Environment & Safety Gas Processing/LNG Maintenance & Reliability Petrochemicals Process Control Process Optimization Project Management Refining

August 2021

Archive

Special Focus: Valves, Pumps and Turbomachinery

Online treatment of a slide valve fault in an FCCU
PetroChina Jinzhou Petrochemical Co.: Ruibo, G.
China University of Petroleum: Wei, P.  |  Yansheng, L.

The regeneration slide valve is a key piece of equipment that controls the ratio of catalyst to oil and reaction temperature in FCC units (FCCUs).

Case study: Reliability of low-flow, high-head pumps
Saudi Aramco: Badughaish , M.

Pumps are one of the key elements used in different industries, including oil and gas, petrochemicals and water treatment.

Keeping fugitive emissions costs down with low-E valves
Swagelok: Hunsicker, S.

Fugitive emissions have become an increasingly critical area of interest for chemical processing and refining facilities.

Dual-mechanical seal arrangement for hot pump service
TurboTech Consulting Corp.: Zardynezhad, S.

Selecting mechanical seals for hot services in an oil refinery or petrochemical plant is always a challenging task—and it is a task that needs careful attention, since the wrong seal selection can have a significant impact on pump reliability and availability.

PSV sizing: An alternative solution to the homogeneous direct-integration method
WSP Canada Inc.: Hojjati, H.  |  Hojjati, B.

Pressure safety valves (PSVs) are designed to protect personnel and plant properties from an overpressure occurrence in equipment or piping by relieving fluid to a safe location.

Process Optimization

MAA refinery—Bunker fuel oil challenge: Stable and compatible VLSFO production
Kuwait National Petroleum Co.: Matar, M. B.  |  Al-Mane, A.  |  Rajendran, M.

Studies have been conducted on strategies for bunker fuel oil (BFO) production with reduced sulfur and catalytic fines concentration limits.

Aromatic complex: A case study for relief load estimation of a heat integrated refinery unit
Bechtel India: Saha, J.  |  Chaudhuri, S.

Refineries are moving from fuels to chemical production as the demand for fuel derived from crude oil declines in the near future.

Prospects of petrochemical disruptive technology applications in Egypt Energy Hub Project
Pharos University: Ezzat, A. A.

One of the most important challenges facing the Egyptian economy is the growing demand for petrochemicals in different sectors, particularly plastic materials and composites.

Plant Design, Engineering and Construction

Oil refinery/petrochemical integration in a CO2-constrained world—Part 2
Fluor: Baars, F.  |  Oruganti, S.  |  Kalia, P.

Petrochemical demand will increase with gross domestic product, while the demand for motor fuels will only show modest growth and may even decline in certain regions, given environmental/legislative pressures and the introduction of battery-powered electric vehicles.

Hydrogen

Advances in chemical carriers for hydrogen
Chiyoda Corp.: Schneider, R. V.  |  Kurosaki, D.  |  Oki, M.

Is hydrogen the fuel of the future?

Maintenance and Reliability

Continuous monitoring of creep in equipment
Raffineria di Milazzo: D’Antonio, F.

In this article, the development of a customized program—designed by the author and used at Raffineria di Milazzo—for the continuous monitoring of creep in vessels and piping is explained.

Heat Transfer

Spiral heat exchanger technology
Saudi Aramco: Alhazemi, A. B.  |  Alharbi, B.

Heat exchangers are some of the most critical equipment in the oil and gas industry, as they provide the required temperature of fluid to sustain the plant’s operation.

Embrace tube metal temperature factor (FT) in fired heater design
Engineers India Ltd.: Batra, K.  |  Agarwal, N.

Fired heaters are one of the most critical pieces of equipment in a refinery. They

Digitalization

Control software drives sustainable performance and production
Emerson: Sims, S.

In the face of changing dynamics around the world, hydrocarbon manufacturers are finding the need to not only change strategies, but also to continually adapt those strategies to meet new social and consumer expectations.

Columns

Editorial Comment: Advancing ideas and best practices by learning from others
Hydrocarbon Processing Staff: Nichols, Lee

For 99 yr, <i>Hydrocarbon Processing</i> has provided hydrocarbon processing industry (HPI) professionals around the world with the latest technologies, best practices, know-how and case studies.

Reliability: ARC spring dampers eliminate compressor instability
Hydrocarbon Processing Staff: Bloch, Heinz P.

A recent book<sup>1</sup> describes novel approaches in applied process gas compressor technology.

Industry Perspectives
Hydrocarbon Processing Staff: Nichols, Lee

The June issue of <i>Hydrocarbon Processing</i> featured the article “A critical analysis of CO<sub>2</sub> capture technologies.”

Construction
Hydrocarbon Processing Staff: Nichols, Lee

Ulsan PP Co., a JV between PolyMirae Co. Ltd. (a partnership between LyondellBasell and DL Chemical) and SK Advanced, commissioned its 400,000-tpy polypropylene (PP) facility in June.

Global Project Data
Hydrocarbon Processing Staff: Nichols, Lee

Gulf Energy Information’s Global Energy Infrastructure database is tracking nearly 1,100 projects around the world, totaling more than $1.8 T in active capital project investments.

Innovations

What are the latest advancements in HPI technologies? This month’s Innovations section details the tools and technologies that are optimizing plant operations.

People
Hydrocarbon Processing Staff: Rhodes, Mike

Servomex announces new Regional Sales Manager for France and Africa