ARTICLES
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Improving the distillation energy network
Oct-2013
Energy-efficient design applied to the refit of a distillation unit was achieved through optimisation between the distillation column and heat network ...
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Seismic design of structural steel pipe racks
Nov-2011
Structural steel pipe racks are structures in petrochemical, chemical and power plants that support pipes, power cables and instrument cable trays. Occasionally, ...
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Challenges of heavy crude processing
Oct-2012
A review of upgrading options and refinery configurations to process heavy crudes profitably. Refiners have long faced a major dilemma when designing refineries ...
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Reciprocating compressor suction and discharge valve monitoring
Feb-2013
A decision making guideline evaluating the strengths and weaknesses of the most common online monitoring technologies
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Steam reforming natural gas containing higher hydrocarbons
Apr-2013
A method is described for estimating reformed gas composition in a primary reformer when the feed is a natural gas containing higher hydrocarbons
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Relative economics of mixed C4 processing routes
Jan-1998
Ethylene producers are seeking ways to upgrade the mixed C4 stream from ethylene plants to improve operating economics
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Apr-2013
A careful evaluation of the options for removing mercury from natural gas plant feed and product streams is a prudent exercise
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Controlling the dew point of natural gas
Jul-2015
Meeting water and hydrocarbon dew point specifications for natural gas without acid gas components
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Gases: identifying hazards and mitigating risks
Feb-2012
Although critical for the operation of refineries and petrochemical plants, industrial gases can be associated with a spectrum of possible hazards and ...
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Advanced propane dehydrogenation
Jan-2008
Oxdehydrogenation-based on-purpose propane dehydrogenation can close the propylene supply-demand gap. Reactor design and the effect of thermodynamic equilibrium ...
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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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Understanding FCC feeds and benefits to refinery operation
Apr-2015
In this work, over one hundred FCC feed samples, originating from diverse geographic locations and consisting of assorted FCC refinery streams, were a ...
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Processing NH3 acid gas in a sulphur recovery unit
Apr-2010
The feasability and economics of a two-stage sour water stripper with an SRU for NH3 contents of 25% and higher are discussed
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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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Assessment of crude oil blends
Oct-2011
A refiner’s assessment of the compatibility of opportunity crudes in blends aims to avoid the processing problems introduced by lower-quality feedst ...
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Bioethers impact on the gasoline pool
Feb-2007
Benefits of producing bioethers compared to blending bioethanol are examined for the total European gasoline pool. The result of maximising ethanol use ...
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Recovery of olefins from refinery offgases
Oct-1998
The Lummus process eliminates the multi-stage feed gas compressor yet maintains over 90 per cent recovery of ethylene while cutting capital cost and reducing ...
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GC-MS: an ideal tool for forensic analysis
Mar-2011
Gas chromatography-mass spectrometry (GC-MS) presents the ideal analytical tool for forensic analysis in the petrochemical industry.
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Troubleshooting steam ejectors
Oct-2014
Some causes and practical solutions concerning problems with refinery steam vacuum ejectors
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Mar-2012
The source of a fouling problem in a FCC CO boiler was identified by systematic analysis of fresh catalysts, additives and equilibrium catalysts
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Mercury removal in hydrocarbon streams
Mar-2009
The presence of mercury in refinery hydrocarbon streams results in detrimental effects, including catalyst poisoning, corriosion and safety issues
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Jul-2013
A simulation model compares accurately with actual operating data to provide reliable predictions of catalyst lifetime in naphtha reforming
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Optimising pumparound reflux for zero-cost energy savings
Apr-2012
By increasing pumparound ratios in principal units, refinery engineers were able to recover energy for process heating and reduce stack emissions
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Natural gas fuels the integration of refining and petrochemicals
Jul-2012
Maximising the use of natural gas in a refinery-petrochemicals complex offers higher margins and lower carbon emissions
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Hydrotreating in the production of green diesel
Apr-2010
A novel scheme enables co-processing of light gas oil and tall diesel to produce a renewable diesel meeting EN 590 specifications
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Reducing NOx emissions from an FCC unit (TIA)
Aug-2018
Refinery processes account for a considerable share of the overall emissions of air pollutants in Europe. The Industrial Emissions Directive (IED) is the ...
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Jun-2017
There is a good economic case for petcoke slurry as a refinery fuel, but first you need to deal with the rheology
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Refining-petrochemicals integration: an Indian view
Mar-2018
Integrating a refinery with a petrochemicals complex offers high value products and a boost to gross margin.
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Savings using divided wall columns
Jan-2019
Divided wall columns can provide substantial energy and capital cost savings compared to conventional distillation methods.
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Refinery protection with gas detection
Apr-2020
Based on several recent M&A transaction valuations it is fair to say that the price tag of a medium-sized, medium-complexity refinery in Europe is in the ...
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Boosting mild hydrocracking performance
Aug-2020
Optimising its mild hydrocracking operations using new catalyst developments enabled a refinery to meet more complex targets for fuel quality.
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What is sintering in relation to catalyst deactivation and how can it be avoided? (PTQ Q&A)
Oct-2020
Response to a question in the Q3 2020 issue of PTQ
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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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Evaluating quickly deactivating catalytic systems (TIA)
Nov-2018
Avantium provides contract research services for high throughput catalysis R&D. For some years now, Avantium has been helping refineries select the best ...
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Jun-2016
The outlook and opportunities for petrochemicals based on China’s development of shale gas
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Revamping crude towers for quality and yield
Nov-2016
A successful revamp of distillation towers for increased diesel quality and yield depended on reliable design and accurate assembly
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Alarm floods and plant incidents
Jul-2012
Alarm floods and their contribution to industrial incidents can be controlled successfully through all process states
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SMR for fuel cell grade hydrogen
Dec-2020
Affordable and sustainable production of blue hydrogen is key to the successful use of fuel cells in transportation.
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Automating catalyst evaluation (TIA)
Nov-2019
Accurate evaluation of catalysts performance is an important step in optimising catalytic refinery processes with respect to product yields, run length, ...
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Simulation model increases visbreaker conversion
Jan-2011
Introduction of advanced analytical monitoring, chemical treatment and process optimisation has raised the profitability of a visbreaker unit
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Pre-reformer catalyst in a hydrogen plant
Apr-2020
Good operation following recommended practice with technical support highlight the successful performance of a pre-reformer catalyst.
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Detection of VOCs demands continuous innovation in calibration gases
Oct-2011
With an ever-increasing number of processing plants coming on stream worldwide to keep up with the burgeoning petrochemical industry, the focus on the ...
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Seismic design of structural steel pipe racks
Nov-2011
Structural steel pipe racks are structures in petrochemical, chemical and power plants that support pipes, power cables and instrument cable trays. Occasionally, ...
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Best practice for refinery flowsheets
Aug-2019
Refinery-wide flowsheets can demonstrate the true representation of changes in key operating variables and their associated impact on refinery operati ...
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On-demand propylene from naphtha
Jun-2017
A new catalytic process targets economic production of propylene from naphtha at relatively low capital and operating costs
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Maximizing refinery energy optimisation
Jan-2018
Flexicoking™ technology is a highly differentiated unique resid upgrading process resulting in significantly lower environmental emissions than other ...
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Using infrared monitors to achieve auxiliary flare pilot monitoring (TIA)
Jul-2018
Infrared flare pilot monitoring as a primary or secondary monitoring solution provides a pilot status signal when thermocouple failures occur and assures ...
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The challenges of crude blending - Part 2
Jun-2016
The second part of a two-part article details the importance of crude selection and blending strategies to prosper in a low cost yet volatile market.
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Pricing licences for gas processing units
Mar-2021
How technologies can be selected on the best licensing terms.
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Apr-2021
An alumina-supported catalyst for ULSD production or hydrocracking pretreat provides longer catalyst cycles, higher throughput, and better product qua ...
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Use of tube inserts in fired heaters
May-2022
In 1896 Whitham reported the successful use of twisted tapes (originally called retarders, and now also called turbulators) to increase heat transfer in ...
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May-2022
Fired heaters, also called furnaces, use the heat from combustion of hydrocarbons to increase the temperature of a fluid. Direct-fired heaters are common ...
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Transition to net zero: steps to decarbonise the oil refining industry
May-2022
A review of the solutions being employed by oil refineries to reduce their Scope 1, 2, and 3 greenhouse gas emissions.
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Accelerating the digital transformation
May-2022
The energy and utilities (E&U) industry constantly changes and transforms to comply with government regulations, implement new technologies, and satisfy ...
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The keys to successfully revamping a fired heater: how to maximise value
May-2022
Fired heaters are facing scrutiny because they contribute to the global emissions of carbon dioxide (CO₂) and nitrogen oxides (NOx). For refineries and ...
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Maximising crude-to-olefins pathways
May-2022
Considering that high-purity olefins are necessary for maximum conversion of polymerisation reactions, selective hydrogenation is crucial for purifying ...
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Refiner’s future role in the energy industry
May-2022
With the global population swelling and industrialization on the rise in developing nations, humanity’s hunger for energy has reached unprecedented ...
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Taking hydroprocessing reactor cooling off the critical path
May-2022
Rapid cool-down of a typical hydroprocessing unit’s recycle gas compressor offgas can be used to cool spent reactor catalyst while avoiding the need ...
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Digital twins expanding across the downstream industry
May-2022
Advances in new-generation information technologies including big data, digital twins and smart manufacturing are becoming the focus of global manufacturing ...
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Why hydrocarbon-based energy will continue dominating the market
Apr-2022
A crucial factor in generating power and producing transportation fuels from renewable resources depends on efficient supply and distribution. For example, ...
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Refiners capturing value through styrene production
Apr-2022
The Global Styrene Market is estimated to be worth US$ 34.23 billion in 2022 and is anticipated to increase with a CAGR of 5.1% during 2022-2027, according ...
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Increasing naphtha feedstock for the petrochemical market
Apr-2022
The global naphtha market is valued at $152.2 billion in 2022 and could reach $212.9 billion by 2030, growing at an estimated CAGR of 3.8% over the forecast ...
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Sustainability targets and policies driving SAF ... for Now
Apr-2022
Sustainable aviation fuel (SAF) production is still significantly less than fossil fuel-based aviation fuel (kero-jet).
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Optimising planned maintenance outages in turnarounds
Apr-2022
Maintenance downtime affects the refiner’s bottom line every hour that production is offline, which is when temporary power suppliers can help a facility ...
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Fibre-based specialty catalyst material maximises surface area and catalyst contact
Apr-2022
Customisable high surface area catalyst support material offers enhanced production for specialty chemical and industrial catalytic reactions.
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Forming a sustainable catalyst partnership
Apr-2022
What should you consider when looking for a partner to process catalyst materials for you? These rules can help you develop a successful sustainable and ...
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Performance of titania based tail gas catalyst at start-up
Apr-2022
Titania supported tail gas catalyst offers a number of operational benefits, particularly for TGTU installations operating with steam reheaters at low ...
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Co-processing renewable and recyclable feedstocks in the FCC unit
Apr-2022
As new regulations drive refiners to develop more sustainable processes to produce fuels and chemicals, they are exploring co-feeding renewable and recyclable ...
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Data quality obtained in refinery catalyst testing
Apr-2022
With high data quality (repeatability, reproducibility, and scalability) refiners can confidently determine the most efficient catalyst for their process ...
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Study of CCRU first reformer reactor ∆P behaviour using multiple linear regression
Apr-2022
Determinants and explanatory variables affecting the behaviour of the first reformer reactor ∆P are identified, with the aim of controlling it and avoiding ...
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Carbon dioxide emissions from fired heaters
Apr-2022
Fired heaters emit an estimated 400 to 500 million tons of carbon dioxide (CO2) every year. At least 73% of average refinery CO2 emissions come from combustion ...
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Apr-2022
Did you know that ancient algae impact our lives to this day? Read on to learn how decomposed carbon-based life becomes petroleum products with the help ...
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Model Based Definition: What is it and Why?
Apr-2022
Model Based Definition (sometimes Drafting or Dimensioning or Design) is an iteration to mechanical design that uses a CAD generated 3D model with dimensions, ...
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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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Understanding the value of arc flash management and mitigation for large electric process heaters
Jun-2022
(White Paper) - While larger medium voltage process heaters are relatively new in hydrocarbon processing, the safety issues surrounding medium-voltage ...
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Achiving decarbonisation targets with innovative digital capabilities
Jun-2022
(White Paper) - For oil and gas companies to achieve mandated decarbonisation targets, they need to increase the use of data and innovative digital capabilities, ...
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Achieving 95% direct CO2 reduction for hydrogen plants
Jun-2022
(White Paper) - Decarbonisation solutions targeting existing refinery hydrogen plants enable refiners to achieve long-term CO2 capture while minimising ...
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Europe's largest manufacturer of tower packings
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Neles is now part of Valmet
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Hydrotreating and hydrocracking catalysts
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Digital Refinery
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Catalysts for optimal performance
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Extensive tray portfolio
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New fired heaters
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Multi-element and total S process analyzers
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2022 Opportunity Crudes Conference 24-26 October
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Hydrotreating and hydrocracking catalysts
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Reciprocating compressor solutions for refineries
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