February 2006

Ultra-low-sulfur gasoline and diesel are expected to be available by early 2009. Here's a look at investment requirements

A novel glycol production method provides a way to use glycerol – the unwanted byproduct from biodiesel processing

He shares his view on energy and transportation fuels supply with HP.

Early implementation of low-sulfur gasoline and diesel have yielded useful information for the next wave of projects in Europe

New technologies can be integrated within an existing refinery to cost-effectively blend next-generation transportation fuels

Gasification of bottom-of-the-barrel byproducts can provide operating flexibility due to tighter fuel oil specifications

To meet tighter performance standards will include innovative sulfur removal technologies as part of the refining scheme

The approach also improves model accuracy without sacrificing process safety

New US specification ensures product identity and quality for biodiesel

Using this analytical technique can improve overall performance

A simple model can greatly expand your equipment knowledge

It yields substantially better results than the commonly used item method

The risk in terms of reduced reliability and safety is not worth it

That was the heading on a periodical that I always enjoy reading. It made the point that "Many people lose their jobs not because of a lack of technical skill, but because they lack the ability to com..

In a recent ARC survey, users ranked APC as providing the best value among advanced automation solutions. Despite this affirmation, many manufacturers view APC as a commodity application that should b..

As we rounded the corner, we saw the gasoline tanker crashed into the side of a passenger coach, a person on the ground to the rear of the tanker. A small passenger car was engulfed in flames some fiv..

Many refineries and chemical plants have replaced or supplemented sodium zeolite softeners with reverse osmosis (RO) membrane units to remove soluble contaminants from water used as boiler makeup. Ben..

Thermal imager delivers high performance, low cost of ownership Fluke Corp. is expanding its line of infrared thermography products with the Ti20 Thermal Imager. Designed for use by industrial mainten..

The energy shock to economic growth will be felt worldwide through the increasing global imbalance between high investment and low consumer spending, according to an analysis by The Conference Board, ..

The US Department of Energy and an industrial alliance have kicked off a project to build FutureGen, a prototype of the fossil-fueled power plant of the future. The $1 billion government-industry proj..

The world market for industrial valves will grow steadily to $49 billion in 2009. This is up from $43 billion in 2005, according to research from the McIlvaine Co. (www.mcilvainecompany.com). In the a..

In contrast to a sluggish petrochemical industry in much of the globe, ethylene production in Korea has expanded in the past eight years, with a robust 5.2%/yr growth rate. In 2004, there were 5.96 mi..

Gas processing. Liquefied natural gas (LNG) growth is still bullish. Large capital expenditures are forecasted through the year 2025 with more than $50 billion in combined LNG projects coming onstream..

Connectors for simple steam trap maintenance A new line of universal steam trap strainer connectors are offered with an upgraded BDV3 blowdown valve. When used with standardized, universal-t..

CB&I has a contract with Frontier El Dorado Refining Co. to design and build a crude and vacuum unit expansion at Frontier's refinery in El Dorado, Kansas. The expansion project is claimed to enable F..

Aker Kvaerner has two framework agreements with Statoil for its Mongstad refinery in Norway. One contract covers inspection services, the other covers modifications. The agreements run for three years..

GE Energy and RasGas Co. Ltd. have a multi-million dollar agreement calling for GE to supply various services over a 25-year period for 22 gas turbines operating at the RasGas LNG production complex i..

Foster Wheeler Energy Ltd. (FWEL) and Foster Wheeler (Nigeria) Ltd., both Foster Wheeler Ltd. subsidiaries, in a joint venture with National Engineering & Technical Co. Ltd. (NETCO), have a three-year..

Foster Wheeler Italiana S.p.A., a Foster Wheeler Ltd. subsidiary, has a contract with KazMunaiGas Exploration and Production (KMG EP) for a detailed feasibility study for a new petrochemical complex a..

Regenerative thermal oxidizers increase VOC destruction The CMM Group's regenerative thermal oxidizers are claimed to exceed all local, state and federal clean air regulations, and destroy in excess o..

  China's currency value affects HPI Last July, China announced that its currency, the Renminbi (RMB), h..

Refiners in the European Union (EU) are being pressed to meet product requirements for lower-sulfur fuels. Yet, what will the cost be to attain these very tight product specifications for transportati..

A report from Nexant Chem Systems (www.nexant.com) focuses on unconventional heavy oils. These are defined as the heaviest of the nonconventional hydrocarbons and constitute the world's largest known ..

The year 2004 – 2005 can be characterized by important energy policy challenges, including high energy prices, volatile energy markets, implementation of a coordinated oil stock draw after Hurric..

Nomographs and charts I found the article "Easy way to transform nomographs and charts into a computer program," (Sept. 2005, pp. 126 – 129), interesting. However, I feel that the method used for..

Solid-acid technology enables an inherently safer approach to produce high-octane blending components