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Valves

Hydrocarbon Processing Awards

<i>Hydrocarbon Processing,</i> the downstream processing sector’s leading technical publication, has announced the finalists for its third annual awards.

Horizontal distillation column technology

Independent Researcher/Inventor: Katyal, A.

Gas-liquid contact operations are required for the separation of mixtures based on differences in the chemical properties (volatility, solubility, etc.) of various components.

Innovations

Hydrocarbon Processing Staff: Rhodes, Mike

To test developments of pumps and systems under even more realistic conditions, LEWA has inaugurated a specially developed container test bench that will be used for experiments with hot or explosive fluids.

Set refinery profitability goals

Graham Corp.: Johnson, A.  |  Johnson, E.
Process Improvement Engineering: Lieberman, N.

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.

Case study for a high-performing refinery loss control program

Emerson Automation Solutions: Valentine, J.
YPF: Videla, R.

Most refineries have some sort of mass balance and loss control program in place for accounting, planning and scheduling, as well as for financial and operational evaluation purposes.

Coke drum and blowdown system overpressure protection design—Part 2

ExxonMobil Rotterdam refinery: Geronimo, G. DI
ExxonMobil Research and Engineering Co.: Ceary, P. J.  |  Markham, N.

The blowdown (BD) system in delayed coking units (DCUs) receives waste streams generated during the coke drum (CD) decoking process to recover valuable hydrocarbons and water.

Innovations

Hydrocarbon Processing Staff: Rhodes, Mike

Engineers tasked with finding a green solution to waste gas emissions from hydrocarbon storage tanks during loading and unloading operations will find that the ST100 series thermal flowmeter from Fluid Components International (FCI) supports tank vapor recovery systems, which help reduce greenhouse gas emissions.

Cut costs and save time servicing valves during refinery turnarounds

Emerson Automation Solutions: Dalal, N.

Most refineries perform turnaround activities every 3 yr–5 yr to maintain and upgrade plant assets and equipment.

Stable thermosiphon reboiler operation: With or without a valve in the inlet piping?

Fluor: Kister, H.  |  Van Doorn, E.

A reboiler provides the necessary heat duty for the separation in a distillation tower.

Resolving vibration problems in a crude booster pump

Saudi Aramco: Rinawi, A.  |  Brashler, K.  |  Subaie, E.

The pumps referred to in this article are 2,600-HP vertical pumps utilized as booster pumps for the shipment of crude oil.