One hundred years ago, a group of individuals saw a need to disseminate the latest technologies and know-how to improve refining operations, safety, management and profitability. At the time, World War 1 had ended roughly 4 yr prior, and global gasoline demand expanded immensely. In turn, new refining capacity was being built around the world to increase production to satisfy burgeoning demand. Simultaneously, new discoveries were being made to produce plastics, fertilizers and other petrochemical products.
HP Flashback is a mixture of technical articles, columns and headlines published through the decades by Hydrocarbon Processing. This collection of excerpts provides a look into the major technological advancements and topics/trends in the hydrocarbon processing industry during that timeframe.
Over the last 9 mos, Hydrocarbon Processing has provided a detailed history of the origins and evolution of the hydrocarbon processing industry (HPI). This robust analysis chronicled the beginnings of the modern refining and petrochemical industries through the technological advancements that have created the global energy juggernaut the industry has become today.
Carl von Linde was a German scientist and engineer who pioneered new technologies in refrigeration and the invention of air separation and gas liquefaction processes. In the 1870s, Linde’s studies led to an efficient design for refrigeration.
The following is a mixture of technical articles, columns and headlines published in the 2000s by Hydrocarbon Processing. This collection of excerpts provides a look into the major technological advancements and topics/trends in the hydrocarbon processing industry during that timeframe.
This final installment of the History of the HPI series details major events in the refining and petrochemicals industry over the past 20 yr, including stricter regulations/initiatives to curb carbon emissions, a safer and more environmentally friendly way to produce and handle chemicals, significant capital investments to boost production capacity and digital transformation.
In late September, Hydrocarbon Processing will again host the International Refining and Petrochemical Conference (IRPC) as an in-person event—the technical symposium has been held virtually since early 2021.
As detailed in Hydrocarbon Processing’s History of the HPI series, the modern oil refining industry traces its origin back nearly 170 yr. The industry has not only propelled much of the world to a higher standard of living, but has also created new products and technologies that have extended life expectancies, created modern societies and lifesaving equipment, and revolutionized the way people travel and communicate.
The future is best described in three phases: Drivers for change, current responses and projections.
Much like several initiatives passed in the 1970s and 1980s, the 1990s were a decade heavily focused on environmental issues, with many new regulations being enacted to not only mitigate industrial and vehicle emissions but also to advance the production of clean fuels globally.