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

Maintenance & Reliability

Engineering Case Histories: Case 89: Cracking of welds due to weld fatigue

Consulting Engineer: Sofronas, A.

Pressure vessels, piping and fabricated structures adhering to recognized welding codes rarely fail in static loading, unless they are damaged or severely overloaded.

Troubleshoot operation of a steam ejector vacuum system

Vacuum Improvement Consulting Engineering: Lieberman, N.
Phillips 66: Cardoso, R.

A crude vacuum unit operating properly generates high gasoil yield vs. low-value vacuum residue.

Improve facility safety by understanding process and personal safety

Fluor: Luna, V. B.

The lack of knowledge and understanding about process safety is still apparent in many industries where hazardous materials are processed and handled.

Control fouling on preheat trains with a two-stage approach

Fouling in heat exchanger preheat trains is a well-known problem in the refining industry.

Reliability: Interpreting API Standard 618 for reciprocating compressors

Hydrocarbon Processing Staff: Bloch, Heinz P.

A rotating machinery engineer working for an engineering, procurement and construction (EPC) contractor in India is often involved in selecting reciprocating compressors for hydrocarbon processing plants.

Engineering Case Histories: Case 88: Normal operating loads do not usually cause failures

Consulting Engineer: Sofronas, A.

Equipment of all types are designed for normal operating conditions, usually with some margin for unknowns.

HP Innovations

Hydrocarbon Processing Staff: Blume, Adrienne

The FM-approved FireChek thermal shutoff valve with resettable memory shape alloy can now be used to automatically shut down a pneumatic control system when a nearby fire occurs, or when the ambient temperature reaches 135°F, 150°F or 165°F.

Use dynamic simulation to increase reliability of hydrogen generation

Technip India Ltd.: Prasad, M. K. E.  |  Ethakota, M.  |  Agarwal, P.  |  Marathe, M.

Through this plant study, a licensor demonstrates effective use of rigorous dynamic simulation tools to implement the new control schemes and configurations.

HP Reliability: Consider high-pressure throttle bushings made from fluoropolymers

Hydrocarbon Processing Staff: Bloch, Heinz P.

In February 2004, I reported on how horizontal multistage pumps could be upgraded with a high-performance plastic produced by DuPont, Vespel CR-6100.

HP Engineering Case Histories: Case 87: How an engineering consultant can help your company

Consulting Engineer: Sofronas, A.

While engineering consultants are available for a wide range of client requirements, such as developing or reviewing specifications for new equipment, this article is only concerned with analyzing equipment failures.