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| Vacuum unit design for high metals crudes |
Scott W Golden, Tony Barletta and Steve White, Process Consulting Services
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2007 / Q1 |
Vacuum unit design can influence vacuum gas yield, product quality and run length. A wet vacuum unit with residue stripping achieves the highest cutpoint and produces the lowest metals content.
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| Converting a DHT to ULSD service |
Kirit Sanghavi, Alon USA Sal Torrisi, Criterion Catalysts & Technologies
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2007 / Q1 |
One refinery overcame the challenge of converting its diesel hydrotreater from LSD to ULSD service with creative solutions for a low investment cost, much below the industry average cost.
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| Avoiding boiler feed water corrosion |
Kari J Enqvist, Borealis Polymers Oy
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2007 / Q1 |
Investigating corrosive chemicals in BFW, defective analysing systems and incomplete treatment of steam systems, resulting in serious transfer line exchanger failures. A number of incidents initiated the thorough investigation of root causes.
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| Exploiting unconventional heavy oils |
Jeffrey S Plotkin, Nexant Inc
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2007 / Q1 |
Potential opportunities exist for developming the heaviest of the non-conventional hydrocarbons. The decline of conventional oils can be mitigated through the ingenuity and technology brought to unconventional heavy oil upgrading.
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| Gamma scanning fractionators |
Brian Kirmse and Kevin Krase, Tesoro Refining & Marketing Company Dave Ferguson, Tracerco Inc
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2007 / Q1 |
Gamma scanning is a powerful tool that can be used to determine the cause of flooding and regain column efficiency. Debutaniser capacity and performance were improved after tower scanning technology pinpointed mechanical and hydraulic defects.
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| Optimising heat recovery with CPHEs |
Eva Andersson, Alfa Laval Packinox
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2007 / Q1 |
Compact plate heat exchangers are an efficient way to optimise heat recovery in refineries, especially when installation space or weight is crucial and exotic materials are needed to deal with corrosion issues.
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| Asset management strategies |
William D Turner, Jacobs Constructors Inc
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2007 / Q1 |
The Six-Sigma approach to asset management describes the level of variations or defects present in a process. Identifying critical processes and their contributing input variables provides opportunities to remedy the sources of defects.
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| Magnetic imaging of pyrolysis feedstocks |
Preetinder S Virk, Massachusetts Institute of Technology
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2007 / Q1 |
Olefin feedstock characterisation fills the need to engineer and predict the performance of modern pyrolysis coils that must crack diverse feedstocks at ever-increasing temperatures, reaction severities and product selectivities.
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| High-severity FCC operation |
Y Fujiyama, N Nakanishi, Nippon Oil Corporation C Dean, M Al-Tayyar, Saudi Arabian Oil Company A Aitani, M Saeed, King Fahd University of Petroleum & Minerals
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2007 / Q1 |
High-severity catalytic cracking using a proprietary down-flow reactor can maximise propylene production. The new process features a high reaction temperature and high catalyst-to-oil ratio along with a short contact time.
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| Verifying VOC emissions |
David Furry and Joshua Furry, Leak Surveys Inc
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2007 / Q1 |
Infrared technology, based on a passive infrared camera system, can be
used to detect VOC emissions and hydrocarbon leaks. The use of optical
imaging of emissions clouds in the petrochemical and pipeline industry
is discussed.
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| Solving gas plant operation problems |
Alok Chakraborty, Oil and Natural Gas Corp Ltd Saeid Mokhatab, University of Wyoming William A Poe, Consultant
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2007 / Q1 |
Sound process monitoring, identification of probable causes, immediate action taken by operations, analysis of the root cause and implementation of permanent remedial measures are all effective methodologies for maintaining a high plant uptime.
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| Deployment of Foundation Fieldbus technology |
David Wood, David Wood & Associates
Saeid Mokhatab, University of Wyoming
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2007 / Q1 |
Foundation Fieldbus technology reduces design and construction, decreasing lifetime costs. The concept of diagnostics for plant operation and maintenance is also enhanced, giving an expanded process view for operators and reduced maintenance through predictive strategies.
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| Applying advanced control to a VCM unit |
Mark Novak, Formosa Plastics Corporation Mike Yen, Ravi Nath, Rogier Pouwer and Anil Gokhale, Honeywell Process Solutions
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2007 / Q1 |
Multivariable predictive control combined with real-time modelling enabled a vinyl-chloride-monomer unit to achieve significant operational and economic benefits, including improved control of cracking depth on each EDC furnace.
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| Online energy management |
Susana Benedicto Calpe and Blanca Garrote Pazos, Repsol Petroleo SA Diego Ruiz Massa, Jorge Alberto Mamprin and Carlos Alberto Ruiz Garcia, Soteica Europe SL
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2007 / Q1 |
A refinery energy system is modelled, including all the constraints, with continuous model validation using live data. Performance monitoring includes the tracking of equipment efficiencies by utilising validated data for its continuous calculation.
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| Planning an automation system's lifecycle |
Peter Jofriet, Honeywell Process Solutions.
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2007 / Q1 |
To determine the most efficient and cost-effective lifecycle strategy, a refinery must assess its specific automation goals. The factors to be considered include process area, system equipment cost and risks.
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