June 2023
Special Focus: Process Optimization
The C<sub>3</sub> splitter in an olefins plant is one of the most important and critical pieces of equipment: it separates polymer-grade propylene from propane.
Operational flexibility is one of the key parameters that leads to success and sustainability in refinery production.
Compressed air is an important utility in refining and chemical industries and is widely used to drive pneumatic equipment and machinery.
The naphtha hydrotreater/continuous catalyst regeneration (NHT/CCR) platformer produces reformate to be utilized as a blending stock in the gasoline pool (FIG. 1).
One of the prevailing factors of the energy transition toward a low-carbon energy system is that the decarbonization of transport will lead to the contraction of the main markets in which crude oil refining products are sold.
Environment and Safety
Operations within the hydrocarbon industry involve numerous hazards to be identified, mitigated and maintained at as low a level as reasonably practicable.
LNG
The use of advanced process control (APC) technology on LNG liquefaction trains is well accepted with some of the earliest implementations developed in the late 1990s.
Valves, Pumps and Turbomachinery
Packing selection used to be a straightforward task that played a small part in a valve specification process that was much more involved.
Columns
The focus on optimization is innate in the fundamental nature of the people working within the HPI.
Trends and Resources
Because it provides the energy and materials required for global development, the refining industry is critical to the world economy.
Gulf Energy Information’s Global Energy Infrastructure database is tracking nearly 1,000 active projects around the world.
Rockwell Automation has reinforced new capabilities in emulation and support with its first expansion of FactoryTalk® Logix Echo.
Online Feature
International Women in Engineering Day (INWED) is celebrated worldwide on June 23 every year to honor women in the engineering field. Hydrocarbon Processing (HP) sat down with Paula Fitzpatrick (PF), VP of Projects for the U.S., at Kent for an exclusive Q&A in celebration of INWED.
A hydrocracker makeup compressor in a refinery in Saudi Arabia failed during operation. Upon internal inspection of the compressor, it was found that the cylinder liner was cracked and needed a replacement.
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