June 2005

Advanced modeling methods assist engineers to troubleshoot existing processing equipment

Operational score graphs provide a real-time indication of a controller's performance

To streamline startup and subsequent operations of a new 1-butene unit, a dynamic simulator provided engineers and operators with experience prior to commissioning

Myths about automation programs prevent companies from unleashing their full profit potential

A European olefins plant used tailor-made, integrated solutions that reduced energy costs with minimal capital expenditure

Here's what can be achieved with each technology and how they are integrated at this plant

Raise the performance levels of the process control system and the plant

Consider using titrimetry to improve thermal refinery processes

Specialists need to understand when they should obtain help

Use this representation of the universal law of friction to obtain accurate estimates

Part 1 discussed what APC attempts to do and how it makes money. This part discusses modern APC. Structure of a modern APC application. We now leave the philosophical concepts and go into the struct..

Conventional grouting methods for nonfilled pump baseplates are, by their very nature, labor- and time-intensive. Using a pregrouted baseplate with conventional grouting methods helps to minimize some..

As manufacturing plants become increasingly automated and are required to produce more with less, the requirement for operators to be prepared for all circumstances will only increase. Based in part..

If it feels to you as if a trickle of small capital projects is turning into a flood, then you're not on your own. A lot more is on your plate these days if you're running a process plant in Europe...

Alloys increase creep rupture strength, reduce carburization As a result of extensive R&D, Manoir Industries introduces two new alloys that are claimed to increase creep rupture strength and redu..

Remotely monitor and manage product inventories The WEB*VMI Inventory Management Service business is said to enable chemical and other bulk-product manufacturers to remotely monitor and manage pr..

Yokogawa Electric Corp. will be a global strategic distributed control systems and other process control equipment supplier to Shell Downstream Manufacturing. The latest agreement covers all Yokogawa ..

BASF is starting up a new plant producing its biodegradable plastic Ecoflex at its Schwarzheide, Germany, site in 2006. The facility will have a 6,000 metric tpy total capacity, and complements the 8,..

Foster Wheeler Energy Ltd., (FWEL) a Foster Wheeler Ltd. subsidiary, has a project engineering services (PES) contract with Jubail Chemical Industries Co. (JANA) for its epichlorohydrin and chlor-al..

Societé Nationale de Raffinage de Pétrole (NAFTEC Spa) is using GTC's proprietary process technologies, CrystPXsm, GT-BTX, GT-IsomPXsm. The agreement is for a major rehabilitation project at..

A technical gases provider is ordering its third methanol cracker plant for China. Caloric is delivering a 1,300 Nm3/h plant. Hydrogen (H2) will be produced using methanol and demineralized water as..

Flow measurement in rugged environments Eight-page Oil & Gas Industry Flow Guide from Fluid Components International (FCI) is claimed to offer valuable advice on air, gas and liquid measurement, ..

  Trends in control system enhancements Results from a he..

"A quiet demand crisis is unfolding that will change the energy market," says Steve Terry, with PEL, a Division of KBC Process Technology Ltd. Speaking at the DeWitt World Petrochemical Review, he s..

The global energy complex has undergone extreme price volatility over the past two years. Many factors have contributed to redefine the dynamics of the oil industry. Extensive worldwide economic rec..

During the 1990s annual sales of power plant flue gas desulfurization systems (FGD) were less than $1 billion/yr globally. Last year they were over $7 billion, and by 2006 will be $11 billion, accor..

Cold weather from mid-February lifted year-on-year OECD demand by 1.3 million barrels/day (MMbpd) in February 2005, partly offset by lower FSU apparent demand. Chinese demand growth slowed to 5.4% i..

The growing supply of sulfur continues to be a global concern since demand for the element is not keeping pace with supply. In 2004, worldwide sulfur production totaled 68 million tons, 90% of it..

Not all energy prices are surging. Ethanol, which is typically derived from corn and mixed with gasoline, often moves in sync with petroleum. But this year, the spot wholesale price of ethanol has f..

FIATECH and the Lean Construction Institute (LCI) have formed an alliance to unite advanced production management with advanced enabling technology. The initiative's focus is on improving capital..

"President Chávez has dealt a major blow to oil companies in Venezuela by deciding to take a greater share of the profits from oil production." So says a recent outlook from Wood Mackenzie (www..

Strong growth continues due to an increased need to produce low cost products

  In the June 2005 article "Explicit friction factor correlation for pipe flow analysis," pp. 103­-105, Fig. 1 was inadvertently repeated as Fig. 3 on p. 104. HP regrets the error and any ..

A comparison shows the benefits vs. CFR knock engine tests