and Refiners Association (NPRA) recently elected a new slate of officers to replace those whose terms are due to expire at the conclusion of the An..

HP Impact: HPImpact: How best to secure HPI facilities is debated
Weirauch, Wendy, Hydrocarbon Processing Staff

The week of Oct. 1, the Center for Chemical Process Safety held a conference in Toronto, Canada. The mood was subdued; everywhere conversations centered on September 11. Many attendees were asking abo..

HP Innovations: HPInnovations

'Breakthrough' FT-IR imaging system The PerkinElmer Spectrum Spotlight 300 IR Imaging System features patented Duet detector technology. This is claimed to overcome the limitations of traditional FT-I..

HPInformer: HP Informer, Domestic
Jackson, Kim M., Hydrocarbon Processing Staff

The American Chemistry Council (ACC) and American Plastics Council (APC) have agreed to merge. The new organization will be named the American Chemistry Council and will have a single board of directo..

HPInformer: HP Informer International
Jackson, Kim M., Hydrocarbon Processing Staff

American Electric Power (AEP), Columbus, Ohio, and G.A.S. Capital Inc., Lake Zurich, Illinois, have formed a joint venture company, AEP Gas Power Systems. It will manufacture and market gas turbine ge..

New Developments: New Developments in products, services and software

Ultra-low-temperature cold behavior testingNew series of Online Cold Property Analyzers is claimed to becapable of continuous, ultra-low-temperature testing without anexternal cooler. Using technology..

HP Construction: HPIn Construction
Jackson, Kim M., Hydrocarbon Processing Staff

ABB to build FPSO units ABB has orders from Bergesen d.y. Offshore, a Norway-based floating production contractor, to build and operate oil processing systems on two floating production and offloading..

Free Literature

Process receives CENELEC approvalEuropean safety group ISSeP has deemed redesigned Process NMR suitable for Zone I hazardous areas, by awarding it the code EEx pdem(ib) IIC T4 CENELEC certificate. In ..

HP In Brief: HPIn Brief
Weirauch, Wendy, Hydrocarbon Processing Staff

U.S. air quality steadily improved through 2000, according to EPA's annual summary of air quality trends (www.epa.gov). This trend toward cleaner air has continued since EPA's formation in 1970, whil..

Letters to the Editor

Letters to the editor

pH Measurement I have found an error in the article "Proper pH measurement," (August, p. 120). In the section referring to pH measurement in high purity water, the author talks about adding a "neutral..

Misc

Is asphalt in your future?

BILL CROWLEY, Contributing Editor       Comments? Write: editorial@HydrocarbonProcessing.com Asphalt is a small niche of the downstream market, but a very nec..

Monsters everywhere
Romanow, Stephany, Hydrocarbon Processing Staff

Organizations that manufacture MTBE or supply this industry must truly believe that there are monsters everywhere. MTBE, a petrochemical with firm ties to the methanol industry, has many opponents. Ye..