December 2021

Fluidized catalytic cracking units (FCCUs) form coke during the reaction that combusts in the regenerator and supplies heat for the process.

The reaction section of a hydrocracker unit has three reactors configured in two stages.

One of today’s hottest industry topics is renewable fuels.

Controlling polymer quality during manufacturing is a significant challenge due to the cost, maintenance and reliability of online measurements of final product quality.

Petrochemical plants and refineries face production and profitability challenges on multiple fronts.

More than 100 fluid bed reactors for chemical synthesis and comparable processes using Group A powders have been installed and operated successfully since the late 1940s, with some reactors having an inside diameter at much larger than 7 m (23 ft).

Details on high-impact refining and petrochemical projects, as chosen by HP editors and readers

Due to their high momentum and erosive nature, sustained jet fires are one of the most hazardous types of fires that can threaten the integrity of process facilities.

When you boil down the mission of reliability to its bare essence, the job is to deliver maximum operational availability for the least amount of money over the lifecycle of the asset.

The International Maritime Organization implemented the IMO 2020 regulations on January 1, 2020.

Industrial facilities, especially those operating in the chemical, oil and gas and petroleum industries, contain inherent risks in operations due to the processing of materials that are hazardous in nature.

Going back to the earliest days of the industry, oil refiners have found that breaking down crude oil into marketable fractions does not always result in high volumes of the most profitable products.

Valves are some of the most widely used equipment in hydrocarbon processing facilities.

The risks associated with the malfunction or blockage of pressure safety valves (PSVs) are significant, and operating facilities invest heavily in preventive maintenance (PM) programs to mitigate the risks and ensure that PSVs are functioning exactly as per design requirements.

The most vital information on the condition of boiler feedwater (BFW) pumps is vibration.

Each year, the editors of Hydrocarbon Processing provide the latest trends and spending forecast for the hydrocarbon processing industry (HPI).

As a rule, equipment to be installed at a plant site initially arrives at an outdoor storage yard.

There is no doubt that the purpose of refining crude oils into natural raw materials is crucial to produce a vast array of fuels and products used in our daily lives.

Refiners are asked to produce products within ever tighter margins in a changing industry.

According to Gulf Energy Information’s Global Energy Infrastructure database, new project announcements have decreased by approximately 6% year-over-year.

In the wake of an extraordinary year marred by the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic, the author’s company released the results of its 2021 Operational Risk Management Survey¹ of executives, a barometer of the topics that dominate boardroom discussions around the world.

Thierry Pflimlin appointed new President, Marketing and Services, member of the Executive Committee of TotalEnergies