September 2000

Archive

Special Report: Process Control and Information Systems

Modern advanced control pays back rapidly
la Grange, T. G., Honeywell Hi-Spec Solutions; Taylor, A. J., ProSys Engineering Pty Ltd.; Gous, G. Z., Sasol Technology

Applying proven multivariable predictive control (MPC) techniques coupled with robust online product quality predictions is an effective way to maximize unit profitability. This approach has been used..

Maintenance and Reliability

The best machinery reliability tool you can buy
Cummings, J., Consulting Engineer

Don’t overlook your most important data source

The best machinery reliability tool you can buy Fig. 1
Cummings, J., Consulting Engineer

Fig. 1. The 1981 form doesn't have much space for remarks. ..

The best machinery reliability tool you can buy Fig. 2
Cummings, J., Consulting Engineer

Fig. 2. The 1995 document is the result of several years' additional experience. ..

Plant Management/Safety

Industrial applications of safety information management systems
Kwon, H., Korea Occupational Safety and Health Agency; Lee, H., Utechom Co. Ltd.; Moon, I., Yoon, H., Yonsei University

A new computer-aided system reduced accidents by 60% in one year

Process Control/Information Systems

Consider fieldbus for retrofits
Dunlap, R., Fisher-Rosemount

Benefits result from reduced maintenance, greater safety and increased performance

Implementing a refinery information system
Smith, K. D., Brad Adams Walker Architecture; Burger, A. J., Kruger, C. J., Lotter, A. P., Natref; Karasiuk, C. J., Rooney, D. J., Comcept Internatinal, Inc.

The South African refining company, Natref (jointly owned by Sasol and Total, South Africa), recently integrated a large refinery management information system into the operation of its Sasolburg refi..

Challenges in control room design
Walker, B. A., Brad Adams Walker Architecture, P.C.; Smith, K. D., Brad Adams Walker Architecture

Use these guidelines to reduce shiftwork fatigue and increase operator awareness+

Economics of business process integration and automation
Holden, D. G., Aspen Technology, Inc.

Where along the automated integration continuum should your plant be?

Automated steady-state identification in multivariable systems
Brown, P. R., Rhinehart, R. R., School of Chemical Engineering, Oklahoma State University

Use this technique for better results and less computational burden

Process Technology

Optimize EO/EG operations Fig. 6
Jung, K. W., Lee, S., Samsung General Chemicals

Fig. 6. Simple process flow diagram of EO process. ..

Optimize EO/EG operations
Jung, K. W., Lee, S., Samsung General Chemicals

To raise plant capacity, the design team investigated several options that increased oxygen supply

Prevent plugging in stripping columns
Hauser, R., Norton Chemical Process Products Corp.; Richardson, J., BASF

A plant operator replaced packing with new trays to minimize fouling from tars

Project Management/Engineering and Construction

Improved project definition ensures value-added performance – Part 2: Fig. 8
Smith, C. C., Stone & Webster Engineers and Constructors, Inc.

Fig. 8. CII's alignment thermometer addresses the 10 most critical issues during project definition. ..

Improved project definition ensures value-added performance – Part 2
Smith, C. C., Stone & Webster Engineers and Constructors, Inc.

These key principles, tools and lessons learned provide managers the ammunition to fight cost and schedule escalations

Columns

HP Reliability: Consider toroidal chamber rotary compressors
Bloch, Heinz P., Hydrocarbon Processing Staff

In 1970, the first of five toroidal chamber rotary compressors entered service in nuclear test loops. Each of these machines was used to circulate 2,240 scfm of CO2 at 660°F; the s..

HPInternet: Search Adobe PDF online
Crowley, B., Competitive Analysis Technologies

By now, most of us have heard of the Adobe Acrobat files with the extension "PDF." I used to think that acronym stood for "pretty damn fine," because the files were just that. Later I l..

HP Automation Safety: Functional safety experts
Goble, W., exida LLC

The job is to cut risk in the HPI. We want to reduce the chances that an incident will hurt someone, pollute the environment or damage equipment and disrupt production. OK, an obvious s..

HP Insight: ‘Cleaner’ fuels – it’s just not that simple
Romanow, Stephany, Hydrocarbon Processing Staff

Refiners worldwide are faced with an overwhelming set of challenges - processing "cleaner," i.e., lower-sulfur-content, fuels while remaining profitable. The EU, under the Auto Oil Prog..

HP Insight: ‘Cleaner’ fuels – it’s just not that simple Fig. 1
Romanow, Stephany, Hydrocarbon Processing Staff

Fig. 1. Hydrogen balance for an integrated refinery (resid hydroprocessing, GO hydrotreating and hydrocracking).6..

HP Water Management: What about Legionella in industrial cooling towers?
Huchler, L. A., MarTech Systems, Inc.

Legionellosis is an infection caused by the bacterium Legionella pneumophila. This bacterium naturally occurs in surface water. The route of infection is the inhalation of aerosols. The..

HPInformer: HPInformer, International edition
Stephens, F. P., Hydrocarbon Processing Staff

Borealis, one of the world's leading producers of polyolefin plastics, and Repsol YPF have signed a letter of intent to establish a new company, effective January 2001, that will combine Borealis' and..

HPInformer: HPInformer, North America edition
Stephens, F. P., Hydrocarbon Processing Staff

Filtration & Separation Dynamics, Angola, New York, a wholly owned subsidiary of Aqua Care Systems, Inc., has adopted its new name to represent its product focus and strategic direction more accuratel..

HP Construction: HPIn Construction
Stephens, F. P., Hydrocarbon Processing Staff

Akzo Nobel invests in two coatings sites in China Akzo began work on two new plants in China - an investment of Euro 25 million - which will give its coatings businesses enhanced access to t..

HP In Brief: HPIn Brief
Weirauch, Wendy, Hydrocarbon Processing Staff

A healthy global economy and competitive polypropylene (PP) prices fueled 1999 global PP demand to a 10.8% increase over 1998 levels. This was the largest annual increase in the past five years, accor..

HP Impact: HPImpact: Business potential for HPI contractor
Weirauch, Wendy, Hydrocarbon Processing Staff

A recent market study by European Industrial Forecasting Ltd. (EIF) analyzes new project potential, maintenance by end users and the financial performance of contracting and engineering companies. Sho..

HP Impact: HPImpact: Owners, contractors join initiative
Weirauch, Wendy, Hydrocarbon Processing Staff

Can technologies be integrated to bring about significant improvement in construction and operation of large capital facilities? In response to this vision, the Fully Integrated and Automated Technolo..

HP Impact: HPImpact: EPA provides snapshot of risk management
Weirauch, Wendy, Hydrocarbon Processing Staff

In June 1999, an EPA regulation - called the Risk Management Program (RMP) - prompted 15,000 U.S. facilities that use hazardous chemicals to submit reports describing their potential risk to surroundi..

HP Impact: HPImpact: Natural gas's role in power generation
Weirauch, Wendy, Hydrocarbon Processing Staff

Fig. 1. U.S. fuel mix for electricity generation is forecast to change dramatically over the next 20 years. What consequences might U.S. air emission..

HP Impact: HPImpact: Beyond e-commerce: the other opportunities
Weirauch, Wendy, Hydrocarbon Processing Staff

One track for technology is of fads and failures; these get the bulk of attention. The other track is the substantial technology that endures and brings value. These opportunities "are often clouded b..

HP Impact: HPImpact: Environmental industry: to be 'most changed' by the Internet?
Weirauch, Wendy, Hydrocarbon Processing Staff

A detailed analysis of e-commerce and the U.S. environmental industry from Environmental Business International Inc. (EBI) concludes that, in general, the environmental industry has entered the Intern..

HP Impact: HPImpact: Oil pricing market: waiting for supply
Weirauch, Wendy, Hydrocarbon Processing Staff

As of August, oil market fundamentals primarily suggest a weakening market, but prices have remained at inordinately high levels. An analysis from WEFA (Eddystone, Pennsylvania) explains that while OP..

HP Impact: HPImpact: Online marketplace develops model
Weirauch, Wendy, Hydrocarbon Processing Staff

A global Internet exchange launched by 14 energy and petrochemical companies has recently completed several milestones toward providing an effective online trading community. Initially formed in April..

HP Impact: HPImpact: Forecast: $20 billion for water treatment
Weirauch, Wendy, Hydrocarbon Processing Staff

Fig. 2. World water and wastewater treatment chemical sales.World water and wastewater treatment chemical sales The world market for water and wastew..

HP Impact: HPImpact: Experts predict top energy innovations
Weirauch, Wendy, Hydrocarbon Processing Staff

"We're on the cusp of some major, fundamental changes in energy," say analysts at Battelle and the national laboratories it manages. Forecasts made by a panel of energy experts identify the most econo..

Letters to the Editor

Letters to the editor

Consider energy-conserving methods to improve the SM process I am writing about the article "Consider energy-conserving methods to improve the SM process" as published in the March 2000..

Misc

Control developments
Kane, L., Hydrocarbon Processing Staff

Since this is our Process Control and Information Systems issue, let's review some of the major developments at the various hierarchies. Frontline control. Few will argue that fieldbus ..