Special Focus: Petrochemical Technology

Modeling and optimization of pressure distillation to achieve pharma-grade THF
Shirpurkar, V., Saudi International Petrochemical Co. (Sipchem)

This case study details the production of tetrahydrofuran (THF), with a purity of 99.96 wt% and water moisture of less than 200 parts per million (ppm).

Energy losses from the radiant firebox wall of pyrolysis furnaces
Bueno, A., Regueira, V., Braskem S.A.; Leite, L., Federal University of Rio de Janeiro

The steam cracking unit is highly energy demanding, requiring high-severity pyrolysis furnaces to break the carbon-carbon bonds, as well as high pressure for the purification of its products.

CFD simulation in chemical reaction engineering
Aglave, R., Eppinger, T., Siemens PLM Software

Reaction engineering is a branch of chemical engineering that deals with the design and optimization of chemical reactors.

Establishing a plastics processing sector in NE India—A short analysis
Phukan, P. K., Brahmaputra Cracker and Polymer Ltd.

The Assam gas cracker project was proposed as a part of the implementation of the Assam Accord, which was signed on August 15, 1985.

Process Engineering

Aqueous chemistry principles applied to refinery processes
Cardoso, R., Phillips 66

In the petroleum refining industry, pH measurement and adjustment are extremely important.

Process Optimization

Speed up the development of new commercial adsorbents—Part 1

In the conventional development approach, a multi-stage process begins in the laboratory, moves to the pilot plant, and ends at the commercial unit, often before any financial benefits are realized.

An optimized approach to choosing solvent for the liquid-liquid extraction process
Gupta, A., Jain, S., Reliance Industries Ltd.

Liquid-liquid extraction (LLE) is a traditional method used for separating a specific component (solute) from the carrier liquid phase.

Enhancing refinery profitability with a novel offgas conversion technology
Aronson, A., Zaziski, D., Siluria Technologies; Carter, D., Wood Group

The refining industry is challenged every day to optimize product slates that comply with market demand, product specifications, environmental regulations and refining-petrochemical integration, all while remaining profitable.

Environment and Safety

Optimize your insulation to reduce costs

Corrosion under insulation (CUI) is a common problem that is shared by the oil and gas (onshore and offshore), refining, petrochemical, power and manufacturing industries.

How pipeline management becomes part of a plant safety strategy
Liston, C., HIMA Americas, Inc.

A typical refinery or chemical plant contains miles of pipelines.

Process Control and Instrumentation

Measuring steam flow to flares
Menezes, M., Emerson Automation Solutions

Refinery flare stacks are designed to combust all manner of unrecoverable hydrocarbon gases and vapors to avoid putting them into the atmosphere in their original form.

Columns

Editorial Comment: Petrochemicals—Advancing production for modern life
Nichols, Lee, Hydrocarbon Processing Staff

This issue of Hydrocarbon Processing is devoted primarily to the topic of petrochemicals; and rightly so.

Reliability: Guidance for a lube sampling program
Bloch, Heinz P., Hydrocarbon Processing Staff

Suppose your manager asked you to be involved in setting up a lube sampling program.

Africa: The challenge of investing in Africa’s additional capacities
Oirere, S., Contributing Editor

According to BP’s Statistical Review of World Energy 2017, Africa’s total crude oil production is approximately 7.9 MMbpd.

Petrochemicals: Ethylene and polyethylene— An outlook to 2022
Kirby, P., Hussain, A., PCI Wood Mackenzie

The first petrochemical-based production of ethylene occurred nearly a century ago. Since then, the industry has undergone a momentous evolution.

Engineering Case Histories: Case 100—Was sloshing the cause of a failure?
Sofronas, A., Consulting Engineer

Some situations in failure analysis demand an understanding of the wave motion of a liquid wave in a tank, called “sloshing.”

Industry Perspectives: China holds nearly half of all petrochemical projects in Asia
Nichols, Lee, Hydrocarbon Processing Staff

Over the past decade, the Asia-Pacific region has been the leader in total active projects in all sectors of the downstream processing industry.

Business Trends: Asia and Europe join the feedstock evolution with steam crackers
Morse, P. M., Argus

Steam crackers lay at the heart of petrochemical operations.

Industry Metrics
Rhodes, Mike, Hydrocarbon Processing Staff

US refinery margins showed seasonal y–o–y growth, mainly supported by gasoline and diesel stocks drawdowns due to refinery maintenance.

Global Project Data
Nichols, Lee, Hydrocarbon Processing Staff

According to Hydrocarbon Processing’s Construction Boxscore Database and HPI Market Data 2018, total capital expenditures (CAPEX) in the global petrochemical sector are more than $440 B.

Innovations
Andrew, Bob, Hydrocarbon Processing Staff

Ross Systems and Controls (SysCon) recently completed the qualification to self-certify its touchscreen purged panels as meeting the rigorous standards of Underwriters Laboratories’ UL-698A Code and the National Fire Protection Association’s NFPA-496 Code.