August 2003

Some computer programs do not handle hot condition calculations correctly

Combining control and data collection improves performance and reduces costs

Other benefits include lower maintenance costs and higher efficiency

Common assumptions about frame flexibility can result in miscalculating forces

Identify and correct faults before they cause catastrophic failures

System upsets can develop high piping loads

A brief review of common certification programs that can enhance performance

Here’s an overview of the nature, use and limitations of US industrial standards

Vertical pumps are important for major process plants. Available in numerous configurations, they excel in such areas as ease of multistaging, virtually unlimited installation depth bel..

Earlier this year, the new fuel specifications to come into effect Jan. 1, 2005, became law in Europe. When they were initially proposed, the immediate reaction had been one of horror a..

Reboilers use steam to provide heat transfer in a variety of distillation, purification and separation processes in refinery units such as gas plants, alkylation, sulfur recovery, aroma..

One of manufacturers' most critical challenges lies in efficiently deploying assets and resources so that plants can promptly respond to planned and unplanned events. Agility and flexib..

Additives cut NOx emissions Engelhard Corp. has introduced new technologies that aid in meeting environmental requirements for FCC operations. CLEANOx and OxyClean are compliance additi..

Technology facility opens The Fieldbus Foundation opened its fieldbus technology facility established in cooperation with Waseda University in Kitakyushu, Fukuoka, Japan. The new demons..

Improve process operations Applied Manufacturing Technologies is a technology independent company providing a full range of services from expert consulting to turnkey project services. The c..

Chicago Bridge & Iron Co. N.V. (CB&I) has a lump-sum turnkey contract for a liquefied natural gas (LNG) terminal expansion project near Savannah, Georgia. CB&I will perform the engineer..

BASF started its newly modernized center for pressure sensitive adhesives at its site in Ludwigshafen, Germany. The center houses two pilot plants: a new coating plant for aqueous press..

ABB has completed Qatar Petroleum's (QP's) NGL 3 plant commissioning and upgrade with its industrial IT technology. The entire design, engineering and software development were carried ..

Flowserve's Mendoza, Argentina, pump operation is supplying eight high-pressure pump packages for Peru's Camisea project. These pumps will transport condensates 575 km from the Camisea ..

BSF, a consortium of Bechtel Petroleum & Chemical, Sinopec Engineering Inc. (SEI), and Foster Wheeler Energy Ltd. have a project management contract with CNOOC and Shell Petrochemicals ..

Turnaround planning and management InterPlan Systems' abridged versions of the manuals bundled with the ATC Professional Shutdown/Turnaround Management System are based on over 25 years..

  Data exchange still a struggle C..

Effective feedstock filtration can extend service life for catalytic systems and optimize reactor performance

World consumption of primary energy increased by 2.6% in 2002, well ahead of the 10-yr growth trend of 1.4%/yr. So says the new BP Statistical Review of World Energy 2003 (www.bp.com). ..

Downstream companies are struggling to achieve real shareholder value. A new report from IBM Consulting emphasizes that the only way companies can succeed is by revisiting their strateg..

Expect a major increase in polyolefin exports to China, over 10 million tons (MMton) by decade's end, says a new study by Nexant ChemSystems and Sinodata Consulting. Total polyolefins d..

Differing expectations were reported by energy executives about a comprehensive US domestic energy policy being enacted. According to the results of a survey by accounting and tax firm ..

Record purchases for gas turbines and coal-fired plants in the US resulted in world sales of selective catalytic reduction (SCR) systems of over $4 billion in 2002. This year, sales wil..

Sulfur-free gasoline and diesel fuels (10 mg/kg maximum sulfur content), must be available on "an appropriate balanced geographic basis"' from 2005, according to the final EU Directive...

Nothing worthwhile is ever cheap, easy or quick. Attitudes toward energy reserves are changing. New technologies have identified more crude oil and natural gas reserves. Evolving innova..