April 2004

New concept approaches rapidly move novel products and manufacturing methods from lab-scale to full-commercial units

Practical guidelines show how to apply coalescer technology to enhance burner performance

Using nonlinear technologies, major polyolefins manufacturer increases plant capacity without equipment retrofits

Since its inception, this catalyst system has revolutionized the plastics industry

New methods based on proven FCC technology provide additional olefins source

Excessive clearance and hard starts can cause problems

The matching mode shape technique combines field vibration data with natural frequency information

If managed with discipline, a workshare approach can yield significant benefits for all project stakeholders

Faults and their locations can be identified by analyzing efficiency and vibration simultaneously

Engage, motivate and challenge your process safety team

Last month's column addressed items 1 ? 34. Here we present items 35 to 68. C. Lubrication issues, continued 35. On grease-lubricated couplings, verify that only approved coupling greases are use..

Many companies in the hydrocarbon processing industry are working to understand and implement the new functional safety standards. I am not sure why there is so much interest, but many say they are lo..

If you are a process manufacturer and not thinking about how to get more performance out of your existing assets, you should be. In spite of the relentless focus on productivity, aggregate process pla..

Total SA's announced plans for heavy investment at its Normandy, France, refinery to significantly increase middle distillates production is sure to bring a smile to some faces in Europe. This latest ..

High-pressure, continuous hydrogenation unit A unique, 10-in. diameter, fixed-bed hydrogenation unit that can operate at pressures up to 2,000 psi is being offered by CXI for contract manufacturing...

A joint industry research program is being organized to address the consequences of a terrorist attack on an LNG ship or storage terminal. The consequences of accidental releases will also be addresse..

The National Petrochemical & Refiners Association (NPRA) is urging US policymakers and stakeholders to focus on the supply side of the energy equation and not to take adequate energy supply for grante..

New company formed in Angola Nalco Co.'s (Nalco's) Energy Services Division is forming a partnership with Serviços Petroliferos Limitada (PROPETROL), an Angolan company established in 1996. The..

Heat exchanger packages for improved performance Both standard- and custom-configured EasiHeat plug-and-play steam heat exchanger packages are designed for process, domestic and hydronic water-heati..

Mustang Engineering, L.P., and Syntroleum Corp. have an agreement that allows Mustang to provide full-service design, engineering, procurement and construction services to Syntroleum and its licensees..

Linde AG, Wiesbaden, Germany, has an order from BorsodChem RT , Kazincbarcika, Hungary, to supply oxygen and nitrogen. Contract scope includes erecting an on-site air separation plant at BorsodChem wo..

CB&I has a lump-sum turnkey contract valued at $50 million to design and construct two additional liquefied petroleum gas (LPG) storage tanks at a terminal in Qatar. The tanks will be used to store co..

Foster Wheeler Power Machinery Co. Ltd. and Foster Wheeler International Engineering & Consulting (Shanghai) Co. Ltd. have a contract with China Petrochemical International Co.'s (SINOPEC's) Maoming P..

USFilter has a contract to supply a water injection system to Total E&P for the Dalia field, offshore Angola. The company was chosen by the joint venture, TSS Dalia , which is comprised of Technip, Sa..

A gasoline production complex employing Axens technologies is now onstream at the Administracion Nacional de Combustibles Alcohol y Portland (ANCAP) La Teja refinery in Montevideo, Uruguay. The upgrad..

Space-saving boilers Miura Boiler's new catalog features its steam EX gas-oil, dual-fuel line of watertube boilers; steam LX ultra-low NO x line of watertube boilers; steam ..

  Oil price scenarios OPEC recently decided to cut its ex..

After seven long years, signs of a fundamental and lasting recovery in the chemicals, plastics and fibers markets are evident. Nevertheless, challenges abound that could derail or delay earnings gains..

With Asia-Pacific refined product markets hampered by weak margins in most of 2001 and 2002, high margins brought about by the Iraqi war were generally thought to be a temporary phenomenon. Most analy..

Consistent with other enterprise software markets, the supply chain management (SCM) market is beginning to recover. The worldwide market is expected to grow 7.4%/yr over the next five years. The mark..

To build a global LNG business involves many hurdles that should not be underestimated, cautions Michael Stoppard of Cambridge Energy Research Associates (CERA). The sheer size of the endeavor, comple..

Total R&D expenditures in the US are expected to increase 2.5%. This total is forecast to reach $291 billion in 2004 vs. $283.8 billion spent in 2003, according to data from Battelle (www.battelle.org..

The refining and marketing industry is beginning to experience a "golden era," according to David Mowat, managing partner of global energy for Accenture. This period will be characterized by demand gr..

Secretary of Energy Spencer Abraham projects a 50% increase in coal demand for US electric generation over the next 20 years. "The challenge now is to make clean coal a vital contributor to achievin..