ARTICLES
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Managing fouling in refinery networks
Jul-2015
Modelling heat exchanger and other networks enables the use of dynamic fouling models in performance assessment and predictive studies
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Processing high TAN crude: part I
Jan-2010
Huizhou, which is the first refinery for processing 100% high TAN crude, started up in 2009. This article describes the challenges of an opportunity crude ...
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A novel approach to cleaning 
furnace coils
Jul-2013
A modified pigging operation aims to greatly reduce the time required for coke removal from furnace coils
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Choosing a neutralising amine corrosion inhibitor
Jul-2004
A review of physical and chemical properties of commonly used amine-based corrosion inhibitors. The authors highlight the relative strengths and weaknesses ...
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Removing contaminants from crude oil
Mar-2016
Natural and introduced contaminants limit crude desalting effectiveness, increasing fouling and corrosion risks in downstream units
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Stripping sour water: the effect of heat stable salts
Oct-2012
Mass transfer rate-based simulation models sour water stripping and assesses the distribution of ammonia in conventional amine treating systems
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Detecting and dealing with hydrate formation
Apr-2010
A review of cause, detection and treatment of hydrate plug formation in 
gas pipelines. Gas hydrates are solid crystalline compounds, which have ...
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Combating green oil formation in a 
CCR reformer
Jul-2013
The addition of a chloride adsorber guard bed solved a refiner’s issues with contamination affecting a CCR reformer’s rich gas compressor
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Microbiological causes of corrosion
Jul-2014
Many of the most serious problems with corrosion of refinery equipment have a microbiological basis
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Control of foaming in amine systems
Sep-2007
Amine solutions foam. Solution foaming causes plant upsets. It is the disengagement or break time that differentiates normal, desirable froth from undesirable ...
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Chloride removal in refineries
Mar-2011
A review of catalytic removal of chlorides from refinery streams and a critique of current analytical techniques for estimating chloride content
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Mitigating fouling in the caustic tower
Oct-2013
Comprehensive analysis of foulants in an ethylene plant’s caustic tower led to the identification of an effective treatment programme
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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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Removing salts and contaminants in glycol regeneration
Apr-2014
A new process combining candle filters and pressure plate filters enables more glycol to be safely recovered from natural gas than by conventional met ...
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Safe removal of polymeric deposits
Jan-2015
Damaging polymeric fouling of internals can be cleaned in situ by safe 
chemical treatments. Butadiene polymer formation is not an unusual problem ...
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Feb-2016
An understanding of process basics and fouling mechanisms enables increased run length in problem columns.
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Controlling corrosion in amine treatment units
Apr-2011
A range of measures can be taken to minimise corrosion in amine units. The amine unit plays a vital role in the petroleum refining, gas processing, coal ...
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Olefins plant cracker gas compressor fouling
Apr-2007
Monitoring and treating process gas compressors to prevent corrosion and fouling. Several examples of improved compressor performance through the utilisation ...
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Foaming in fractionation columns
Oct-2015
By understanding the foaming process and its root causes, steps can be taken to eliminate or minimise the formation of foaming.
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Hydrogen-induced cracking and blistering
Apr-2009
Hydrogen damage to steel is a well-known consequence of corrosion in sour service. A corrosion inhibitor program can reduce hydrogen entry into the metal. ...
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Multiple corrosion mechanisms in crude distillation overhead system
Jul-2009
Extensive troubleshooting efforts determine distinct corrosion mechanisms simultaneously attacking multiple areas of an atmospheric tower overhead sys ...
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Reactor effluent air cooler safety 
through design
Oct-2013
Quality-controlled replacement of carbon steel with Duplex 2205 for revamps can increase the service life and reliability of the REAC in the high-pressure ...
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Linings for sulphur storage tanks
Apr-2015
Flexible spray coatings combat the corrosion mechanisms of sulphur stored in steel tanks.
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Preventing salt fouling in FCC main fractionators
Apr-2001
Results of using salt dispersant additives on a badly fouled FCC unit has shown that the method allows refiners to avoid more costly methods of naphtha ...
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Combating reactor pressure drop
Apr-2017
A refiner investigates the causes of pressure drop due to fouling in a fixed bed reactor and considers an appropriate mitigation strategy
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Managing fouling in refinery networks
Jul-2015
Modelling heat exchanger and other networks enables the use of dynamic fouling models in performance assessment and predictive studies
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Maximising stripping section performance
Aug-2021
The design of a crude unit stripping section affects diesel and gasoil yields, energy usage, and unit reliability.
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A novel approach to cleaning 
furnace coils
Jul-2013
A modified pigging operation aims to greatly reduce the time required for coke removal from furnace coils
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Control corrosion in refineries and petrochemical plants
Oct-2023
Formation of a water-resistant organic film barrier stops electrochemical corrosion on metal surfaces.
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Improving turnarounds and operations with online cleaning
Sep-2020
Case histories illustrate the financial and operational gains achieved by replacing mechanical cleaning with online, closed-loop operations. The conventional ...
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An introduction to fouling in fired heaters: part 1
Apr-2022
Fouling is the accumulation and formation of unwanted materials on the surfaces of processing equipment.
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High efficiency contaminant removal - Improving new and existing acid gas sweetening processes
Nov-2022
Gas sweetening processes using amine solvents are often challenged to meet productivity and reliability targets due to the impact of solid and liquid contamination. ...
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Combating green oil formation in a 
CCR reformer
Jul-2013
The addition of a chloride adsorber guard bed solved a refiner’s issues with contamination affecting a CCR reformer’s rich gas compressor
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Managing the life cycle of coke drums
Sep-2020
Coke drums have finite lives. Understanding where they are in their life cycle is key to managing spending on repair or replacement
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Feb-2021
Responses to a question in the Q1 2021 issues Q&A feature
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Desalter chemical programmes for opportunity crudes
Nov-2021
Opportunity crude processing can present many challenges including incompatibility, high calcium and tramp amines.
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Optimising critical level control in desalters by using multiphase level measurements
Dec-2021
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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Dec-2022
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Crude oil processing scheme for reducing operating costs in the CDU
Feb-2023
Development of crude oil distillation processing schemes to significantly reduce external energy and stripping steam demand.
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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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Oct-2020
Response to a question in the Q3 2020 issue of PTQ
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Ceramic coating application in a refinery steam methane reformer furnace
Jun-2022
Increase an SMR’s thermal efficiency by applying a high emissivity ceramic coating on the furnace box walls.
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Protecting your hydroprocessing reactor
Jun-2021
Owners and operators respect a hydroprocessing reactor’s minimum pressurisation temperature but can fail to understand factors other than the temper ...
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Real-time crude and desalter monitoring
Sep-2020
An analyser array supports corrosion management through continuous insights into changes in crude quality
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Types of corrosion and materials to combat them
Sep-2020
A review of corrosion problems in fluid systems and how to prolong their life in one of the oil and gas industry’s most challenging environments.
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Raising diesel yield by chemical treatment
Dec-2020
A chemical treatment programme combined with process monitoring enables increased production of middle distillates.
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Removing contaminants from crude oil
Mar-2016
Natural and introduced contaminants limit crude desalting effectiveness, increasing fouling and corrosion risks in downstream units
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Detecting and dealing with hydrate formation
Apr-2010
A review of cause, detection and treatment of hydrate plug formation in 
gas pipelines. Gas hydrates are solid crystalline compounds, which have ...
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Oct-2020
Responses to a question in the Q3 2020 issue of PTQ
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Mar-2022
Improving level control in desalters to aid in use of opportunity crudes
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Olefin purification: Why selecting the right adsorbent matters
Nov-2023
(White Paper) - Removing difficult-to-detect contaminants helps minimise adsorbent reactivity while avoiding side reactions and excessive heat release.
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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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Optimising fouled distillation units
Nov-2023
Case studies discuss optimisation strategies and enhanced distillation unit performance against fouled conditions.
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Control corrosion in refineries and petrochemical plants
Oct-2023
Formation of a water-resistant organic film barrier stops electrochemical corrosion on metal surfaces.
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Anti-fouling additives to improve heavy oil processing
Apr-2023
A continuous pilot testing evaluation shows how magnesium sulphonated-based nano-additive is highly effective in mitigating and reducing upgrader/refinery ...
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Reducing fuel usage in the midst of a new gas demand reduction plan
Feb-2023
Processing facilities, including refineries, power plants and petrochemical complexes, are soon likely to be feeling the effects of Europe’s latest Gas ...
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How refineries are saving time and money protecting assets
Feb-2023
The oil and gas industry is seeing a rise in demand and is taking vital steps to avoid disruption in production by preventing corrosion in process vessels, ...
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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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How to improve energy efficiency, reliability and asset integrity
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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Continuum damage FEA implementation in HTHA model
Feb-2023
Using the power of finite element analysis to accurately capture high-temperature hydrogen attack damage through the use of a custom creep user subrou ...
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Fouling in VDU ejector systems
Feb-2023
Review of critical ejector-condenser interplay, with an overview of fouling in VDU ejector systems, including a case study where fouling impacted a refiner's ...
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Desalting chemistry and monitoring methods to help expand crude basket
Feb-2023
Widening the crude basket increases the challenges of maintaining asset reliability and plant performance, including formation of rag layers.
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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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Crude oil processing scheme for reducing operating costs in the CDU
Feb-2023
Development of crude oil distillation processing schemes to significantly reduce external energy and stripping steam demand.
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Dec-2022
Both 316 and type 304 (L is low carbon for weldability) are susceptible, under certain conditions, to three forms of attack in cooling water containing ...
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Dec-2022
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Environmental and economical benefits of improving amine unit operations (ERTC)
Nov-2022
Amine unit in refineries - The alkanolamine system in a refinery, better known as the ‘amine unit’, is used to remove hydrogen sulphide (H₂S), carbon ...
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High efficiency contaminant removal - Improving new and existing acid gas sweetening processes
Nov-2022
Gas sweetening processes using amine solvents are often challenged to meet productivity and reliability targets due to the impact of solid and liquid contamination. ...
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Chemical cleaning and fouling removal technologies
Nov-2022
Chemical cleaning technologies for the removal of hazardous gases and problematic fouling deposits are explained.
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Crude preheat train fouling and fix-up
Nov-2022
Rigorous modelling of crude preheat train exchangers allows for fouling progression of the heat exchangers to be monitored throughout the crude unit run ...
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Smarter and safer sulphur for refinery and petrochemical plants with SULSAFE
Oct-2022
Refiners and petrochemical operators are looking for a sustainable replacement for dimethyl disulphide (DMDS), which is known to be hazardous in the i ...
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Recovery of ammonia from sour gases and conversion to valuable products
Oct-2022
Sour gases generated from a two-stage sour water stripping unit (SWSU) comprise mainly two types of waste stream: an H₂S-rich stream and an NH₃-rich ...
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Ceramic coating application in a refinery steam methane reformer furnace
Jun-2022
Increase an SMR’s thermal efficiency by applying a high emissivity ceramic coating on the furnace box walls.
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An introduction to fouling in fired heaters — Part 2: exterior fouling
Apr-2022
An important fouling mechanism on the fireside is corrosion fouling, especially for oil fired equipment.
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An introduction to fouling in fired heaters: part 1
Apr-2022
Fouling is the accumulation and formation of unwanted materials on the surfaces of processing equipment.
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Olefin purification: Why selecting the right adsorbent matters
Nov-2023
(White Paper) - Removing difficult-to-detect contaminants helps minimise adsorbent reactivity while avoiding side reactions and excessive heat release.
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Combustion control expert paper
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Extensive tray portfolio from Sulzer
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Catalyst Evolution
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Watlow’s thermal systems optimize your refinery
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