Petrochemical demand will increase with gross domestic product, while motor fuel demand will only show modest growth and may even decline in certain regions, given environmental/legislative pressure and the introduction of battery-powered electric vehicles.
Due to growing global environmental awareness in recent decades, the petrochemical industries have been seeking more cost-effective construction solutions.
Production requirements for more valuable refined products and/or increased refining flexibility are increasing due to new regulations.
Last month, Hydrocarbon Processing hosted the International Refining and Petrochemical Conference (IRPC).
Even before the challenges of the COVID-19 pandemic emerged, engineering, procurement and construction (EPC) firms were already under considerable stress.
The crude oil refining processing sequence is based on the separation of distillate products from heavier ones and concentrating the heavy molecules of the barrel for processing at the end of the refining run.
For those who have been in the refining industry for many years, it is obvious that significant changes are occurring.
The fluid catalytic cracking unit (FCCU) is the primary conversion equipment for modern refineries to obtain clean transportation fuels, along with high-grade petrochemical feedstock.
Modern commercial ethylbenzene (EB) plants use liquid-phase alkylation processes with zeolite catalysts to achieve high product yields.
Just as some people seek out extreme sports, process manufacturing has its extreme applications, and engineers who design for these environments must find ways to safely contain and monitor all manner of dangerous reactions and products.