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

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 ...

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

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 ...

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

Removing contaminants from crude oil

Mar-2016

Natural and introduced contaminants limit crude desalting effectiveness, increasing fouling and corrosion risks in downstream units

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

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

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 a structure ...

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 ...

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 ...

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. ...

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 ...

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 ...

Preventing ammonium salt fouling and corrosion

Jan-2018

Best practices and opportunities to reduce the risk of salt deposition and damage

Microbiological causes of corrosion

Jul-2014

Many of the most serious problems with corrosion of refinery equipment have a microbiological basis

Mitigation of heat exchanger fouling

Oct-2012

Detailed analysis of potential contributors identifies the root cause of fouling in naphtha hydrotreater feed-effluent exchangers

Minimise corrosion while maximising distillate

Jul-2012

Reducing atmospheric fractionator overhead temperatures to maximise middle 
distillate production requires a full understanding of resulting corrosion ...

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 ...

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

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 ...

Dealing with column fouling

Feb-2016

An understanding of process basics and fouling mechanisms enables increased run length in problem columns.

Online cleaning and decontamination of a butadiene unit

Apr-2010

Chemical treatment by closed-loop recirculation reduced cleaning time for a butadiene unit turnaround from a typical 20 days to 24 hours

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

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 in ...

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

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

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 ...

Removing contaminants from crude oil

Mar-2016

Natural and introduced contaminants limit crude desalting effectiveness, increasing fouling and corrosion risks in downstream units

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

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 ...

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 ...

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 a structure ...

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

Dealing with column fouling

Feb-2016

An understanding of process basics and fouling mechanisms enables increased run length in problem columns.

Avoiding unplanned reactor shutdowns

Feb-2019

In hydroprocessing operations, prevention is better than just dealing with the effects of corrosion and fouling problems.

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.

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 ...

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.

Oil recovery from tank sludge

Nov-2017

Thorough tank cleaning means removing all of the sludge and restoring the vessel’s full storage capacity.

Microbiological causes of corrosion

Jul-2014

Many of the most serious problems with corrosion of refinery equipment have a microbiological basis

Opening the crude flexibility window: enhancing crude unit capabilities

Mar-2018

Innovative online analysers help refiners to mitigate crude unit threats in real time and provide new insights into existing problems.

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 ...

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

Preventing ammonium salt fouling and corrosion

Jan-2018

Best practices and opportunities to reduce the risk of salt deposition and damage

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

Linings for sulphur storage tanks

Apr-2015

Flexible spray coatings combat the corrosion mechanisms of sulphur stored in steel tanks.

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 ...

Amine plant corrosion reduced by removal of bicine

Jun-2012

Bicine, an amino acid, has been found in numerous amine gas treating systems including tail gas treating units, certain refinery services, and some natural ...

Choose the right hose: a practical guide to hose selection

Mar-2013

The right hose keeps your process performing safely and cost effectively. The wrong hose could undermine your process, put personnel at risk and compromise ...