February 2019

Archive

Special Focus: Materials Manufacturing

Fabrication of clad equipment and piping—Part 1
Panchal, A., Reliance Industries Ltd.; Carmona, R. K., Daru, K., Desai, J., Irfan, M., Shargay, C., Fluor

For pressure vessels, heat exchangers and piping in corrosive services, the materials in contact with the process are often required to be high alloys to provide a reliable service life.

Hyper-duplex stainless steel can improve on duplex steel and nickel-based superalloy
Vieira, B., Sandvik Materials Technology

Duplex materials have been around for a long time.

Welded plate heat exchangers cut refinery process costs—Part 1

Plate and frame (P&F) heat exchangers were first manufactured 100 yr ago for use in the dairy industry.

Process Optimization

Allocate new plant focus to steam system design—Part 2
Risko, J. R., TLV Corporation

Part 1 of this article, which appeared in the January 2019 issue of Hydrocarbon Processing, discussed how new plant construction includes expectations for optimized production performance to achieve targeted profitability.

Feed nozzle effects on yields and operation of FCCUs

The first-generation, proprietary feed distributorsa had open-pipe bayonets that were located at the base of the wye section/riser.

Improving resource efficiency of industrial processes with the TOP-REF methodology—Part 2
Radatz, H., Schembecker, G., TU Dortmund University; Raffray, G., Sellis, D., The CoSMo Company SAS; Boto, F., Echeverria, Z., Fundación Tecnalia Research and Innovation; Carrion, A., Herce, C., Oto, F., Fundación CIRCE—Centro de Investigación de Recursos y Consumos Energéticos; Gil, A., University of Zaragoza; Arias, A., Borrego, R., DOW Chemical Co.; Romero, J., Fertinagro Nutrientes S.L.; Jacinto, J. T., Petróleos de Portugal

The European TOP-REF research consortium has developed and applied a methodology to improve the resource efficiency of industrial production processes.

Maintenance and Reliability

Resolving vibration problems in a crude booster pump

The pumps referred to in this article are 2,600-HP vertical pumps utilized as booster pumps for the shipment of crude oil.

Best practices in boiler maintenance and replacement

Refineries cannot afford a sudden boiler failure (FIG. 1). Regularly assessing the condition of boilers is vital.

Stable thermosiphon reboiler operation: With or without a valve in the inlet piping?

A reboiler provides the necessary heat duty for the separation in a distillation tower.

Environment and Safety

Hazardous area classification compliance: Focus on communication
Johnston, J. E., Eccleston, C. A., Bath Process Safety Management

On November 30, 2013, an explosion and fire occurred at the UCB Farchim SA site in Switzerland. Fortunately, no injuries or fatalities occurred.

Causes interact in industrial accidents and life
Grisi-Frisbie, J., Sinergia International

Before discussing failure causes, it is helpful to understand why the idea of process safety management (PSM) has taken hold in the past few decades.

Columns

Editorial Comment: The materials that advance modern life
Nichols, Lee, Hydrocarbon Processing Staff

Refineries and petrochemical plants contain some of the harshest environments on the planet.

Reliability: Things to ponder when specifying sensor technology for pumps
Bloch, Heinz P., Hydrocarbon Processing Staff

The application of wireless sensors to monitor process pump hydraulic performance and defect progression in the power end of pumps is of interest to pump users.

Refining: Extend the life of storage tanks with a novel single-coat epoxy coating
Toews, B., Sherwin-Williams

In the oil and gas industry, time is money.

Africa: Civil unrest dampens South Sudan’s refining aspirations
Oirere, S., Contributing Editor

South Sudan has one of the largest proven oil reserves in sub-Saharan Africa.

Engineering Case Histories: Case 105—Temperature distribution along a flare line
Sofronas, A., Consulting Engineer

During an engineer’s career, many interesting questions come up that may not have a ready or good answer.

Inspection: External visual inspection remains vital
Anwer, A., Contributing Editor

Innovations continue to evolve at a steady pace.

Viewpoint: Shifting safety from cost to value for oil and gas companies
Elliott, S., Schneider Electric

In today’s business and regulatory environment, controlling a refinery or other high-hazard processing plant is increasingly demanding.

Digital: Three steps to implement a 21st-century disaster recovery plan
Cox, E., Allegro Development Corp.

In the wake of Hurricane Florence, businesses across the US had another reminder of how unpredictable and unavoidable disasters are when they strike.

Viewpoint: European refining 2050: Turning the vision into reality
George, S., KBC Advanced Technologies, Inc.

Europe’s refiners, through their industry organization Fuels Europe, have set out their long-term ambitions in a new program called Vision 2050.

Cybersecurity: Why emails should be a cybersecurity priority
Edry, I. U., Trustifi

The oil and gas industry is becoming increasingly digitized—but is it improving its cybersecurity measures to match?

Industry Perspectives: What opportunities will 2019 bring to the global HPI?
Nichols, Lee, Hydrocarbon Processing Staff

To continue communication and feedback with Hydrocarbon Processing’s global audience, the editors have posted a new poll to HydrocarbonProcessing.com.

Business Trends: The state of process safety and operational risk management—Feeling the squeeze
Jones, S., Petrotechnics

The 2018 edition of Petrotechnics’ process safety management (PSM) and operational risk management report builds on insights gained from the 2017 survey.

Industry Metrics
Rhodes, Mike, Hydrocarbon Processing Staff

US refinery margins saw losses as product stocks rose, pressured by seasonally lower gasoline demand and subdued heating oil requirements.

Global Project Data
Nichols, Lee, Hydrocarbon Processing Staff

According to Hydrocarbon Processing’s Construction Boxscore Database, more than 320 new downstream capital projects have been announced over the past year.