Hydrogen

Hydrocarbon Processing Awards 2020—FINALISTS

This special section details all finalists within each category for the fourth annual HP Awards. The winners will be announced on Oct. 1.

Conventional FCC to maximum propylene production

Singh, R., Lai, S., Dharia, D., TechnipFMC Process Technology; Cipriano, B., Hunt, D., W. R. Grace

Fluid catalytic cracking is one of the most important conversion processes used in refineries. This process converts heavy petroleum fractions into lighter, higher-value products, such as gasoline, propylene and others.

Intensification of sulfur processing units by oxygen enrichment and process flowsheet optimization

Yang, W., Hyundai Oilbank Co. Ltd.; Lewis, J., Racz, A., Advisian, a Worley Company

The consistent global trend toward improvements in air quality and tighter regulations on emissions, as well as the International Maritime Organization’s shipping regulations, continue to mitigate sulfur levels—not only in conventional transport fuels (petrol and diesel), but also in jet fuels, fuel oils and other heavier distillates.

Steam generator in a hydrocracker high-pressure loop—why not?

Historically, there has been a perception in the industry that it is not safe to include a steam generator in the high-pressure loop of a hydrocracker.

Business Trends

Nichols, Lee, Hydrocarbon Processing Staff

Rovuma LNG, a JV comprised of ExxonMobil, Eni and China National Petroleum Corp., will likely delay its final investment decision (FID) on the group’s $30-B Mozambique LNG project.

Processing hydrogen-rich gas in a PSA unit

At Tüpraş’ Kırıkkale refinery, adsorbents in pressure-swing adsorption (PSA) units must be reloaded due to the low hydrogen (H2) recovery and low capacity factor of such units.

Octane enhancement avoiding both high reformer severity and alkylation

Kauders, P., CDE Projects Ltd.

An innovative refinery process arrangementa converts butane-rich, light paraffinic streams—preferably containing a high proportion of isobutane—into butylene by dehydrogenation.

Brazilian developments in the biofuels market

Since the 1970s, Brazil has been a world reference in automotive biofuels, especially bioethanol produced from sugarcane. In 1973, the Organization of the Petroleum Exporting Countries (OPEC) forced a sharp rise in oil prices, triggering a massive slowdown in the country’s economic growth, which had been going through what was dubbed the “economic miracle,” with growth at an average of 12% of GDP. This study gives an overview of the biofuel sector in Brazil, along with the main business challenges and opportunities in this area.

Optimization: Steam methane reformer vs. electrolysis technology

Koul, S., Shah, M., Linde Engineering

Hydrogen market demand is forecast to expand. Bulk petrochemicals, ammonia, methanol and gasoline refining consume nearly two-thirds of global hydrogen demand.

Refinery residue and bitumen upgrading: Gasification

Gasifiers take the bottom of the crude barrel and move the residue into the C1 value chain. Refiners have had a variable record of running gasifiers for a time and then shutting them down. Reasons for this include inexperience with gasifier operations, lack of knowledge on how to extract profits from the C1 value chain and market difficulties in catering to clients operating in different business environments.