Process Control
IR camera technology provides new perspective on furnace inspection routines
A few years ago, managers at a US-based oil refinery called in an expert to inspect their oil furnaces with an infrared (IR) camera.
Process safety incidents, cognitive biases and critical thinking
Process hazard analysis (PHA) is performed to identify possible hazard scenarios that may occur in a process.
AIChE ’17: 13th Global Congress on Process Safety
SAN ANTONIO -- Run in parallel with the AIChE Spring Meeting, GCPS also draws a large attendance and a significant number of exhibitors. Now in San Antonio for 2017, the plenary session AGILE award keynote address was “Chemical Engineers Can Do Anything” by John Televantos of Arsenal Capital Partners.
Vibration studies offer valuable lessons for correcting problematic operations
All plants have a vibration monitoring program for rotating equipment. Portable instruments measure vibration at the bearing housing of machines at horizontal (x), vertical (y) and axial (z) directions. The frequency spectrum helps diagnose the causes of vibration.
Advance analytics to keep pace with production
Predicting the state of the energy industry a year or two from now is difficult. At best, potential scenarios can be envisioned, as in the International Energy Agency’s (IEA) World Energy Outlook 2016. Through this analysis of data and market reports, the IEA casts its projections for different scenarios to the year 2040. The IEA expects the fastest growth to occur in renewable energy, given recent climate pledges by global governments.
Expand crude diet flexibility through comprehensive oil management
One of the primary means for refiners to boost profitability is to improve crude diet flexibility. Many refiners are challenged with increasing their margins while the quality of the global crude oil supply declines.
Driving innovation in the downstream: IRPC returns to New Delhi
Gulf Publishing Company and Hydrocarbon Processing are pleased to announce that IRPC 2017 will be held April 18–20 in New Delhi.
Innovations
Siemens Water Solutions has chosen a ceramic flat-sheet membrane for use in a powdered activated carbon technology (PACT) membrane bioreactor (MBR).
Reduce coke formation and save operating costs with optimization of DMDS into ethane cracking furnaces
Steam cracking furnaces produce olefins, which are high-value feeds in the petrochemical industry. Coke formation is an unavoidable part of a thermal cracking furnace.
Improve plant work processes with enhanced alarm response programs
One of the unfortunate realities of automation in process industries is the stubborn inability to improve on the weakest link of the chain: human beings.
- ITT to acquire SPX Flow for > $4.77 B, expanding leadership in highly engineered components and adjacent flow technologies 12/5
- MOL Group introduces eco-friendly Bag-in-Box packaging for lubricants 12/5
- Russia and India sign deal to build urea plant in Russia 12/5
- U.S. liquid fuels groups announce progress on E15, small refinery exemption reform 12/5
- Million Air and Avfuel bring SAF to Austin, Texas (U.S.) 12/5
- Chinese refiners buy oil from storage, raise output with fresh import quota 12/5
