Understanding basic principles of flow calculations

Mar-2008

Valve size often is described by the nominal size of the end connections, but a more important measure is the flow that the valve can provide.

Managing fouling in refinery networks

Jul-2015

Modelling heat exchanger and other networks enables the use of dynamic fouling models in performance assessment and predictive studies

Spent sulphuric acid regeneration (SAR) process

May-2012

Several chemical processes utilise concentrated sulphuric acid as a catalyst or dehydrating agent, in which the acid becomes “spent”; ie, weakened ...

Processing high TAN crude: part I

Jan-2010

Huizhou, which is the first refinery for processing 100% high TAN crude, started up in 2009. This article describes the challenges of an opportunity crude ...

Hydrogen generation for modern refineries

Jan-2009

With increasing demand for diesel, more stringent product specifications for cleaner fuels, reduced fuel oil demand and the economic advantages in processing ...

Sour water strippers: design and operation

Apr-2013

Simpler, more cost-effective sour water stripper designs can outperform more generally accepted designs in the refining industry

Naphtha catalytic cracking for propylene production

Mar-2013

Investment in on-purpose propylene production technology based on naphtha-based feedstock is taking on various process configurations

Oil/water separation technologies

Apr-2013

Where stable emulsions cannot be removed mechanically, the application of demulsifiers, coagulants and flocculants accelerates the separation process

Catalytic reforming options and practices

Apr-2010

Design and practice in catalytic reforming is evolving to meet refinery challenges, including lower gasoline pool benzene content and increased demand ...

High-purity propylene from refinery LPG

Apr-2012

A case study and financial analysis show that investment opportunities for refiners exist with the expected future high price of propylene

Understanding centrifugal compressor performance

Apr-2002

In a connected process system, expensive changes to the compressor and driver can be avoided with system debottlenecking modifications

Methanol from CO2: a technology and outlook overview

Apr-2023

Optimal capture of CO2 towards methanol production compels development of sustainable renewable solutions like green methanol.

Gasifying coke to produce hydrogen in refineries

Jul-2012

Coke gasification to produce hydrogen for hydroprocessing is more capital intensive than steam methane reforming, but not so vulnerable to natural gas ...

A novel approach to cleaning furnace coils

Jul-2013

A modified pigging operation aims to greatly reduce the time required for coke removal from furnace coils

RFCC units set new standard for propylene production

Oct-2012

RFCC units are being commissioned and operated to convert hydrotreated and straight-run resid to high levels of propylene

Optimising sweep gas flow in a flare header

Oct-2012

How to calculate the minimum flow of flare header sweep gas needed to maintain safe conditions

Calculating column relief loads

Apr-2010

Conventional, steady-state and dynamic simulation techniques are compared in a study of relief loads for failure modes applied to a distillation colum ...

Coker naphtha hydrotreating

Jan-2008

Highly exothermic olefins saturation and silica contamination can occur when hydrotreating coker naphtha.

Metathesis for maximum propylene

Apr-2006

Using metathesis technology to process refinery-based C4 feedstocks can maximise propylene. The economic advantages of flow schemes using alpha-olefins ...

Optimisation of product yield and coke formation in a RFCC unit

Apr-2010

Simulation studies of a commercial residue fluid catalytic cracking unit indicate the conditions for an optimum balance of product yield with low coke ...

Centrifugal compressor operations

Jul-2004

The wet gas compressor is used as an example in this article reviewing compressor performance, operating conditions and basic control philosophy

Improving the distillation energy network

Oct-2013

Energy-efficient design applied to the refit of a distillation unit was achieved through optimisation between the distillation column and heat network ...

Removal of chloride compounds

Apr-2003

A review of the use of chloride guard beds to treat liquid phase and gas phase streams to prevent operational problems from hard-to-detect organic chlorides, ...

Improved hydrogen yield in catalytic reforming

Jan-2013

A process step that sends higher-boiling C6 hydrocarbons to light tops isomerisation delivers an increase in hydrogen production from naphtha catalytic ...

Alarm floods and plant incidents

Jul-2012

Alarm floods and their contribution to industrial incidents can be controlled successfully through all process states

More petrochemicals with less capital spending

Sep-2020

Even in nations with exceptional dependence on transportation fuels like Brazil, better integration with petrochemicals production is essential for re ...

Energy management and sustainability of the downstream industry

Jun-2022

Energy management must feature in any strategy in the downstream industry for both environmental impact and economic competitiveness.

Delayed coking as a sustainable refinery solution

Jun-2021

Fuel grade coke is a serious environmental pollutant but the producer, the delayed coking process, can be a contributor to future sustainable development ...

The role of biofuels in the energy transition

Apr-2022

Overcoming the challenges of coprocessing renewables.

Closing the sustainability cycle

Feb-2023

Role of plastics recycling technologies in the future of the downstream industry.

Profiting from the lubricants market

Apr-2023

Pursuing a profitable and more sustainable purpose for crude oil through the lubricants market requires examination of lubricants production via hydro ...

Needle coke — overcoming quality challenges in a resurgent market

Nov-2022

The quality of needle coke precursors as a function of their origin and/or process is discussed against a backdrop of the drive to enhance quality, purity, ...

Managing fouling in refinery networks

Jul-2015

Modelling heat exchanger and other networks enables the use of dynamic fouling models in performance assessment and predictive studies

Experimental phase balance assessment for duplex stainless steel welded pipe

Jan-2018

This paper discusses the assessment of weld metal ferrite content in duplex stainless steel pipe welded at a 45Ëšangle

Delek brings refineries into synchronised digital maturity

Jul-2020

Since the company was founded in the early 2000s, the business strategy at Delek US Holdings, Inc. has focused on rapid growth through acquisition of downstream ...

Computation of heat conduction in welding of thick wall reactor vessels

Sep-2017

The welding of reactors in refinery is complex due to various phase formation during and after welding. Each phase was unique with success of welding lies ...

Maintenance and reliability for rotating equipment closing the loop

May-2024

Maintenance of rotating equipment is a vast subject that could fill volumes.

CCS from refinery emissions: CO2 purity must be analysed and controlled

Jun-2020

One of the most promising measures to decarbonise refinery operations is carbon capture and storage (CCS) from existing combustion processes, such as process ...

IMO 2020 - Maritime CEMS and refinery changes

May-2020

For several years, the International Maritime Organisation (IMO) has stipulated low levels of sulphur emissions close to densely populated coastal areas, ...

Hydrogen SMR energy efficiency optimisation

May-2020

Steam methane reformers (SMR) are the most common hydrogen production technique in the oil and gas industry.

Optimising FCC economics against changing market dynamics

Mar-2023

CO promoters are a frequently overlooked parameter for better control of afterburning, as demonstrated in a case study amidst a changing platinum group ...

Improved hydrogen yield in catalytic reforming

Jan-2013

A process step that sends higher-boiling C6 hydrocarbons to light tops isomerisation delivers an increase in hydrogen production from naphtha catalytic ...

Environmental monitoring and management in the downstream oil and gas sector

Apr-2020

Keeping it clean, keeping it green. Ground water, rain water run-off and effluent. Contaminated soil replacement in spillage areas, excavated soil disposal ...

Hydrogen — making the move from industrial gas to fuel

May-2020

Our sun creates energy through the fusion reaction of hydrogen to form helium: that’s been going on for millions of years.

Crude to chemicals: Part 2

Feb-2024

Part 1 covered the basics of crude-to-chemicals. Part 2 explains how hydroprocessing technology can be used to convert any crude to chemicals to maximise ...

Steam reforming natural gas containing higher hydrocarbons

Apr-2013

A method is described for estimating reformed gas composition in a primary reformer when the feed is a natural gas containing higher hydrocarbons

Slug catcher debottleneck protects downstream processing (TIA)

Aug-2020

Effective separation of oil and gas from different impurities in upstream operations is a matter of paramount importance. All downstream activities and ...

Boosting mild hydrocracking performance

Aug-2020

Optimising its mild hydrocracking operations using new catalyst developments enabled a refinery to meet more complex targets for fuel quality.

Molecular management for refinery-petrochemical complexes

Aug-2020

Designing a digital twin for process simulation of an integrated complex enables enhanced molecular management to deliver higher margin.The future comprises ...

Control corrosion in refineries and petrochemical plants

Oct-2023

Formation of a water-resistant organic film barrier stops electrochemical corrosion on metal surfaces.

Digital strategies for refinery operators

Nov-2024

(White Paper) - Large-scale digitalisation of the downstream sector will only be possible if companies make all the data they collect available in a way ...

Retrofitting vane pack separator for improved column performance

Nov-2024

(White Paper) - Case history of a syngas production unit, which experienced high methanol content in the tail gas of the scrubber when operated at 116% ...

Improving preventive maintenance using equipment criticality

Nov-2024

(White Paper) - Case study demonstrates the importance of rating equipment criticality in an effective preventive maintenance plan while reducing overall ...

Digitalisation solution for monitoring and improving performance

Nov-2024

(White Paper) Development of a collaborative platform for monitoring, enhancing decision-making, and improving operational efficiency within various aspects ...

Five common causes of refractory failure and how to fix them

Nov-2024

(White Paper) - All process heaters operate at high temperatures and are constructed with process tubes inside a refractory-lined enclosure, which is heated ...