Equipment
Good distributor design for high-velocity feed debottlenecks a crude preflash tower
Bazan Group’s crude unit No. 3—not designed by any of the authors’ companies—was bottlenecked by the preflash tower.
Vapor velocity guidelines for horizontal flare knockout drums
Flare knockout (KO) drums are important components of effluent handling systems.
How maintenance and reliability in gas analysis supports hydrocarbon processing installations
Industrial plants depend on accurate, reliable gas analysis for process control, efficiency, safety and emissions monitoring.
Isentropic effects: Application and simulation
A process safety risk in industry is having unknown problems that are not accounted for.
Quantum leap in chemical plant safety and reliability through mobile technology
The human factor has played a significant role in chemical plant accidents and production loss incidents over the past 60 yr.
Stability evaluation of hot spots in the RDS process reactor
During the end-of-run (EOR) period of the authors’ company’s residue hydrodesulfurization (RDS) process in early February 2019, some hot spots occurred in the catalysts of the reactors.
Ensuring safety in dynamic chemical manufacturing environments
As with all industries, chemical manufacturing is evolving in response to technical innovations, new customer requirements and increased global competition.
Engineering Case Histories: Case 112: Remote failure analysis consulting
An article on “Remote training of personnel”1 is interesting and appropriate at this time of COVID-19. It outlines the difficulties in presenting remote training courses and suggests methods that can help.
Improved measurement of water content in natural gas
Consumers likely imagine natural gas as a stream of pure methane. Those who are closer to the energy industry know that methane is the major component, but there can easily be dozens of other substances making up a sizeable portion of the total volume.
Reliability: Pushing the limit can have unexpected consequences
A prominent manufacturer rediscovered the old axiom, “pushing the limit can have unexpected consequences,” after experiencing many bearing failures in its 40-hp air blowers. These lifetime-lubricated (sealed) bearings had been properly installed on 20-mm shafts, and it can be assumed that premium greases were being used.
- Kazakhstan to build a new $10-B, 10-MMtpy refinery 2/18
- U.S. EPA expected to send 2026 biofuel blending quotas to White House this week 2/18
- Kent awarded pre-FEED contract for Eq.flight, an advanced power-to-liquids SAF project 2/18
- ABB launches integrated carbon capture measurement solution to accelerate industrial decarbonization 2/18
- CONSER awarded technology licensing/PDP contract for DMS and BDO plant in China 2/18
- Singapore marine fuel sales maintain strong start in early 2026 2/18

