June 2007

In a revised paradigm, focus shifts to facilitating the appropriate involvement of all operations stakeholders

Innovative pretreatment process removes hazardous contaminants from ethylene production-generated spent caustic

Applying this technology will increase your bottom line and improve operations

Flares are safety devices that prevent the release of unburned gases to atmosphere

Deactivation of hydrogen generation unit catalyst is linked to contamination of boiler feedwater from a leaking heat exchanger

New techniques make analysis available in real time

Novel model-based innovation techniques enable simultaneous optimization of catalyst formulations and operating reactors

A control system simulation with an air-cooled condenser demonstrates a method to reduce operating costs

Leading-edge developments enable installing new units instead of revamping existing furnaces

Optimizers prescribe the preferred operation, taking into account supply-chain constraints; analysis of its economic message is required to counter restrictiveness of the model

This project resulted in about a half-year payout

Here's what caused the leak and the steps taken to prevent future leaks

The premise of advanced process control (APC) is that there is money to be made by pushing a unit against its limits while keeping the product qualities at target. This concept is easy to understand b..

As this column goes to press, two of my colleagues are approaching 60 years of age. That makes them almost a full generation younger than I am, but their careers are just as interesting as mine—..

In 1999, gas-fired generation accounted for approximately 16% of New England's total electrical-power consumption. According to ISO New England (the entity responsible for managing this region's gas t..

Real benefits are in operational costs. While we know that benefits can be achieved in the installed cost side of the equation, the life cycle and operational benefits are where the real value lies fo..

The dramatic rise of integrated gasification combined cycle technology (IGCC) is an industry within an industry that has found its time. In researching the subject, I spoke with Dutch power company, N..

Virtual refinery aids operator training and safety studies Simulation Solutions, Inc. and SASICT, LLC have released what is claimed to be the industry's first Virtual Refinery for use in operator trai..

Advanced process control to simplify system maintenance Profit Suite R300 is claimed to increase operator effectiveness in the control room, troubleshoot a broader array of process issues, provide eas..

  Jacobs Engineering Group Inc. has two engineering, procurement and fabrication packages from BP Products North America Inc. for its planned $3 billion Canadian heavy crude refinery upgrade prog..

  Aker Kvaerner is providing the basic and detailed engineering design for offshore procurement services for PetroquímicaSuape's new purified terephthalic acid (PTA) plant, to be built ..

  Aker Kvaerner has a contract with Sevan Production Services Ltd. to install the Sevan Hummingbird floating production, storage and offloading (FPSO) unit. The FPSO will be installed at the Ches..

  Borouge has contracts valued at approximately $3 billion for Borouge 2, the major expansion project at the company's production facilities in Ruwais, Abu Dhabi, in the United Arab Emirates. The..

  GE Oil & Gas is supplying compressor trains for two projects in China that will feature coal-based propylene plants. The two projects are Shenhua Ningxia Coal Industry Group's plant in the Ning..

    Grease selection based on application specifics  Anderol, Inc.'s new grease selection guide provides step-by-step instructions on selecting the most effective grease based..

    Interoperability standard launched Over the past year, the POSC Caesar Association, USPI, the DN..

Political and technological advancements for coal and biomass are expected to offer chemical producers alternatives other than traditional petroleum feedstocks. Looking at the current issues facing ch..

Polyethylene (PE) represents the largest segment of the commodity plastics business worldwide. In 2006, of the 173 million tons of commodity plastics consumption, PE represented almost 40% of the mark..

In the next decade, the EU refining industry will be facing significant changes in demand both in absolute terms and relative calls for its main products. The imbalance between the demand for gasoline..

The EDDL Cooperation Team (ECT) and the FDT Group have agreed to combine efforts and work toward a unified solution for device integration that is compatible with both technologies. This, they claim, ..

The HART Communication Foundation (HCF) has completed draft specifications for a new wireless standard. WirelessHART is claimed to be the first open and interoperable wireless communication standard d..

HPI continues global growth cycle

Corrections In the February 2007 article "Improve vertical reboiler piping analysis," an incorrect photo accompanied author R. Sharma's biography. The correct photo with his biography is shown here. ..