The objective of this article is to share industry experience related to the reliability challenges with vertically suspended molten sulfur pumps. Due to the operating temperatures and the unique chemical properties of sulfur, several operational and reliability challenges are inherently present across the industry.
Hydrocarbon Processing, the downstream processing sector’s leading technical publication for nearly 100 yr, has announced the finalists for its fifth annual HP Awards, which celebrate innovative technologies and people that have been instrumental in improving facility operations over the past year.
Many refineries are experiencing new problems related to the formation of stable emulsions and poor separation due to the increased use of lower-cost opportunity crude oils that have a high total acid number (TAN), higher gravities and more sulfur content.
Plant performance depends on stable operations, with steady feed, product flow, temperature and pressure control as per process requirements.
Since its inception in 1922, Hydrocarbon Processing—originally called Petroleum Refiner when first published—has focused on delivering the latest refining technologies to readers around the world.
LPG pool management is becoming more important as the regulations on the product specifications tighten.
Ulsan PP Co., a JV between PolyMirae Co. Ltd. (a partnership between LyondellBasell and DL Chemical) and SK Advanced, commissioned its 400,000-tpy polypropylene (PP) facility in June.
Petrochemical demand will increase with gross domestic product, while the demand for motor fuels will only show modest growth and may even decline in certain regions, given environmental/legislative pressures and the introduction of battery-powered electric vehicles.
Studies have been conducted on strategies for bunker fuel oil (BFO) production with reduced sulfur and catalytic fines concentration limits.
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.