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High octane isomerates from light naphtha
Feb-2020
Dividing wall column distillation is an energy efficient, cost effective alternative to conventional distillation for delivering high octane products from ...
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Crude column relief mitigation
Oct-2011
Mitigation of plant-wide relief loads can greatly improve the safety of the plant, reduce flaring and be used as the basis for building smaller relief ...
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High performance trays for a fractionator in an aromatics plant
May-2015
Distillation is a very important separation technology in refineries and downstream chemical processing. Mass transfer internals in distillation columns ...
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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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Jan-2011
A process review, including the improvement of atmospheric and vacuum distillation columns, for the reformulation of the diesel pool
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Revamping conceptual process design
Jan-2002
With the desirability of getting the maximum use out of existing equipment when revamps are planned a rigorous approach to CPD is required to avoid scope ...
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Sep-2007
Primary goals of a lube vacuum column revamp were to increase lube product fractionation and minimise HVGO product contaminants
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Revamping crude and vacuum units to process bitumen
Apr-2015
Revamping crude and vacuum units to process dilbit can involve extensive equipment replacement as well as major changes to the crude preheating scheme
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Increasing vacuum tower performance
Oct-2004
Advantages of using gravity flow liquid distributors in services where, historically, spray nozzles have been used, specifically in refinery vacuum tower ...
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Oil/water interface control for desalters
Oct-2007
Profiling instrument provides vertical real-time phase density measurement in desalter vessels. Benefits include reduced process upsets from interface ...
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Unlocking current 
refinery constraints
Apr-2008
When processing heavy feeds, technology based on residuum supercritical solvent extraction provides higher volumes of gas oil and DAO for conversion units. ...
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Silencing hammering in a condenser system
Dec-2017
Detailed analysis leading to correct diagnosis meant that only minor equipment changes were needed to cure severe hammering in a naphtha splitter.
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Revamping a crude distillation unit
Feb-2020
A revamp project aimed to increase process safety and reduce high energy consumption in a CDU. It also delivered better product separation and higher diesel ...
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Dealing with desalter cleaning challenges
Aug-2016
How to overcome lengthy and potentially dangerous challenges when cleaning a crude unit desalter.
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Light tight oil crude unit fouling root causes and troubleshooting
Mar-2015
Fouling in preheaters, crude furnace and atmospheric tower bottoms exchangers directly impacts throughput and profitability, requiring rigorous evaluation ...
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Improving crude unit operation
Jan-2011
Most crude and vacuum units present an opportunity for improvement using modern process control systems
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High-capacity tray for debottlenecking a crude distillation unit
Jan-2013
Use of ultra-high-capacity trays in the most constrained section of a CDU enabled over a 50% increase in throughput at less cost than other debottlenecking ...
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Correcting vacuum column design flaws
Apr-2017
Conventional design practices have been proven inadequate when maximising diesel recovery and gas oil cut point
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Problems in processing discounted crudes Part 1: definition and crude preheat
Feb-2019
Project costs must be considered to fully understand whether or not an opportunity crude really does deliver on savings.
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Realities of heat flux in fired heaters
Nov-2020
Uneven radiant heat flux distribution is a major cause of poor reliability in refinery fired heaters.
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Best practice desalting Part 1: crude flexibility window
Jul-2017
A replacement programme of desalter treatment chemistry transformed the operation of crude units struggling to meet performance targets
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A two stage approach to controlling fouling on preheat trains at OMV’s Schwechat refinery
Aug-2016
Fouling in heat exchanger preheat trains is a well-known problem in the refining industry. Fouling reduces exchanger performance, increases furnace duty, ...
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Online cleaning: a mindshift for improving operational excellence
Apr-2013
A patented method of chemical cleaning can reduce downtime arising from severe fouling in process units
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Flexible upgrading of heavy feedstocks
Feb-2019
Adding tailor-made options for upgrading heavy crudes to existing assets can adapt refineries to changes in market conditions and regulatory demands.
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Balanced distillation equipment design
Feb-2017
Fouling resistance and efficiency requirements for distillation equipment are balanced and optimised for reliable unit performance.
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Operating vacuum distillation ejector systems
Oct-2016
Best practices and opportunities to deliver reliable ejector system performance and reduce performance risk.
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Opening the crude flexibility window: automation manages threats in real time
Sep-2018
By increasing the volume of quality data, refiners can automate the correct addition of chemical additives to respond to variations in unit performanc ...
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Oct-2004
Installation of vortex tube clusters in crude unit preflash drums has eliminated foam carry-over, increasing diesel and atmospheric gasoil product yie ...
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Troubleshooting vacuum systems
Oct-2016
Case histories of refinery vacuum tower problems solved are gleaned from five decades of experience.
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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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Future of opportunity crudes processing
Oct-2011
Five critical drivers help refiners remain profitable and sustain long-term business goals while processing relatively inexpensive, low-quality crudes
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Model predictive control of a distillation unit
Jul-2017
In a coordinated plant process, particular attention must be paid to control of individual columns.
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Controlling contaminants in vacuum gasoil
Nov-2017
How revamps can increase VDU capacity and reliability while controlling contaminant levels to acceptable limits.
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Revamping crude and vacuum units to process bitumen
Apr-2015
Revamping crude and vacuum units to process dilbit can involve extensive equipment replacement as well as major changes to the crude preheating scheme
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Sep-2003
Case studies show how accurate field-measured differential pressure can be interpreted incorrectly when troubleshooting refinery vacuum columns
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Revamping a crude distillation unit
Feb-2020
A revamp project aimed to increase process safety and reduce high energy consumption in a CDU. It also delivered better product separation and higher diesel ...
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Balanced distillation equipment design
Feb-2017
Fouling resistance and efficiency requirements for distillation equipment are balanced and optimised for reliable unit performance.
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Entrainment issues in vacuum column flash zones
Jan-2010
For a vacuum tower to operate effectively, the flash zone and the wash section must work together to provide the best possible feed quality to the sections ...
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Oct-2012
Inaccurate feed characterisation and process modelling errors are major contributors to poor performance in a vacuum unit as refiners switch to heavier ...
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Jan-2013
Revamping a VDU’s vacuum system delivered operational improvements in a refinery, but also led to safer and more efficient handling of non-condensed ...
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Asphalt quality prediction and control
Oct-2014
With knowledge of heavy vacuum gasoil cut-point and asphalt density, asphalt quality can be inferred
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Upgrading a vacuum distillation tower (TIA)
Aug-2021
When a major oil refinery in India was constrained by its vacuum tower, it turned to Sulzer Chemtech to find a solution that would not only solve existing ...
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Apr-2022
A vacuum column’s economics can be greatly improved with a low cost modification to the ejector system
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Reconfiguration of naphtha splitters using divided wall column technology
Feb-2023
Integration of DWCs into existing refining configurations reduces energy consumption and GHG emissions in distillation systems while also lowering operating ...
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Predictive model for maximum feedstock flexibility (ERTC 2023)
Nov-2023
Challenge of crude oil variability. Current market conditions are driving refineries towards a permanent diversification in crudes. Crude oil is a complex ...
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Solving a tube failure problem due to flow stratification using the Xtend tube-insert
Apr-2024
A vacuum heater located at a major oil refinery experienced tube failures at the top of the radiant section, and inspection showed a substantial layer ...
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Enhancing fractionator efficiency
Jul-2016
Properly designed vapour and liquid distribution devices enable more effective distillation column efficiency.
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Towards a zero gasoline production refinery: part 2
Oct-2013
Refinery configurations can suit various processing objectives, such as variations to the propylene-to-ethylene ratio and production of middle distillates ...
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Data analytics for hydrocarbon processing
Oct-2016
Advanced data handling techniques are transforming operations in the refining industry at an increasing pace.
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Dividing wall technology in distillation columns
Feb-2020
Increased throughput required the revamp of a gasoline unit. Space constraints and strict product requirements led to dividing wall column technology as ...
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Revamping a crude distillation unit
Feb-2020
A revamp project aimed to increase process safety and reduce high energy consumption in a CDU. It also delivered better product separation and higher diesel ...
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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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Improving level control in desalters to aid in use of opportunity crudes
Sep-2019
Refineries are a complex set of various operating units designed to process crude oil into refined products such as gasoline, diesel, jet fuels and feedstocks ...
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Sustainable technology for cleaning a crude preheat exchanger network
Aug-2019
Mitigating environmental impacts, saving time and reducing costs: cleaning a heat exchanger network using a renewable cleaning agent.
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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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Troubleshooting a heavy crude topper
Jul-2019
Thorough troubleshooting revealed the primary cause of a heavy crude topper’s poor availability: desalter operation. A comprehensive revamp resolved ...
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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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Problems in processing discounted crudes Part 2: crude and vacuum columns
May-2019
Project costs must be considered to fully understand whether or not an opportunity crude really does deliver on savings.
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Apr-2019
With the market for high sulphur fuel oil under pressure, refiners with delayed cokers can instead opt for higher value power and steam generation.
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Problems in processing discounted crudes Part 1: definition and crude preheat
Feb-2019
Project costs must be considered to fully understand whether or not an opportunity crude really does deliver on savings.
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Flexible upgrading of heavy feedstocks
Feb-2019
Adding tailor-made options for upgrading heavy crudes to existing assets can adapt refineries to changes in market conditions and regulatory demands.
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Front end filtering of unconventional oil
Jan-2019
Processing unconventional oils requires technologies such as electrostatic separation to handle higher amounts of filterable solids.
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Tray revamp restores crude column performance
Jan-2019
Retrofitting the packed top section of a crude atmospheric tower with high capacity trays improved separation efficiency
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Online monitor slashes biocide dosage (TIA)
Nov-2018
In many systems, fouling and deposits are a serious problem which results in shutdowns, cleaning actions and unexpected costs for the customer.
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Opening the crude flexibility window: automation manages threats in real time
Sep-2018
By increasing the volume of quality data, refiners can automate the correct addition of chemical additives to respond to variations in unit performanc ...
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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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Preventing ammonium salt fouling and corrosion
Jan-2018
Best practices and opportunities to reduce the risk of salt deposition and damage
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Wastewater treatment for challenging crudes
Jan-2018
A new organic polymer treatment has enabled refiners to more effectively process a variety of opportunity crudes
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Silencing hammering in a condenser system
Dec-2017
Detailed analysis leading to correct diagnosis meant that only minor equipment changes were needed to cure severe hammering in a naphtha splitter.
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Controlling contaminants in vacuum gasoil
Nov-2017
How revamps can increase VDU capacity and reliability while controlling contaminant levels to acceptable limits.
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Nov-2017
Thorough tank cleaning means removing all of the sludge and restoring the vessel’s full storage capacity.
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Model predictive control of a distillation unit
Jul-2017
In a coordinated plant process, particular attention must be paid to control of individual columns.
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Best practice desalting Part 1: crude flexibility window
Jul-2017
A replacement programme of desalter treatment chemistry transformed the operation of crude units struggling to meet performance targets
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Troubleshooting crude column constraints
Jul-2017
Multiple limitations to operating capacity were identified and resolved during a column turnaround