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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.
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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
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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 ...
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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 ...
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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 ...
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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
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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
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Oil/water separation technologies
Apr-2013
Where stable emulsions cannot be removed mechanically, the application of demulsifiers, coagulants and flocculants accelerates the separation process
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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 ...
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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.
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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
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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
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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 ...
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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
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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
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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
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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 ...
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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 ...
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Jan-2008
Highly exothermic olefins saturation and silica contamination can occur when hydrotreating coker naphtha.
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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 ...
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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
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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 ...
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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, ...
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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 ...
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Alarm floods and plant incidents
Jul-2012
Alarm floods and their contribution to industrial incidents can be controlled successfully through all process states
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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 ...
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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.
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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 ...
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The role of biofuels in the energy transition
Apr-2022
Overcoming the challenges of coprocessing renewables.
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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 ...
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Closing the sustainability cycle
Feb-2023
Role of plastics recycling technologies in the future of the downstream industry.
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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, ...
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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
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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
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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 ...
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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 ...
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Maintenance and reliability for rotating equipment closing the loop
May-2024
Maintenance of rotating equipment is a vast subject that could fill volumes.
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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 ...
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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, ...
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Hydrogen SMR energy efficiency optimisation
May-2020
Steam methane reformers (SMR) are the most common hydrogen production technique in the oil and gas industry.
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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 ...
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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 ...
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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 ...
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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 ...
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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.
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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.
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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
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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.
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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 ...
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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 ...
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Using CRA barriers to avoid metal degradation in gas plants (TiA)
Feb-2025
When faced with metal wastage, asset owners and operators have viable options available to them in addressing the corrosion mechanisms with a corrosion ...
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Potential of renewable fuels and SAF
Feb-2025
A discussion of current technologies that can allow pivoting from renewable diesel to SAF and even revert to the full production of fossil fuels, as markets ...
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Optimising shell and tube heat exchanger operation
Feb-2025
Case studies show how inserts improve heat transfer coefficients, mitigate fouling and reduce end-of-run pressure drop, as demonstrated with the preheat ...
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Improving energy performance of instrument air system
Feb-2025
Real-time case study wherein extended adsorption cycle times has led to reduced fuel firing in a captive power plant and effective utilisation of ener ...
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Desalter optimisation strategies: Part 2
Feb-2025
Analysis and optimisation strategies implemented for a two-stage desalter processing light to medium API crude blends at a Southeast Asian refinery.
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Revamping sulphur recovery units with high-level oxygen enrichment
Feb-2025
Two case studies demonstrate how high-level oxygen enrichment can address two distinct issues that existing SRUs are likely to face in the future of r ...
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Process control and energy management in the 21st century
Feb-2025
Key online measurements and technologies for safe and optimal refinery operation, highlighting potential energy savings that can lead to reduced CO2 e ...
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Overcoming the complexities of spent caustic treating
Feb-2025
Case studies focus on sustainable solutions for treating highly alkaline spent caustic refinery waste with widely available carbon dioxide.
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Mass transfer solutions: Selecting the optimal solution
Feb-2025
Utilising low differential pressure, high surface area mass transfer devices reduce treating unit size while meeting more stringent regulations and improving ...
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FCC unit stripper design and troubleshooting
Feb-2025
Efficient removal of hydrocarbons from spent catalyst depends on multiple variables and is influenced by stripper design, as shown in the following di ...
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Corrosion mitigation of amine units using MEA for deep CO2 removal: Part 1
Feb-2025
Case study describing a gas plant experiencing high corrosion rates in the unit’s major equipment, including the regenerator and contactor towers.
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Powering the future: The role of Electrification
Jan-2025
As industries worldwide confront ambitious climate goals, electrification has become a vital strategy for reducing emissions and advancing sustainabil ...
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Lifecycle management of precious metal catalysts (NARTC 2025)
Jan-2025
Critical operations in many petroleum and petrochemical companies rely on catalysts containing precious metals (PMs) such as platinum, palladium, ruthenium, ...
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Hydrocracking a wider variety of feedstocks while reducing energy costs (NARTC 2025)
Jan-2025
Refinery hydrocracking projects are expected to grow significantly through 2025, with worldwide capacity projected to reach almost 15 million bpd.
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How to protect catalysts in switch to renewable feedstocks (NARTC 2025)
Jan-2025
There is mounting public and governmental pressure on refiners to aid in the energy and material transition.
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Exploiting ‘old’ refinery assets (NARTC 2025)
Jan-2025
Although North America, as a major transit route, is well positioned for building refineries, no new facilities have been built since 1977.
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Enhancing safety in online fuel blending: role of advanced leak detection systems (NARTC 2025)
Jan-2025
Fuel blending is an integral process within the petroleum industry, providing refiners with a flexible and cost-effective method to produce high-quality ...
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Crystaphase optimisation helped refiner achieve up to double runtime and throughput (NARTC 2025)
Jan-2025
Not long after a summer turnaround, a major Gulf Coast refinery had a problem.
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Challenges in diesel hydrotreating catalyst selection (NARTC 2025)
Jan-2025
Selecting the best diesel hydrotreating catalyst is complex due to several factors:
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Enhancing diesel hydrotreater capacity and reducing CO2 emissions (NARTC 2025)
Jan-2025
In the pursuit of emission reductions and sustainable growth, the Axens Group, through its business lines Heurtey Petrochem Solutions and Nectis (a joint ...
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Achieve high efficiency in heat transfer equipment with HTRI digital twin tech (NARTC 2025)
Jan-2025
Attendees at the COP29 conference in Baku, Azerbaijan, reiterated critical pledges to accelerate climate actions across various industrial sectors.
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Topsoe low-carbon SynCOR Ammonia process (NARTC 2025)
Jan-2025
Topsoe pioneered advanced autothermal reforming (ATR) during the 1990s and successfully commercialised plants operating at a low steam-to-carbon (S/C) ...
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Refining the future: How smarter desalter operations drive efficiencies and sustainability
Dec-2024
"If you cannot measure it, you cannot improve it.” This insight from Lord Kelvin highlights a fundamental principle of industrial processes, especially ...
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Digitalisation solution for monitoring and improving performance
Dec-2024
Development of a collaborative platform for monitoring, enhancing decision-making, and improving operational efficiency within various aspects of plant ...
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Five common causes of refractory failure and how to fix them
Dec-2024
All process heaters operate at high temperatures and are constructed with process tubes inside a refractory-lined enclosure, which is heated by radiant ...