July 2022

Archive

Special Focus: Valves, Pumps, and Turbomachinery

Use a simple vapor equation for sizing two-phase pressure relief valves

Pressure relief valves (PRVs) protect process equipment from the hazards of excessive over-pressure.

The effects of highly corrosive fluids on valves and disasters that can be avoided
Welsford, G., ValveMan

Some of the highly corrosive fluids in the oil and gas industry contain the following compounds: carbon dioxide, hydrogen sulfide, chlorides and moisture.

Fouling in hydrogen recycle gas compressors
Zardynezhad, S., TurboTech Consulting Corp.

Hydrogen recycle gas compressors are one of the most significant rotating equipment in oil refineries, petrochemical plants and upgraders.

Accurately calculate flowrate through valves, fittings and pipe under a turbulent flow regime
Garcia, I., Garcia, A., Contributing Editor

Calculating flowrate through long, straight pipe in a zone of complete turbulence is easy using standard fluid mechanics equations.

Circular Economy

Enabling a circular economy delivery model through truckable modularization
Villegas, M., Koch Modular Process Systems

As resources become scarcer, and as costs continue to rise, companies are looking for new methods to reduce their material feedstock costs and remain competitive.

Process Optimization

MAA refinery’s experience producing Europe’s most-stringent diesel specification
Matar, M. B., Al-Mane, A., Layri, A. Y., Kuwait National Petroleum Co.

The European climate has one of the harshest winter weather conditions—therefore, diesel products’ cold flow properties [i.e., cloud point (CP) and cold filter plugging point (CFPP) parameters] are key to ensure diesel products’ usability during these climate conditions.

HRSG water/steam sampling: Do it right or face potential consequences
Buecker, B., ChemTreat, Inc.; Powalisz, J., Sentry Equipment Corp.

Many large industrial facilities—including refineries, and chemical and petrochemical plants—are increasingly turning to co-generation for process steam and power production.

Caustic tower design guidelines and recommendations
Sharma, A., Process Engineer

A caustic tower is a critical piece of equipment in an ethylene plant that supplies feed to the downstream section after removing impurities.

Catalysts

Hydroprocessing catalyst reload and restart best practices—Part 1
Dyke, S., PetroQuantum; Pongboot, N., Global R&D

Hydroprocessing (hydrotreating and hydrocracking) units are high-pressure, high-temperature units that have multiple reactors, multiple beds per reactor and specialized metallurgy.

Maintenance and Reliability

Storage tank settlement and soil-side corrosion assessment with optimized repair strategy
Alsaiari, M., Alghamdi, F., Saudi Aramco

Aboveground storage tanks are used in several industries with different fluid services. These

Developing and utilizing a novel, toughened epoxy adhesive
Wade, I., Belzona Polymerics Ltd.

When identifying solutions that can offer assurance and longevity, the maintenance and reliability of asset repairs can be challenging.

Columns

Editorial Comment: No flow, no go: Stressing the importance of flow control technologies
Nichols, Lee, Hydrocarbon Processing Staff

One of the most critical aspects of plant operations is controlling the flow of liquids and gases throughout refining and petrochemical process units.

Reliability: When to consider liquid-ring compressors
Bloch, H. P., Process Machinery Consulting

Liquid-ring compressors (FIG. 1) use the centrifugal whirling of a sealing liquid to create a series of piston-like water columns to trap gas or vapor between the impeller cells of a rotor installed eccentric to its casing.

Optimization: Integrity operating windows management
Anwer, A., Contributing Editor

Operations in the oil and gas, petrochemical and refining industries pose a higher risk when failures occur in identifying ongoing damage mechanisms within static equipment.

Environment and Safety: Gas flaring: Necessary, or a waste of resources and a source of greenhouse gases?
Rastogi, A., Fluor Daniel India Pvt. Ltd.

Flaring is the controlled burning of hydrocarbons at oil refineries, gas processing plants and petrochemical plants.

Digital: Layering up to avoid the cold realities of asset performance silos
O. Rodriguez, Lloyd's Register

Operators may use a variety of tools and techniques—hardware solutions, software packages and sensor technologies—to monitor and manage different aspects of plant performance.

Valves, Pumps and Turbomachinery: Achieving the right installation torque with a virtual calculation
Wegener, C., Rembe

Determining the required installation torque for a tight flange system is a daily challenge for industrial valve manufacturers and plant operators.

Industry Perspectives
Nichols, Lee, Hydrocarbon Processing Staff

In 1H 2022, new capital projects have declined 19% vs. 1H 2021.

Business Trends: Non-OEM parts—Buyer beware
Boyle, B., Emerson

What is the harm in wearing a knock-off Rolex watch?

Innovations
Rhodes, Mike, Hydrocarbon Processing Staff

The Thermo Scientific Delta Q isotope ratio mass spectrometer (IRMS) is a next-generation gas IRMS designed to enable detailed analysis with greater precision and accuracy.

People
Rhodes, Mike, Hydrocarbon Processing Staff

HIMA appoints new Sales Director for the Middle East region