Environment & Safety Gas Processing/LNG Maintenance & Reliability Petrochemicals Process Control Process Optimization Project Management Refining

Pumps

Good distributor design for high-velocity feed debottlenecks a crude preflash tower

Bazan Group: Blum, B.
Fluor: Kister, H.
Koch-Glitsch: Tsang, R.

Bazan Group’s crude unit No. 3—not designed by any of the authors’ companies—was bottlenecked by the preflash tower.

Ensuring safety in dynamic chemical manufacturing environments

ITT Goulds Pumps: Knecht, S.

As with all industries, chemical manufacturing is evolving in response to technical innovations, new customer requirements and increased global competition.

Innovations

Hydrocarbon Processing Staff: Rhodes, Mike

What are the latest advancements in HPI technologies? This month’s Innovations section details the tools and technologies that are optimizing plant operations.

Reliability: Pushing the limit can have unexpected consequences

Hydrocarbon Processing Staff: Bloch, Heinz P.

A prominent manufacturer rediscovered the old axiom, “pushing the limit can have unexpected consequences,” after experiencing many bearing failures in its 40-hp air blowers. These lifetime-lubricated (sealed) bearings had been properly installed on 20-mm shafts, and it can be assumed that premium greases were being used.

Leveraging digital technologies to create the smart renewable diesel facility

OSIsoft: Harclerode, C.

Many companies are modifying existing crude refineries or building grassroots renewable diesel facilities to produce drop-in, green renewable diesel from a variety of agriculturally derived triglyceride feedstocks.

Reliability: Finding upgraded sealing solutions

Hydrocarbon Processing Staff: Bloch, Heinz P.

By universal agreement, the safety and reliability of facilities in the hydrocarbon processing industry—and most other industrial plants—are of highest importance.

Successes and challenges installing the first proprietary closed-coke slurry system

LOTOS Asfalt: Kaminski, M.
Chevron Lummus Global: Heeswijk, B. V.
TRIPLAN GmbH: Graeter, F.  |  Knuedel, S.

The authors’ company<sup>a</sup> licensed a two-drum delayed coking technology process unit to Grupa LOTOS in Gdansk, Poland.

Valves, Pumps and Turbomachinery: Using 3D metallic printing for manufacturing refinery pump impellers

Siemens Energy: Navrotsky, V.

Additive manufacturing (AM), also known as 3D metallic printing, is identified as one of the game-changing technologies in recent years for the oil and gas industry.

Valves, Pumps and Turbomachinery: Use the correct lube oil grade to avoid equipment failures

Indorama Eleme Petrochemicals & Fertilizers Ltd.: Rathore, A. J. S.

Lubrication is imperative to the performance of rotating equipment.

Reliability: Viewing every maintenance intervention as an upgrade opportunity

Hydrocarbon Processing Staff: Bloch, Heinz P.

When a long-time maintenance supervisor was promoted to the head of his refinery’s reliability department, he wanted to make “Precision Maintenance is Our Passion” his banner and headline.