August 2020

Archive

Special Focus: Valves, Pumps and Turbomachinery

CFD modeling of mixing tees—Design of a thermal sleeve
Chen, Z., Dewees, D., Gustafsson, L. M., Becht Engineering

Mixing tees—in which two fluid streams with different physical and/or chemical properties mix—are widely used in the petrochemical industry.

Working together, MTBR can be improved

This article provides an overview of the actions carried out in recent years at Repsol’s Cartagena refinery in Spain to improve the mean time between repairs (MTBR) of the plant’s rotating equipment.

Myth busting: Unlocking the hidden value of Coriolis flowmeters in refining

Process engineers must make many decisions to meet production targets, while maintaining the safe and efficient operation of a process unit.

External chloride stress corrosion cracking: Phenomenon and protection
Anwer, A., Contributing Writer

After carbon steel, stainless steel remains the most commonly used material in the petrochemicals and oil and gas industries.

Improve API and ASME centrifugal pumps reliability with permanent magnet shaft couplings
Alkhowaiter, A., Machinery Consultant

Many factors reduce centrifugal pump reliability. Internal factors include pump design aspects, manufacturing deficiencies, maintenance deficiencies such as lubrication, or process related problems. Other factors are external: the shaft coupling is one of the external elements causing reduced mean-time between failures (MTBF) and pump life through misalignment, friction and unbalance forces.

Process effects on Coriolis flowmeter calibration
Mills, C., TÜV SÜD National Engineering Laboratory

The oil and gas industry is increasingly installing Coriolis flowmeters as an alternative to the more traditional turbine and positive displacement meters.

Maintenance and Reliability

Improve stability of ammonia plant steam systems to reduce unscheduled plant shutdowns
Shukla, A., Dyno Nobel; Chandani, H., KBR; Thomerson, C., AVEVA

Dyno Nobel runs a 2,300-metric tpd purifier plant in Waggaman, Louisiana.

Mitigate water-side fouling in fire tube boilers
Hegazy, M. A., Cairo Oil Refining Co.

One of the most important pieces of equipment used in many industries is the fire tube boiler.

Preventing and treating amine solvent foaming in tail gas treatment units
Vyver, S. V. D., Eastman Chemical

Amine systems in refineries and gas processing plants are used to remove H2S, CO2 and mercaptans (RSH) from gas streams.

Process Engineering

Design of deaerator storage vessel for hydrotest condition in fully assembled position
Rastogi, A., Fluor Daniel India Pvt. Ltd.; Nawandar, S. K., Fluor Daniel India

Deaerators are mechanical equipment used to remove dissolved gases from boiler feedwater to protect the steam system from the effects of corrosive gases.

Heat Transfer

Performance deterioration by weep hole in a lube oil cooler
Kim, J.-Y, Hyundai Engineering & Construction; Lee, T.-R, SK Engineering & Construction Co. Ltd.

The hydrocarbon processing industry (HPI) uses various rotating machines, such as pumps, compressors, blowers and turbines.

Cooling tower heat transfer basics—Part 3
Buecker, B., ChemTreat; Aull, R., Richard Aull Consulting

Refineries, chemical plants and numerous other industrial facilities utilize open recirculating cooling systems equipped with cooling towers for cooling in scores of heat exchangers.

Process Control, Instrumentation and Automation

Avoid common data preparation mistakes to improve analytics results
Reckamp, J., Seeq Corp.

Time series data preparation in process manufacturing applications presents complex challenges, such as differences in data sampling rates, inconsistent or custom units, and the need to access data in multiple systems, among other issues.

Improve grab sampling results and enhance analyzer accuracy
Mahraz, K., Swagelok Co.

Accurate laboratory grab sampling is a delicate process, requiring operators to follow sound best practices to ensure accurate analyzer measurements.

Water Management

Chemical treatment program for closed-loop cooling system

Closed-loop cooling water (CLCW) systems are utilized in areas where cooling is critical.

Columns

Editorial Comment: Advancing ideas through virtual collaboration
Nichols, Lee, Hydrocarbon Processing Staff

For more than 98 yr, Hydrocarbon Processing has provided the latest refining and petrochemical processing technologies, know-how and best practices to audiences around the world.

Reliability: The case for in-house innovation
Bloch, Heinz P., Hydrocarbon Processing Staff

In 1987, a facility producing decaffeinated instant coffee was getting ready to start a novel process unit that included two large, vertically oriented, high-pressure reciprocating pumps in CO2 service.

Optimization: Calculate a gas-gas ejector’s power consumption and efficiency

Gas-gas ejectors are seeing more applications in the oil and gas industry.

Digital: Why an effective master data strategy is key to digital transformation in oil and gas
Roberts, R., Opportune LLP

Digital transformation is the “buzzword du jour” in every industry, but nowhere is it more prevalent than in the oil and gas industry.

Maintenance: Use of finite element analysis results in a future fitness-for-service
Tharakan, J., Suncor Energy Inc.

A low-pressure separator with 139-in. (inner diameter) × 0.59-in. thickness was found to have severe external thinning due to corrosion under fire (CUF) proofing.

Industry Perspective: HP Awards—Honoring the industry’s best
Nichols, Lee, Hydrocarbon Processing Staff

In early July, Hydrocarbon Processing announced the finalists for its fourth annual awards.

Business Trends: The impact of a carbon tax on the European chemical industry
Saxton, D., FaÍsca, N., Nexant Energy and Chemicals Advisory

Over the past several years, greenhouses gas (GHG) emissions have become a pressing global issue.

Global Project Data
Nichols, Lee, Hydrocarbon Processing Staff

Hydrocarbon Processing’s Construction Boxscore Database is tracking nearly 1,400 projects around the world.