November 2008

Here's a common-sense approach using a basic four-part process

Decision flowchart aids in correct thermal relief valve requirements

Long-range ultrasonic testing is a useful technique

The approach is based on an innovative matrix

Use these guidelines to prevent loss of containment during emergency situations

Accounting for dry wall safety margins will impact estimates for condensing area and desuperheating area within the heater

Course materials are specially focused on the safe, environmentally sound and efficient operations of a processing facility

They enable partial stroke testing (PST) and ensure the PST signal doesn't interfere with a simultaneous emergency shutdown signal

Section VIII code defines safety issues and design requirements for pressure vessels

Case studies for a bank of air-cooled heat exchangers and a set of cooling tower cells are presented

Established and new technologies will be used to reduce greenhouse gas emissions

These steps show how to implement an effective carbon management system at your facility

Carbon capture and reduction schemes or combination of various processes have economic value and depend on many factors

A systematic procedure can identify the vibration source

Low-level quantitative analysis of water in oil uses better stabilization techniques

Midsize US refiner outsourced managing and marketing of benzene to focus on its core business of gasoline and diesel production

Charts shown in my editorials, illustrating the performance of select first-principles models, have attracted much e-mail feedback. While mostly positive, some question why the editorials do not provi..

Last month's column attempted to make the point that reliability professionals must search for answers to questions as to why equipment failed. It related when one of six cyclohexane oxidation reactor..

The aftermath of Hurricanes Katrina and Rita reshaped hurricane planning. Recent hurricanes in the Gulf Coast continue to teach new lessons about storm threats and methods to minimize risk and hasten ..

The Fieldbus Foundation has been making progress on several fronts that will help expand usage of the technology in both new plants and existing installations. New developments include a host registra..

In my last column, I wrote about my chance encounter with Ingemar Bjurenvall—a crop scientist and innovator who deplores the lack of attention paid to farming itself by the fledgling biofuels ind..

An inside look at the NPRA Q&A in Orlando The NPRA Q&A and Technology Forum invaded Orlando, Florida, for three days in early October. The gatherin..

System for real-time inspection of combustion processes The portable FireSight diagnostic system is said to be the easiest and most economical means to achieve real-time color-video monitoring and d..

  Synthesis Energy Systems, Inc. (SES) has an agreement with ExxonMobil Research and Engineering Co. to provide SES the option to execute up to 15 methanol-to-gasoline (MTG) technology licenses a..

  Invensys Process Systems (IPS) has a contract to upgrade control and automation systems at a liquefied natural gas (LNG) terminal and regasification plant at the Barcelona terminal in Spain. Un..

  Abu Dhabi Oil Refining Co. (Takreer) has selected UOP LLC to supply technology and engineering services for an expansion at its Ruwais refinery in the UAE. The refinery will produce propylene, ..

Australian Energy Company Ltd. (AEC) has acquired a license for two Siemens Energy 500-MW coal gasifiers. The two gasifiers are destined for a fertilizer plant in Latrobe Valley, Australia, where they..

   Automation solutions for refineries Four new full-color brochures for the refining industry detail specific Metso Automation Solutions for crude distillation, catalytic reformin..

'No' to low-carbon fuels mandate Tesoro Refining & Marketing Co. has filed a lawsuit against the California Air Resources Board (CARB) to prevent i..

The petrochemical sector in Asia is undergoing fundamental change. According to a recent analysis from FACTS Inc., three key forces are impacting the industry's outlook: Massive expansion of Asian..

Last year, the National Petroleum Council (NPC) issued a comprehensive report, Facing the Hard Truths about Energy (see "HPImpact," September 2007, p. 27). Recently, key participants in the study ex..

The Golden Age has come and gone, and refining margins have fallen from their peaks, according to Blake Eskew, vice president at Purvin & Gertz, who presented a keynote address to NPRA's recent Q&A an..

The past 18 months have been tumultuous for natural gas markets. Gas prices were high and volatile in all regional markets, with demand continuously growing and a dramatic increase of liquefied natu..

ISA reports the release of Control Valve Primer, A User's Guide, 4th Edition by Hans D. Baumann. The guide's fourth edition is claimed to be updated and significantly enlarged by adding sections on ..

Demand from China has helped drive growth in the plastic additives industry, pushing the industry to 12.2 million metric tons in 2007. The industry as a whole was valued at $32 billion, according to..