ARTICLES
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Monitoring heat exchange systems
Jan-2010
Anticipating final federal standards, the cooling tower monitoring programs at two refineries have been beneficial in estimating VOC emissions from the ...
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Mar-2018
Scalable simulation of crude unit operations enables refineries to build increasingly rigorous models to enhance performance
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Dec-2016
Feed containing fines, in-organic matter, sludge, rust etc. can cause excessive pressure drop build-up issues in hydroprocessing reactors.
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Oct-2014
When natural gas was to be added to a refinery’s fuel gas system, detailed dynamic simulation of the new system ensured stable operation and a shorter ...
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Maximising heat exchanger cleaning
Jun-2018
Powerful chemical cleaning programmes reduce downtime and increase the efficiency of heat exchangers.
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Value of monitoring exchanger networks
Oct-2012
A rigorous exchanger simulation model can be used to calculate the true cost of fouling in crude preheat networks
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Cleaning heater convection tubes
Feb-2020
Fired heater tubes are difficult to clean, but a sequence of operations can remove unwanted material from the tubes’ external surfaces and raise the ...
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Low-cost methods to improve FCCU energy efficiency
Jul-2000
The first step to finding low-cost ways of improving FCC unit efficiency under new environmental regulations is to determine the true limits of the existing ...
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Rapid waste heat boiler retubing at IPL Mount Isa sulphuric acid plant
Feb-2017
Effective energy recovery in sulphuric acid plants can drive the economics of the plant every bit as much as the actual production of sulphuric acid.
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Energy recovery with compact 
heat exchangers
Jan-2012
Compact heat exchangers are used for heat recovery applications where high efficiency is vital, space constraints apply, or exotic materials are requi ...
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Optimising a process scheme for platforming heaters
Jan-2013
Thermal imbalance resulting from an existing process scheme for CCR platforming furnaces is addressed by process schemes for distributing heat load more ...
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Practical considerations for crude unit revamps
Oct-1998
Two examples are used in this article to illustrate how changes in the process flow scheme can increase preheat train heat recovery
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Heat recovery solves carbon capture issues
Mar-2021
Flue gas heat recovery at the fired heater overcomes major drawbacks to the successful operation of an amine based carbon capture plant.
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Specifications — importance of getting them right
Mar-2003
Faulty equipment specifications sometimes carry unforeseen penalties, with loss of performance. It is the process design engineer’s responsibility to ...
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Optimising steam systems: part I
Apr-2010
Simple techniques to reduce the cost of ownership of a refinery’s steam distribution system and condensate return using steam traps and separators
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Designing steam heat exchangers and tracing systems
Jun-2021
Fundamentals must be considered when designing an industrial steam system to avoid premature failure or under-performance.
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Increasing distillate production at zero capital cost
Oct-2014
Significantly increasing distillate production can at the earliest stages require no more than process tweaks before significant capital revamps are r ...
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Exchanger cleaning contest: chemicals vs jetting
Jun-2017
Chemical cleaning proved to be more effective than water jetting to increase the efficiency of a high heat flux exchanger
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Improvements to water gas shift process
Dec-2019
With a growing population supplies of natural resources are under ever-increasing pressure, their sustainable use has never been higher on the agenda.
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Fouling and cleaning analysis of a heat exchanger network
Dec-2019
Analysis of a complex heat exchanger network employs a digital twin model to establish a programme for fouling and cleaning.
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Using continuous helical flow to reduce fouling
Mar-2021
It would not be an understatement to say that fouling is one of the most costly recurring problems in hydrocarbon processing, and that it hits process ...
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Managing heat efficiently - The manufacture of plate-fin heat exchangers
Jun-2017
The most complex task for manufacturers of plate-fin heat exchangers is the process of brazing. Millions of brazing joints are required to ensure that ...
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Revamping a bitumen heating system
Jul-2019
A redesigned oil based heating system for bitumen storage and sales saves energy and eliminates customer complaints.
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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.
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As cold as ice, liquefying LNG beyond the arctic circle
Aug-2013
Building a low-carbon economy is one of the great challenges of our time. In order to protect the climate, the world needs clean energy and natural gas ...
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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 ...
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Dec-2020
Remotely cleaning furnace tubes slashed the cost of hydrogen production for a refiner.
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Dividing wall revamp boosts octane and throughput
Jun-2021
Dividing wall column technology reduces energy and capex, but increasingly contributes to higher revenues from better products, as in this application ...
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Fresh look at accelerating electrification and the role that thermal plays
Sep-2021
The goals of the 2015 Paris Agreement are now playing out, with companies and governments making drastic changes to hit its ambitious targets.
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Cut time, costs and complexity with the integrated capabilities of an F4T controller
Nov-2021
Many of today’s complex industrial heating systems have several devices to ensure continuous operations and efficient performance. The application may ...
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Optimising heat recovery in a heat exchanger network
Apr-2022
Maintaining equal heat capacity flow rates for heat sink and source provides maximum heat recovery from an exchanger network.
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Increasing efficiency of catalytic reformer unit fired heaters
Oct-2023
Application of ceramic coating on CRU heater tubing and refractory avoids oxidative scale formation, significantly lowering fuel consumption and CO2 f ...
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Enhancing heat transfer in Texas Towers
Oct-2009
Retrofit technology enhances heat recovery in feed-effluent exchangers, increases throughput, reduces furnace load and provides cost benefits
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Maximising heat exchanger cleaning
Jun-2018
Powerful chemical cleaning programmes reduce downtime and increase the efficiency of heat exchangers.
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Understanding the factors affecting heat loss
Mar-2022
Understanding the factors that influence heat loss allows design engineers to better calculate the insulation and power needed to heat a product.
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Heat recovery from corrosive flue gas
Apr-2015
For improvements to energy efficiency in the petrochemical industry, waste heat recovery from corrosive flue gas is the most cost effective source to ...
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Replacing a corroded column with packing internals
Jul-2018
A corroded column was replaced with a new column equipped with high capacity packing. The cross sectional area is less than half that of the original.
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Consider retrofits to handle high-viscosity crudes
Mar-2004
In 2000, ConocoPhillips’ refinery in Sweeny, Texas, began processing 16° API gravity blends of extra-heavy crude oils, including Merey 16 and BCF 1 ...
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Why vacuum unit fired heaters coke
Oct-2004
A description of the internal workings of vacuum heaters and the causes of coke formation within them
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Exchanger cleaning contest: chemicals vs jetting
Jun-2017
Chemical cleaning proved to be more effective than water jetting to increase the efficiency of a high heat flux exchanger
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Using continuous helical flow to reduce fouling
Mar-2021
It would not be an understatement to say that fouling is one of the most costly recurring problems in hydrocarbon processing, and that it hits process ...
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Reducing fuel consumption and CO2 emissions in fired heaters
Feb-2023
A global inventory of carbon dioxide (CO₂) emissions recently published by One Earth suggests that global cumulative emissions could be reduced by up ...
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Preventing corrosion resulting from renewables conversion
Feb-2023
Many oil and gas companies are repurposing refineries to produce renewable diesel, sustainable aviation fuel, and other renewable biofuels and products. ...
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Optimising steam systems: part I
Apr-2010
Simple techniques to reduce the cost of ownership of a refinery’s steam distribution system and condensate return using steam traps and separators
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Improving heat transfer in reboilers and condensers
Mar-2016
Guidelines and experience on how to deal with a loss of condensing or reboiling capacity
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Energy recovery with compact 
heat exchangers
Jan-2012
Compact heat exchangers are used for heat recovery applications where high efficiency is vital, space constraints apply, or exotic materials are requi ...
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Adding CHP to refinery power infrastructures
Feb-2024
CI scores and delivered economic impact at downstream facilities improve when adding CHP units to increase electrical and thermal efficiency.
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Feb-2024
A new approach to the costly problem of biofilm formation in refinery and petrochemical operations.
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Improvements to water gas shift process
Dec-2019
With a growing population supplies of natural resources are under ever-increasing pressure, their sustainable use has never been higher on the agenda.
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Advances in delayed coking heat transfer equipment design
Nov-2008
The delayed coking process is used to crack heavy oils, normally vacuum residue, into more valuable light liquid products, with less valuable gas and solid ...
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Fresh look at accelerating electrification and the role that thermal plays
Sep-2021
The goals of the 2015 Paris Agreement are now playing out, with companies and governments making drastic changes to hit its ambitious targets.
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Designing steam heat exchangers and tracing systems
Jun-2021
Fundamentals must be considered when designing an industrial steam system to avoid premature failure or under-performance.
-
Dividing wall revamp boosts octane and throughput
Jun-2021
Dividing wall column technology reduces energy and capex, but increasingly contributes to higher revenues from better products, as in this application ...
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Boosting tube-side heat transfer
Jun-2021
Tube insert technologies can improve heat exchanger performance by enhancing tube-side heat transfer coefficients in two-phase applications.
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Using continuous helical flow to reduce fouling
Mar-2021
It would not be an understatement to say that fouling is one of the most costly recurring problems in hydrocarbon processing, and that it hits process ...
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Heat recovery solves carbon capture issues
Mar-2021
Flue gas heat recovery at the fired heater overcomes major drawbacks to the successful operation of an amine based carbon capture plant.
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Process safety time for fired heaters
Dec-2020
Cases illustrate the actions needed to avoid hazards occurring when the supply to a fired heater is disturbed.
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Dec-2020
Remotely cleaning furnace tubes slashed the cost of hydrogen production for a refiner.
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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 ...
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Use of CFD modelling to improve burner design and operation
Dec-2020
Computational fluid dynamics (CFD) modelling can be used as an efficient and low-cost alternative to improve the design and operation of a new burner.
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Oct-2020
Responses to a question in the Q3 2020 issue of PTQ
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Heat exchanger fouling analytics
Sep-2020
Modelling the effects of fouling on the performance of heat exchangers and its impact on product values as well as energy losses
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Decarbonisation, electrification and the case for modern electric process heaters
Jul-2020
Companies in liquified natural gas (LNG) and other industries have been taking bold steps to reduce their carbon footprint.
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Increase duty in tube side condensers
Jul-2020
A retrofit is shown to improve several aspects of tube side condensation processes.
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Improving hydrotreater performance with welded plate heat exchangers
Jul-2020
Pressure has never been higher on refiners to improve the efficiency of their energy-intensive processes.
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Heat storage in solar power plants
Jun-2020
Avoiding freezing and leakage: optimal thermal management for the use of molten salt in solar thermal power plants with concentrated radiation
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How to replace sensors on process heaters
Jun-2020
Process heaters, such as immersion heaters, use a range of sensor options to accurately measure and adjust the heat of a manufacturing process.
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Enclosure heating leads to process heater failures (TIA)
May-2020
It has generally been assumed in energy process heaters that pins attaching heating elements to the power terminal do not generate heat on their own. That ...
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How watt density specifications may be holding back optimal electric heat exchanger design
Mar-2020
Typical customer specifications for a direct electric heat exchanger (DEHE) in forced convection gas applications aim for efficiency and safety given the ...
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Better predicting terminal enclosure temperature to improve heater reliability
Feb-2020
One of the most common failures in electric process heaters used in various industrial applications involves electrical terminations and not the heating ...
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Cleaning heater convection tubes
Feb-2020
Fired heater tubes are difficult to clean, but a sequence of operations can remove unwanted material from the tubes’ external surfaces and raise the ...
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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 ...
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Improvements to water gas shift process
Dec-2019
With a growing population supplies of natural resources are under ever-increasing pressure, their sustainable use has never been higher on the agenda.
-
Fouling and cleaning analysis of a heat exchanger network
Dec-2019
Analysis of a complex heat exchanger network employs a digital twin model to establish a programme for fouling and cleaning.
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Flue gas heat recovery through the acid dew point
Jul-2019
Polymer based heat exchange technology enables more heat recovery from flue gas by addressing acid corrosion issues.
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Steam methane reformer tube lifecycle improvement best practices
May-2024
Reformer tube life assessment can be done via online monitoring, non-destructive testing, and tube harvesting with historical operating, monitoring, and ...
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Valves and Pumps for the Energy Industry
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Evonik Catalysts. Let's make a difference
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Level and density in resid hydrocracking processes
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VectorWall two-stage SRU mixing system
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AMETEK Process Instruments Refinery Solutions
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Becht fired heaters services
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BASF Refinery Solutions on LinkedIn
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Axens SAF Solutions
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Most advanced fired heater convection section cleaning robot
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Vacuum Systems
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