December 2004

Archive

Special Report: Plant Design and Engineering

Evaluating effects of changes in process plant design
Long, R. J., Long Interantional Inc.

A thorough understanding of the engineering, procurement and construction sequences is vital to comprehensively quantify all potential schedule and cost impacts during the pricing, review and approval process

Determining the true economic value of improved plant information
White, D. C., Emerson Process Management

A new method is proposed for estimating benefits of the technology

Trends in laser scanning systems to support revamp, retrofit projects
Sanins, J., AVEVA Group plc

Compared with the traditional site surveying techniques and measurement practices, engineering cost savings of up to 15% have been achieved

Avoid distorted translations of technical terms
Riera, J., John Zink Co. LLC

Knowing accurate English and Spanish usage diminishes risk of costly operational hazards

Benefits of pre-engineered modules
Calogero, M. V., Armstrong International Inc.

As petrochemical manufacturing and refining organizations become leaner, even mature technologies are candidates for vendor designed, engineered and fabricated systems

Engineering Case Histories

Case 24: The moving gearbox
Sofronas, A., Consulting Engineer

Thermal distortions can move a 50-ton gearbox

Heat Transfer/Rotating Eqiupment

Revamp induced-draft fan performance
Alexander, C., CITGO Petroleum Corp.

Follow these six steps to ensure nothing is overlooked

Plant Safety and Environment

Safeguarding system interactions: a case study
Mani, G., BP Canada Energy Co.

A custom made PHA methodology can help find hidden problems in your facility

Process Control

Consider modeling transient state reactions with spreadsheets
Coker, A. K., Chairman, Depart of Chemical an dPRoces Engineering Technology, Jubail Indistrial College

New techniques streamline analyzing process control variables

Process Safety

Improve site performance with an SCS management plan
Salman bin Aslam, S., Engro Chemical Pakistan Ltd.

Implementing an integrated system will improve plant safety

Rotating Equipment

Use of oil-injected screw compressors in a special fuel gas boosting service
Cummings, J., Consulting Engineer

They offer advantages compared to centrifugal and reciprocating types

Columns

HP Control: The role of IT in controls: Is it time to change your support model?
Gooch, J., HP Editorial Staff

When computers entered the world of process control, they were large monolithic machines. Since they were, after all, computers, many companies took the stance that the machines belonged to, and would..

HP Reliability: Straightening carbon steel shafts
Bloch, Heinz P., Hydrocarbon Processing Staff

Before attempting to straighten a shaft, try to determine how the bend was produced. If the bend was produced by an inherent stress relieved during the machining operation, during heat proofing, on th..

HP Integration Strategies: Unifying operations to improve business performance
Fiske, T., Woll, D., ARC Advisory Group

Leading manufacturers are shifting focus from production-driven manufacturing to a business-centric approach that concentrates on improving operations and profits. This requires increased agility and ..

HPIn Europe: What if we've got it all wrong about diesel?
Wright, Tim L., Hydrocarbon Processing Staff

What a harbinger of doom I feel at this festive time of year. There you all are investing in no-sulphur diesel for Europe ? building these great big hydrocrackers from Huelva refinery in the South of ..

HP Innovations: HPInnovations

Control system to increase olefins production Control of complex turbomachines in an ethylene (olefins) process presents numerous challenges and opportunities because the plant's production capacity..

New Developments

Services to minimize nuisance alarms Comprehensive Alarm Management Services, for the I/A Series automation system from Foxboro, are said to represent an important component in Invensys' expanding s..

HP Construction: HPIn Construction: North America
Jackson, Kim M., Hydrocarbon Processing Staff

GE Energy is supplying a power recovery system for Valero Energy Corp.'s refinery in Paulsboro, New Jersey. It will have the capacity to generate 18 MW of electricity to help support operations. The e..

HP Construction: HPIn Construction: Europe
Jackson, Kim M., Hydrocarbon Processing Staff

GE Energy has completed its testing program for three large refrigerating compressor trains to be installed in what is claimed to be Europe's first liquefied natural gas (LNG) plant, located on Melk&#..

HP Construction: HPIn Construction: Middle East
Jackson, Kim M., Hydrocarbon Processing Staff

Snamprogetti, the Eni engineering and construction company, in a joint venture with Chiyoda Corp. have a contract with Ras Laffan Liquefied Natural Gas Co. Ltd. (II) (RasGas II). The agreement is for ..

HP Construction: HPIn Construction: Asia-Pacific
Jackson, Kim M., Hydrocarbon Processing Staff

Bayer MaterialScience is planning to increase MDI capacity at its Caojing site, Shanghai, China. Production facilities to produce polymeric and monomeric MDI from crude MDI are scheduled to be complet..

HP Construction: HPIn Construction: Africa
Jackson, Kim M., Hydrocarbon Processing Staff

Foster Wheeler South Africa (Pty) Ltd., a Foster Wheeler Ltd. division, has an engineering, procurement and construction (EPC) contract with Caltex Oil South Africa (Pty) Ltd. (Caltex), a part of the ..

Free Literature

Catalyst support media for hydrotreater service Lantec Products Inc.'s Rest-O-Cat 55 ceramic balls are said to help refineries worldwide meet modern fuel-quality standards. Hydrotreater catalyst sup..

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

  Owner/contractor relationships The growing imbalance be..

HP Impact: HPImpact: Techniques identify ways to ‘radically' reduce project time
Weirauch, Wendy, Hydrocarbon Processing Staff

Businesses rely on just-in-time capacity enhancements and first-to-market product strategies to gain competitive advantage and increase profit margins. This has created an increased demand for a high-..

HP Impact: HPImpact: High oil prices vex central bankers worldwide
Weirauch, Wendy, Hydrocarbon Processing Staff

Rising oil prices have created a dilemma for central banks around the world. According to industry analysts with Global Insight Inc., no one wants to repeat the policy mistakes made during the oil sho..

HP Impact: HPImpact: Coal to perform bigger role in power generation
Weirauch, Wendy, Hydrocarbon Processing Staff

The role of coal-fired generators will be greater and gas turbines less. This prediction, which is counter to government forecasts, is based on a recent country-by-country analysis by the McIlvaine Co..

HP Impact: HPImpact: Strong oil prices and demand raise industry earnings 68% in 2ndQ
Weirauch, Wendy, Hydrocarbon Processing Staff

A recent Standard & Poor's energy industry survey assesses trends and conditions that affect corporate market performance. Among the key conclusions: With oil prices high, the world economy lost som..

HP Impact: HPImpact: World's natural gas use to double by 2030, says IEA
Weirauch, Wendy, Hydrocarbon Processing Staff

The International Energy Agency's most recent global oil outlook presents a reassuring assessment of the prospects for worldwide energy supplies. But it also draws attention to concerns about energy s..

HP Impact: HPImpact: Asia-Pacific: fastest growing consuming region for methanol
Weirauch, Wendy, Hydrocarbon Processing Staff

The dynamics of the global methanol industry are shifting, according to a presentation by Jim Jordan at a recent methanol forum. For many years, the US was the leading producer and consumer of methano..