-
How refineries around the globe are preventing chloride catastrophes with XRF
Dec-2019
Organic chlorides do not occur naturally in crude oil; however, their presence remains a disruptive issue in the refining industry.
-
Ensure accurate results for sulphur and chlorine analysis in biodiesels
Sep-2018
The use of biodiesel is rapidly becoming more popular due to growing trends both inside and outside the petroleum industry.
-
Increasing operational efficiency and productivity with the VUV Analyzer platform for fuels
Dec-2019
Refinery laboratories have traditionally invested in analytical technologies that help them both characterise and certify the fuels they produce.
-
Detailed hydrocarbon analysis (DHA) — past, present and future Part 2
Jul-2020
In part two of this series I want to focus on the future of detailed hydrocarbon analysis. If you remember my first article, I talked a little about my ...
-
Importance of effective and efficient data analysis and visualisation
Apr-2023
Kit-based ‘out-of-the-box’ dashboard solutions address many industry challenges, both in making better and faster decisions and simplifying and accelerating ...
-
Determining temperature class for electric process heaters
Jan-2020
Electric process heaters that interface with flammable materials in explosive environments need to be properly evaluated to protect the equipment against ...
-
Multiphase level measurements for optimal process control
Oct-2019
The monitoring of interfaces in process vessels can be very difficult due to extreme process conditions. Wherever other methods fail, a radiometric measurement ...
-
Chasing the bias — gasoline matrix matching to improve ASTM D2622 sulphur
Jan-2019
With the implementation of the US EPA Tier III, Euro 5, and upcoming Euro 6 gasoline sulphur regulations (Table 1), there is an increasing concern with ...
-
2019: The Year of Gasoline Analysis on the VUV Analyzer™ Platform
Jul-2020
VUV Analytics™, pioneers of developing analytical tools based on vacuum ultraviolet (VUV) detection technology, is dedicated to providing fast, easy, ...
-
Increase reliability and profitability in delayed coking units
Sep-2021
Global refiners are always seeking new techniques to optimise their refinery assets with the purpose of maximising their profitability.
-
The next generation of elemental analysis
Apr-2019
With tightening sulphur regulations across the globe, petroleum professionals have the unique challenge of certifying their products as efficiently as ...
-
Are you ready for the new ASTM D8252 Ni & V method using XRF?
Sep-2019
To meet the increased demand for finished product while consistently improving overall profitability, refineries and terminals are dealing more and more ...
-
Get fast results for S and Cl in Biofuels in compliance with ISO 20884
Feb-2019
The demand for biofuels has increased in recent years and is expected to continue growing through the next decade.
-
Piping and instrument diagrams: Part 2 Causes and management of change
Apr-2021
It is difficult to categorise or group the many reasons for routine or late changes to a P&ID. Some causes are listed here.
-
May-2021
Analysis of gases supports cleaner air initiatives in hydrocarbon processing. Increasingly, plant operators are becoming highly sensitive to their contribution ...
-
Improving accuracy and precision in crude oil boiling point dstribution analysis
Jul-2022
It is not a secret that the most valuable cuts of the crudes are present in the lighter part of them, where primarily gasoline, kerosene, diesel and jet ...
-
Digital platform for intelligent operation of fired heaters
Apr-2023
An innovative web-based tool that optimises fired heater operation and reduces carbon footprint while doing so.
-
Jun-2020
Petcoke gasification. The chemistry of gasification fits somewhere between combustion and pyrolysis. Combustion is a high temperature reaction in an excess ...
-
Monitoring processes with radiometric measurements (TIA)
Feb-2021
Reliable measurement solutions for refineries as well as for petrochemical industries are not a matter of course.
-
Detecting leaking PSVs helps a refiner avoid potential emission fines and penalties
Sep-2020
A Tracerco Diagnostics™ Leak study identifies leaks resulting in massive savings from environmental fines, without any interruption to production.
-
Heater experts solve common problems with IR thermography
Dec-2020
Many owner operators in the oil/gas and petrochemical industry know infrared (IR) thermography is a pillar of any robust inspection program. At Becht Fired ...
-
Predicting process performance through an online platform
Sep-2021
Digitalisation has potential benefits across the oil and gas value chain. The InFocus™ Online Platform allows ExxonMobil Catalyst and Licensing LLC’s ...
-
PackView™ liquid retention scale is a quantitative analysis of packing maldistribution
Sep-2020
PackView™ can be used to compare operational parameters with engineering design
-
ThruVision™ scans are the next step to investigate liquid maldistribution
Sep-2020
ThruVision™ technology allows for a complete understanding of liquid distribution, saving days of production losses and massive costs of a unit shut ...
-
Enabling the refinery of the future — safety first
Sep-2015
The recent downturn in oil prices has reduced feedstock purchasing costs for the hydrocarbon processing industry (HPI). As a result, refineries are running ...
-
Simple lubricant additive package quality control using HDXRF
Nov-2018
Professionals in the field of lubrication and tribology are at the forefront of solving many of today’s biggest problems.
-
Dynamic simulation of process controls
Jan-2015
Simulation of a catalytic naphtha reformer confirmed the accurate performance of control instrumentation
-
Sharing the load: proper control methods for parallel refrigeration compressors
Jan-2015
Parallel refrigeration machines have been in use for decades in the LNG industry primarily for the Phillips Cascade LNG process which utilises parallel ...
-
Laser based analysis for thermal incinerators
Nov-2019
An analyser design based on a tunable diode laser aims for more reliable and cost-effective combustion measurement in sulphur removal operations
-
Advanced process control of distillation
Mar-2018
The introduction of model predictive control enabled a bio-products plant to raise throughput and automate product variation.
-
Digitalisation in refining and petrochemicals
Dec-2019
The introduction of IIoT technologies is helping two companies improve their decision making and performance.
-
Meeting changes in plant production targets
Apr-2007
Overview of a syngas plant automatic load controller shows how reliability is maintained. The functionality built into the plant automation concept allows ...
-
Greater environmental protection from monitoring lower levels of contaminents
Apr-2010
A burgeoning world population and the industrialisation necessary to meet its needs have led to massive technological advances in all facets of human ...
-
Online real-time optimisation helps identify energy gaps
Oct-2010
Real-time supervision of a refinery’s energy system enables optimisation of its fuel consumption and emissions levels
-
Improving crude unit operation
Jan-2011
Most crude and vacuum units present an opportunity for improvement using modern process control systems
-
Apr-2011
An integrated energy management system supports improvements to a refinery’s performance in energy consumption and emissions control
-
Automating procedural operations for continuous processes
Jul-2011
Progress towards a standard for automating operational procedures in 
refinery operations. Process plants are run according to operational proce ...
-
Consolidation of refinery control rooms
Jan-2012
Migration of a refinery’s DCS provided an opportunity to reconfigure and consolidate the control rooms and operational management system
-
APC2: aligning people with control
Jul-2012
A lead practitioner explains how refinery-wide involvement of people underpins a major advanced process control programme
-
Offline tools for on-site control implementation
Jul-2012
Application of productivity tools and work process changes can expedite 
advanced control projects and reduce effort in refining applications
-
Refinery operations gain from advances in digital automation
Jan-2013
Advances in digital automation can better enable the next generation of refinery workers to operate more efficiently, reliably and safely
-
The impact of signal-to-noise ratio on guided wave radar performance
Mar-2013
Guided Wave Radar (GWR), although a new technology relative to the industrial level market, has been used successfully in industrial applications for over ...
-
How to use a regulator to reduce time delay in an analytical system
Nov-2013
Process measurements are instantaneous but analyser responses never are. From the tap to the analyser, there is always a time delay. Unfortunately, this ...
-
High-fidelity operator training simulators
Jan-2014
Integrating a high-fidelity simulation model with a real plant control system requires some finessing to produce a true high-fidelity operator training ...
-
Versatility of thermal mass flow meters
Mar-2014
There are many well documented flow meter technologies that are essentially trying to accomplish the same thing: measure fluid flow rate.
-
Calculating and mitigating the effects of water hammer in a liquid sampling system
Apr-2014
In a liquid analytical sampling system, a common problem has the potential to destroy pressure gauges, flowmeters, pumps, and other sensitive componen ...
-
Selective control for a total reflux column
Jul-2014
Operating problems with a de-ethaniser column led to the development of a new strategy for an advanced process control system
-
Driving refining change: part 2
Sep-2014
A look at how automotive emissions legislation and the drive for energy sustainability are impacting the refining industry.
-
Guided wave radar — today’s vanguard in level measurement
May-2016
Guided Wave Radar (GWR), the increasingly popular, industrial, loop-powered transmitter we know today, burst on the scene in the late 1990s.
-
Safety system separation - examination of three types of machinery protection systems
Apr-2016
overspeed, surge detection and vibration monitoring, to help clarify when a SIL certification is truly necessary. Authors explain how companies can protect ...
-
Monitoring and simulation resolves overhead corrosion
Mar-2016
Online corrosion monitoring in tandem with simulation modelling identified the root cause of corrosion in a crude unit overhead
-
Minimising giveaway through online blending (TIA)
Jan-2016
Refiners are responsible for controlling their blends of gasoline and diesel fuels to meet specifications for multiple parameters.
-
Operator training simulator accelerates learning (TIA)
Jan-2016
As technology becomes more complex and companies strive to do more with fewer personnel, having a highly skilled workforce is paramount.
-
Optimised maintenance maximises PSA unit availability (TIA)
Jan-2016
The availability of a pressure swing adsorption (PSA) unit was becoming a major concern for a French refinery in 2009.
-
Dec-2015
Why is elevated vibration during surge often absent from the data collected by the online vibration monitoring software?
-
Dec-2015
Flow (dP) transmitter speed of response to meet API 670 5th edition requirements.
-
Integrated plant control and monitoring
Dec-2015
Turbomachinery controls (TMC) such as antisurge and load-sharing controls, as well as its solution hardware platforms, have been evolving through faster ...
-
Using a commercial process historian for full-featured machinery condition monitoring
Nov-2015
Can a commercial process historian be used to replace stand-alone condition monitoring software — including acquisition and display of high-speed vibration ...
-
Oct-2015
Financial and operating performance in gas processing depends on full integration of automation and process technologies.
-
On-stream refractory measurement
Oct-2015
Precise assessment of refractory condition can avoid unwelcome discoveries during unit turnarounds
-
Minimising gasoline specification 
give-away
Oct-2015
Minimising the difference between a measured physical property and a critical specification for gasoline can have a significant impact on refinery pro ...
-
Integration of planning processes
Oct-2015
A group was established to integrate management processes across all areas of refinery activity to identify opportunities for increasing product values ...
-
Enabling the refinery of the future — safety first
Sep-2015
The recent downturn in oil prices has reduced feedstock purchasing costs for the hydrocarbon processing industry (HPI). As a result, refineries are running ...
-
Advanced turbomachinery controls improve ethylene plant yield
Aug-2015
Advanced integrated turbomachinery controls can significantly alleviate the suction pressure dip of a cracked gas compressor, leading to considerable yield ...
-
Optimising turbomachinery energy savings with control technologies
Aug-2015
Virtually every plant manager who works in a hydrocarbon processing, power-generation or other industrial facility can relate to the need to optimise energy ...
-
Splitting distributed control for a 
refinery expansion
Jul-2015
A refiner’s expansion plan required a second distributed control system, achieved by splitting the original system without a shutdown
-
Cyber security in the refining world
Jul-2015
Protection of industrial control assets requires ongoing risk assessment, well-defined security policies and an aggressive overall strategy
-
Parallel expander-recompressor controls and piping layouts
Jul-2015
Turboexpanders are key pieces of process equipment for the recovery of high-value condensates from natural gasses in modern NGL plants.
-
Jul-2015
How to maximise the life cycle of control systems used in turbomachinery
-
Optimising profits by blending butane (TIA)
Jun-2015
Many countries legally mandate the observation of the maximum gasoline vapour pressure to prevent air pollution and ensure the safe transport and storage ...
-
Advanced process control in FCC and hydrocracking units
Apr-2015
Implementation of advanced process control of two major units produced significant savings with short payback times
-
Gas and fire detection in a tankage area
Apr-2015
A new detection system in a refinery’s tankage area has transformed the level of safety in the event of gas leakage and fire
-
Explosion protected portable flow metering - (TIA)
Apr-2015
Ruhr Oel refineries in Germany are among the first to employ the world’s first ATEX-certified portable flowmeter, the F Fluxus F/G608 from Flexim.
-
Steam methane reformer tube lifecycle improvement best practices
May-2024
(White Paper) - Reformer tube life assessment can be done via online monitoring, non-destructive testing, and tube harvesting with historical operating, ...