March 2022

Archive

Special Focus: Petrochemical Technology

Enhance aromatics production with concurrent reduction of environmental footprint—Part 2

Part 1 of this article (October 2021) discussed how catalytic reforming processes produce olefin contaminants in aromatics streams via paraffin dehydrogenation side reactions.

Enhanced reboiler for C3 splitter heat pump improves energy efficiency and reduces CO2 footprint
Rönkä, M., Borealis; Ramdin, Z., Provost, J., Technip Energies; Lang, T., Knöpfler, A, Wieland Thermal Solutions

Energy efficiency, carbon dioxide (CO2) footprint reduction and the minimization of material requirements are becoming key drivers of our daily decisions in all industry sectors.

New practice of diameter-transformed fluidized bed reactor in the petrochemical industry
Wang, X., Xu, Y., SINOPEC Research Institute of Petroleum Processing (RIPP)

Motor gasoline standards are becoming increasingly stringent—in particular, the olefins content requirement in motor gasoline is getting lower and lower. Among these standards, China standard motor gasoline VI (B) requires that the olefin content should be < 15 vol%.

Process Optimization

How hydroprocessing feed filtration system design impacts process reliability and efficiency
Worrell, J., Clements, M., Echeto, S., Filtration Technology Corporation

Oil refining is an exceptionally complex industry, with much of the inherent complexity stemming from wide regional variances in crude quality and composition, plant capabilities and the types of products produced.

Choosing controlled and optimal parameters for the DHDS unit
Lodhi, A. A., Zishan Engineers Ltd.; Shamshad, M., Energy Enterprise Associates

Environmental considerations and stringent government regulations drive incessant interest and efforts to decrease diesel sulfur content to ultra-low levels.

100th Anniversary

History of the HPI: The 1940s: Global conflict, FCC, 100 octane, synthetic rubber—Wartime necessitates advancing technologies
Nichols, Lee, Hydrocarbon Processing Staff

Hydrocarbon Processing continues its look at the history of the hydrocarbon processing industry (HPI).

HP Flashback: Operations expand and technologies advance during global conflict: Excerpts from the 1940s
Nichols, Lee, Hydrocarbon Processing Staff

This articles details several case studies on the use of x-ray technology for inspection purposes. This includes for the inspection of casings, forgings and welded structures, among others.

Industry Pioneers: Polymer science, catalytic cracking, petrochemicals and EPC
Sharma, Sumedha, Hydrocarbon Processing Staff

Waldo Semon was an American chemist whose detour with assigned laboratory research at B. F. Goodrich led to the development of vinyl—the second best-selling plastic in the world.

Plant Design, Engineering, Construction and Commissioning

Utilize heavy-duty cable tray systems to improve cable tray designs
Al-Hamaidi, M., Mulla, M., Saudi Aramco

This article presents a novel design concept that utilizes a heavy-duty cable tray system to optimize cable tray design, procurement and construction.

Environment and Safety

Cleaning mud oil incineration offgases
Herssens, Y., Safariyeganeh, S., Elessent Clean Technologies

The sustainable management of petroleum exploration and refining requires appropriate treatment and disposal of the oily waste generated.

Safe work permit auditing: Is your system providing the expected results?
Blundell, B., Contributing Editor

When the challenging position of manager is assumed in a refinery, one of the first orders of business is to “survive” an upcoming process safety management (PSM) compliance audit.

Carbon Captures/CO2 Mitigation

Digitally uncover profitable pathways to net-zero
Dubey, S., AVEVA

Many view COP26—the 2021 United Nations Climate Change Conference in Glasgow, Scotland—as a missed opportunity.

Heat Transfer

Modularization of air-cooled heat exchangers: A “plug and play” solution
Dixit, A. K., Graham India Pvt. Ltd.

An air-cooled heat exchanger—also called an air fin cooler—is used to reject the heat from a fluid (liquid or gas, or a mixture of liquid and gas) directly to the ambient air.

Water Management

Optimize a cascaded cooling water network
Bhatia, H., Garcia, C., Nangia, K., Fluor Enterprises, Inc.

Waste heat in process units is removed via heat exchange with a recirculating cooling water supply and return stream (FIG. 1).

Valves, Pumps and Turbomachinery

Rotating equipment oil systems optimization guideline

The industry is moving away from oil shaft seals and hydraulic speed control for turbines to advanced alternatives.

Columns

Editorial Comment: As petrochemicals demand/capacity increases, sustainable targets grow in importance
Nichols, Lee, Hydrocarbon Processing Staff

Although most forecasts show global oil demand leveling off within the next decade, nearly all forecasts show a surge in petrochemicals consumption to 2050.

Reliability: Use available database to assist in compressor design audits and selection
Bloch, Heinz P., Hydrocarbon Processing Staff

Over the last 40 yr, centrifugal compressor manufacturers have compiled a vast array of impellers and associated stationary components, allowing for higher efficiency staging.

Sustainability: Staying ahead of environmental, social and governance goals
Ofori, B., Emerson Automation Solutions

Investing in firms that champion environmental, social and governance (ESG) issues (TABLE 1) has been discussed for decades but is now moving to the forefront of corporate initiatives.

Environment and Safety: Building resilience: Why now is the time to invest in natural hazard risk management
Leboeuf, C., ABS Group

With extreme weather events growing in frequency worldwide, organizations can do many things to protect their assets and mitigate some of the risks posed by natural hazards.

Industry Perspectives
Nichols, Lee, Hydrocarbon Processing Staff

As Hydrocarbon Processing celebrates its centennial year of publishing, the publication has expanded its offerings for Full Access subscribers.

Business Trends: The big data tools and related professional competencies required in the chemical industry
Khan, A., Manzoor, M., Saudi Aramco

Big data is making tremendous changes in various sectors of the economy, and chemical industries can now leverage these new advancements.

Global Project Data
Nichols, Lee, Hydrocarbon Processing Staff

Gulf Energy Information’s Global Energy Infrastructure database is tracking nearly 1,100 projects around the world, totaling more than $1.8 T in active capital project investments.

HP People
Rhodes, Mike, Hydrocarbon Processing Staff

ABB appoints Karin Lepasoon as Chief Communications and Sustainability Officer