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 ...

Designing storage tanks

Oct-2016

Software based on the latest international codes enables straightforward design of storage tanks in a range of load conditions

Sour water: where it comes from and how to handle it

Sep-2011

Sour water strippers are common in gas processing facilities, sulphur recovery units, wellhead facilities, and refinery applications. Understanding the ...

The role of tail gas treating unit quench towers

Jun-2016

A quench tower cools gas entering a tail gas amine unit but also protects the amine against SO2 breakthrough.

Predicting catalyst lifetime

Jul-2013

A simulation model compares accurately with actual operating data to provide reliable predictions of catalyst lifetime in naphtha reforming

Simulation of a visbreaking unit

Apr-2011

Simulation of a commercial visbreaking unit supports optimisation of the unit’s performance. The visbreaking unit utilises vacuum residue as a feed and ...

Dynamic simulation: a tool for engineering problems

Oct-2012

Dynamic simulation can be used to solve engineering problems that require an in-depth understanding of transient processes

Managing vanadium from high metals crude oils

Sep-2003

Improvements in process and equipment design with regard to crude unit and delayed coker distillation column performance can reduce metals content

Tube rupture in a natural gas heater

Feb-2016

Dynamic simulation supports the use of a pressure safety valve over a rupture disk in the event of a tube rupture

Simulation model increases visbreaker conversion

Jan-2011

Introduction of advanced analytical monitoring, chemical treatment and process optimisation has raised the profitability of a visbreaker unit

Applying relief load calculation methods

Apr-2008

Case study compares dynamic simulation vs conventional unbalanced heat method for relief load calculations in a naphtha hydrotreater, focusing on the strengths ...

Determining safety distance in process design

Jan-2015

Safety distance determination is a key design issue that may have a dramatic impact on a refinery construction project

Practical hydrocarbon dew point specification for natural gas transmission lines

Mar-2011

Hydrocarbon liquid dropout can cause a number of problems in gas transmission lines, including increased pressure drop, reduced line capacity and equipment ...

Using pinch technology in operations?

Sep-2013

Pinch Technology is a well established concept, and a tool used to optimise waste heat recovery and design efficient heat integration schemes in a wide ...

Stepwise simulation of vacuum transfer line hydraulics

Oct-2009

A stepwise hydraulic calculation determines the pressure profile of a vacuum transfer line by linking the hydraulic model to process simulation result ...

Simulating crude units with preflash

Nov-2016

Process simulation offers a cost effective way of testing ideas to improve yield and energy performance.

Identifying poor heat exchanger performance

Sep-2007

Identifying root causes of poor crude unit debutaniser reboiler performance and low-cost solutions that help meet exchanger original design conditions

Mixing in large crude tanks

Jul-2015

Computational fluid dynamics was used to analyse the performance of side entry mixers in large crude tanks

Using APC in refinery energy systems — develop your own solutions

Oct-2013

Advanced Process Control (APC) has been used extensively to assist in operating refinery and petrochemical processes smoothly, safely and profitably.

A comparison of physical solvents for acid gas removal

Mar-2008

Physical solvents such as DEPG (Selexol or Coastal AGR), NMP or N-Methyl-2- Pyrrolidone (Purisol), Methanol (Rectisol), Propylene Carbonate (Fluor Solvent) ...

Simulating optimal tank farm design

Apr-2005

Development of a computerised model incorporating Monte Carlo operational risk simulation with the optimisation power of linear programming

Crude oil cargo selection and time frame of LP optimisation

Jul-2010

Combinatorial selection is the most rigorous and theoretically correct method of crude oil cargo evaluation. Efficient algorithms are key to its imple ...

Improving refinery distillation operations

Apr-2008

The outline of a route map or staged approach to unit process improvement follows similar steps to those taken when installing advanced controls on a ...

Simulating and monitoring H2 plant operations

Oct-2012

A computer program was developed to enable a refinery to monitor its hydrogen production daily to foresee potential operating problems

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 ...

Modelling ensures a successful revamp

Nov-2020

Pre-turnaround computational modelling built confidence in the benefits of introducing design changes to a FCC regenerator revamp.

Energy network monitoring and optimisation

Jun-2021

A software program for optimisation of an energy network supports decisions on equipment use in refineries that produce and import power.

Production optimisation for refining and olefins: how best to achieve it

Aug-2022

To suceed, companies must decisively implement production optimisation strategies using the latest AI-driven technologies, like digital twins and prescriptive ...

Start-up and shutdown issues in sulphur processing

Nov-2020

Knowing the limitations of the sulphur unit and what may occur during start-ups and shutdowns helps to prevent damage.

Study of CCRU first reformer reactor ∆P behaviour using multiple linear regression

Apr-2022

Determinants and explanatory variables affecting the behaviour of the first reformer reactor ∆P are identified, with the aim of controlling it and ...

Simulation model increases visbreaker conversion

Jan-2011

Introduction of advanced analytical monitoring, chemical treatment and process optimisation has raised the profitability of a visbreaker unit

Boosting tube-side heat transfer

Jun-2021

Tube insert technologies can improve heat exchanger performance by enhancing tube-side heat transfer coefficients in two-phase applications.

AI in refinery modelling

Mar-2021

Hybrid modelling combines artificial intelligence and processing expertise to develop accurate models of refining processes.

Crude logistics scheduling

Jun-2021

Upgraded crude scheduling enabled a refiner to increase its use of opportunity crudes for higher margin.

Digital twins heat up the capabilities of energy storage plants

Jun-2022

How to support future energy security by enhancing energy storage with automated digital twins.

Best practice for refinery flowsheets

Aug-2019

Refinery-wide flowsheets can demonstrate the true representation of changes in key operating variables and their associated impact on refinery operati ...

Stepwise simulation of vacuum transfer line hydraulics

Oct-2009

A stepwise hydraulic calculation determines the pressure profile of a vacuum transfer line by linking the hydraulic model to process simulation result ...

Cross-unit APC boosts downstream performance

Jul-2020

Manipulating advanced process control in a crude unit reduced constraints in a downstream diesel hydrotreater

Using APC in refinery energy systems — develop your own solutions

Oct-2013

Advanced Process Control (APC) has been used extensively to assist in operating refinery and petrochemical processes smoothly, safely and profitably.

Managing vacuum tower wash beds

Sep-2020

ThruVision™ scans monitor the rate of coking in vacuum tower wash beds to get the most out of bed productivity.

Piping and instrument diagrams: Part 2 Causes and management of change

Apr-2021

It is difficult to categorise or group the many reasons for routine or late changes to a P&ID. Some causes are listed here.

Tube rupture in a natural gas heater

Feb-2016

Dynamic simulation supports the use of a pressure safety valve over a rupture disk in the event of a tube rupture

Simulation of Claus unit performance

Nov-2019

Simulating a sulphur recovery unit using a fundamental approach enables the effects of process changes on a host of performance metrics to be reliably ...

Increase duty in tube side condensers

Jul-2020

A retrofit is shown to improve several aspects of tube side condensation processes.

Downtime damages environmental performance too

Jul-2020

Advanced technologies can reduce the environmental impact of unexpected shutdowns.

Cutting the cost of refinery process control and CEMS gas analysis

Aug-2020

Developments in equipment functionality to reduce maintenance costs, innovative service delivery which can enable outsourcing and an array of digital solutions ...

Troubleshooting premature tower flooding

Aug-2020

Thorough analysis of field data and tray hydraulics together with gamma scanning were key factors in the successful troubleshooting of premature flooding ...

Planning to counter economic turbulence

Sep-2020

Synchronising engineering and planning models should be a key aim to support the resilience and agility needed for economic recovery

HDXRF vs ICP for nickel and vanadium in crude oil

Sep-2020

Technology introduced over the last decade, such as horizontal drilling and hydraulic fracturing, has led to new sources of light tight oil (LTO). LTO ...

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 ...