ARTICLES
-
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, ...
-
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 ...
-
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
-
Apr-2013
A careful evaluation of the options for removing mercury from natural gas plant feed and product streams is a prudent exercise
-
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
-
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
-
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 ...
-
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 ...
-
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 ...
-
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
-
Controlling the dew point of natural gas
Jul-2015
Meeting water and hydrocarbon dew point specifications for natural gas without acid gas components
-
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
-
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 ...
-
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 ...
-
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 ...
-
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 ...
-
Removing contaminants from crude oil
Mar-2016
Natural and introduced contaminants limit crude desalting effectiveness, increasing fouling and corrosion risks in downstream units
-
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
-
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
-
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.
-
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
-
Jul-2013
A simulation model compares accurately with actual operating data to provide reliable predictions of catalyst lifetime in naphtha reforming
-
Troubleshooting steam ejectors
Oct-2014
Some causes and practical solutions concerning problems with refinery steam vacuum ejectors
-
Delayed coking and LC-Fining technology - a winning combination
Apr-2008
The high price of oil and increasing global demand for refined products have resulted in unprecedented refining margins, especially for those refiners ...
-
Apr-2007
Utilisation of refinery offgases for hydrogen production. Three basic schemes of ROG integration into a steam reformer plant were investigated. These schemes ...
-
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 ...
-
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.
-
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
-
Isomalk-3 and Isomalk-3R in production of light paraffin hydrocarbons
Sep-2021
One of the main trends in the oil refining and petrochemical world market in recent years has become an increase in the environmental friendliness of high-octane ...
-
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 ...
-
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 ...
-
Jun-2016
The outlook and opportunities for petrochemicals based on China’s development of shale gas
-
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
-
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.
-
Alarm floods and plant incidents
Jul-2012
Alarm floods and their contribution to industrial incidents can be controlled successfully through all process states
-
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.
-
Savings using divided wall columns
Jan-2019
Divided wall columns can provide substantial energy and capital cost savings compared to conventional distillation methods.
-
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, ...
-
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
-
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.
-
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 ...
-
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 ...
-
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
-
Maximizing refinery energy optimisation
Jan-2018
Flexicoking™ technology is a highly differentiated unique resid upgrading process resulting in significantly lower environmental emissions than other ...
-
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 ...
-
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.
-
Pricing licences for gas processing units
Mar-2021
How technologies can be selected on the best licensing terms.
-
Apr-2021
An alumina-supported catalyst for ULSD production or hydrocracking pretreat provides longer catalyst cycles, higher throughput, and better product qua ...
-
Calculating column relief loads
Apr-2010
Conventional, steady-state and dynamic simulation techniques are compared in a study of relief loads for failure modes applied to a distillation colum ...
-
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, ...
-
Improved SOx reduction in partial burn FCC
Nov-2021
Refinery applications of a new additive demonstrate improved SOx reduction performance in partial burn FCC operation
-
A model for refinery profitability
Nov-2021
Creating a culture of optimisation through a harmonised business process
-
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 ...
-
Nov-2021
Over the past few years significant advances have been made in the performance and capability of pressure relief technology – essential safety components ...
-
Preventing corrosion with membrane degassing (TiA)
Nov-2021
Plant operators face a number of challenges for the provision of treated water for production, operations, site expansion, and commissioning of new sc ...
-
Convection section retrofit (TiA)
Nov-2021
XRG recently retrofitted a convection section in a crude heater that was originally built in 1935. The new convection bank consists of two sections; the ...
-
Retrofitting the thermal stage of a SRU unit (TiA)
Nov-2021
The original burner at a site was a multi-flame burner with low pressure drop on the Claus gas side.
-
Desalter chemical programmes for opportunity crudes
Nov-2021
Opportunity crude processing can present many challenges including incompatibility, high calcium and tramp amines.
-
Increase reliability and profitability in delayed coking units
Sep-2021
Global refiners are always seeking new techniques to optimise their refinery assets with the purpose of maximising their profitability.
-
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.
-
Discovering hydrocracking units potential with pretreat and tailored hydrocracking catalysts
Sep-2021
A refiner uses pretreat and hydrocracking catalyst to maximise heavy naphtha, kerosene, and diesel production with improved product properties.
-
Predicting process performance through an online platform
Sep-2021
Digitalisation has potential benefits across the oil and gas value chain. The InFocus™ Online Platform allows ExxonMobil Catalyst and Licensing LLC’s ...
-
Isomalk-3 and Isomalk-3R in production of light paraffin hydrocarbons
Sep-2021
One of the main trends in the oil refining and petrochemical world market in recent years has become an increase in the environmental friendliness of high-octane ...
-
Renewable Identification Numbers (RINs) and refining profitability
Aug-2021
Renewable Identification Numbers (rins) are credits used to certify compliance with the Renewable Fuel Standard which requires certain minimum volumes ...
-
Improve profit with augmented digital twins
Aug-2021
Artificial intelligence and machine learning deliver greater, more sustainable value from simulation models.
-
Impact of chlorides on fluid catalytic cracking
Aug-2021
Fluid catalytic cracking (FCC) is an important conversion process in many refineries. It produces transportation fuels, including gasoline and diesel precursors, ...
-
Maximising stripping section performance
Aug-2021
The design of a crude unit stripping section affects diesel and gasoil yields, energy usage, and unit reliability.
-
Sulphidation corrosion in a claus waste heat boiler
Aug-2021
Simulation enabled a refiner to avoid potentially dangerous operating conditions in a sulphur recovery unit.
-
Development of paraffin hydrocarbons isomerisation processes
Aug-2021
The background of the paraffin hydrocarbons isomerisation processes is inextricably connected with different types of catalysts.
-
Maximising yields and profits from the FCC unit
Aug-2021
Comparative additive trials demonstrated a gain in petrochemicals output and profit from an integrated refinery’s FCC unit.
-
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 ...
-
Multi-phase project enables switch to heavier crude (TIA)
Aug-2021
In recent years, deasphalted oil (DAO) hydrocracking has emerged as a highly attractive investment option, principally because it provides the opportunity ...
-
De-mystifying alarm management standards
Jul-2021
What is Alarm Management? Definition of Alarm Management. The EEMUA 191 definition of Alarm Management is “The processes and practices for determining, ...
-
Carbon dioxide emissions from fired heaters
Jun-2021
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 c ...
SPONSORS