While the ultimate purpose of operating a refinery is to produce gasoline, diesel or asphalt, key objectives include improving return on investment (ROI), net profitability and cash flow.
Whether it is heating process fluids to achieve enough temperature in crude atmospheric and vacuum distillation units, or reaction temperatures inside furnace tubes to produce ethylene, vinyl chloride monomer, synthetic gas and continuous catalytic reformer reactors, or simple process heating (thermal fluid), process furnaces play a critical role in refineries and petrochemical complexes.
The persistent volatility of energy prices is well known, and sustained price movements have fueled a boom-and-bust cycle in different energy sectors for decades.
As environmental concerns emerging from the incessant consumption of fuels have gripped the attention of global leaders, energy producers have been developing cleaner fuel alternatives for use in domestic and commercial settings.
What is the first thing that comes to mind when we hear the word optimization?
In the US, continued gasoline–related tightening exerted upside pressure on prices, despite improvement in refinery throughputs as refineries returned online.
Throughout Hydrocarbon Processing’s 97 yr of publishing technical material for the refining and petrochemical industries, the journal has focused on numerous topics to optimize downstream processing facility operations.
You have made the decision to increase plant capacity—with a change in feed—in the existing facility.
Plate-and-frame (P&F) heat exchangers were first manufactured 100 yr ago for use in the dairy industry.
An advisory committee will decide the future of a 209,000-barrel-per-day refinery that remains idled amid sanctions on the operator.