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Motors

Lubrication update for rotating equipment

Professional engineer: Bloch, H. P.

API-610 is the most widely used pump standard in the petrochemical and refining industries. It includes experience-based recommendations for lubricant applications and one of those recommendations rel..

Use new methods to optimize energy efficiency of hydrogen compressors

Repsol SA: Vila Forteza, M.

Hydrogen (H2) is a key to efficient operation of refinery desulfurization units (DSUs). Process H2, both pure and recycled from DSUs, must be compressed to pressures up to 85 kg/cm2. Centrifugal compr..

HP Reliability: Reassessing and updating electric motor bearing lubrication

Hydrocarbon Processing Staff: Bloch, Heinz P.

Over the past 25 years, this column has often dealt with electric motor lubrication. As listed in the recommended reading list, this subject is often asked and, of course, there are updates to the rec..

HP Viewpoint: Methanol takes on LNG for future marine fuels

Methanol Institute: Dolan, G. A.

As the lifecycle economics of using MeOH compared with other emission compliance options become more evident, we will see the tide rising on the use of MeOH as a marine engine fuel.

HP Reliability: Consider oil-resistant cable terminations to increase electric motor reliability

Hydrocarbon Processing Staff: Bloch, Heinz P.

Most engineers are familiar with adhesive-coated insulating tape used by electricians in the field and maintenance shop. If we use this tape in the engine compartment of an automobile, it will soon be..

HP Engineering Case Histories: Case 83: What are useful questions to ask before starting a vibration analysis?

Consulting Engineer: Sofronas, A.

Periodically, this author receives questions from readers throughout the world addressing what performance issues could be wrong with a centrifugal compressor that is vibrating. Note: It is impossible..

Fine-tune monitoring of critical compressors

PROGNOST Systems GmbH: Loeken, J.

In this case history, a new monitoring system was installed on a critical service hyper compressor for a Middle East (ME) ethylene complex. This unit supported two 400 Mton polyethylene (PE) units; do..

HP Reliability: Plan now to deal with stressed equipment later

Hydrocarbon Processing Staff: Bloch, Heinz P.

The US Energy Information Administration’s (EIA’s) “Today in Energy” brief evaluated how US refineries are processing record amounts of crude oil (Fig. 1), with Midwest and Gulf Co..

How to select compressors for various process services

Consultant: Geitner, F. K.
Professional engineer: Bloch, H. P.

Every style or type of compressor was developed to serve a particular process purpose. Collective references have devoted hundreds of thousands of pages on this topic. Two books have attempted to summ..

Update on control and safety systems for turbomachinery

Compressor Controls Corp.: Staroselsky, S.
Compressor Controls: Jacobson, W.  |  McWhirter, J.

All plant workers want to reduce the safety risk associated with turbomachinery operation while avoiding nuisance trips. The goal is to run machines in an efficient manner. In this context, safety ris..