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

Drivers

Update on wet and gas compressor seals

Hydrocarbon Processing Staff: Bloch, Heinz P.

Shaft seals keep compressed gas from leaking out. The need for leak prevention may include process economy, safety and environmental protection. Moreover, the process gas will usually have to be kept ..

HP Reliability: TAMU Turbo and Pump symposiums still leading

Hydrocarbon Processing Staff: Bloch, Heinz P.

Beginning in 1971, the Turbomachinery Laboratory of Texas A&M University (TAMU) organized the first of now 41 consecutive annual turbomachinery symposiums, now known as the TAMU Turbo. In 1984, Texas ..

Reliability and maintenance: The path to world-class performance

HSB Solomon Associates LLC: Poling, A.

HPI companies in a progressive culture strive for failure-free operations with defect elimination and uninterrupted operation.

HP Reliability: Upgrade the design of vertical, multistage centrifugal pumps in low-temperature services

Hydrocarbon Processing Staff: Bloch, Heinz P.

The overall mechanical design of most API-style vertical-column pumps (Fig. 1) comes close to meeting the expectations of modern pump users. Such pumps are often equipped with self oil-lubricated bear..

HP Reliability: Closed-oil-mist systems and maintenance cost avoidance

Hydrocarbon Processing Staff: Bloch, Heinz P.

A recent Hydrocarbon Processing (HP) article conveyed an industry finding that dates back several decades: Oil mist successfully lubricates operating machinery, protects and preserves standby equipmen..

HP Engineering Case Histories: Case 70: Twenty rules for troubleshooting

Consulting Engineer: Sofronas, A.

In previous Engineering Case History columns, I have discussed checklists and their value in avoiding errors during startups. While the rules cannot replace common sense or a logical and methodical ap..

Modernize your compressor lube- and seal-oil systems

Hydrocarbon Processing Staff: Bloch, Heinz P.

Each pipe or control line should be traced to its origin, the design intent must be well understood, and all owner-purchaser questions answered by the vendor-manufacturer.

Consider new developments for variable-speed electric motors

WorleyParsons Services: Almasi, A.

New challenges, recent developments, the latest mechanical issues and main reliability factors for large variable-speed electric motor drivers in HPI plants are presented here.

Improve performance monitoring of your turbomachinery

Canadian Natural Resources Ltd.: Bhachu, U.  |  Francis, J.

This case study documents the performance variables to consider and apply when monitoring and tracking the efficiency deterioration for a steam turbine using DSs in a PI process book.

Case history: Improve refrigeration compressor performance

Fluor Canada Ltd.: Ghaisas, N.

This case examines the mechanical distress and performance deterioration of a critical refrigeration compressor that was installed at a world-scale petrochemicals complex.