Environment & Safety Gas Processing/LNG Maintenance & Reliability Petrochemicals Process Control Process Optimization Project Management Refining

Maintenance & Reliability

Case 44: Cracking due to sudden temperature changes in piping

Consulting Engineer: Sofronas, A.

Excessive thermal stresses can be the cause

HP Reliability: More than procedures are needed to avoid incidents

Hydrocarbon Processing Staff: Bloch, Heinz P.

Here is the typical scenario: An explosion rips through a refinery (and when an explosion happens, the heat is on). As usual, the organization reacts swiftly. The customary failed assets remediation t..

Selecting the right welded-metal bellows seal

John Crane Inc.: Fordyce, J.

Understand the differences to get the most effective product for the application

HP Reliability: Thinking independently

Hydrocarbon Processing Staff: Bloch, Heinz P.

Our October 2007 column touched on the subject of tracking mean-time-between-failures (MTBFs) of general-purpose machinery. It was noted that, to achieve high MTBF, some unit managers used frequent in..

Case 43: Containing a failed impeller

Consulting Engineer: Sofronas, A.

A quick analysis can help direct further efforts

HP Reliability: Vent gas compressor selection

Hydrocarbon Processing Staff: Bloch, Heinz P.

Energy conservation is of ever-increasing importance to process plants from the smallest to the largest. Gas streams that were flared a decade ago are now often recompressed and recycled back to the ..

Controlling crude unit overhead corrosion by improved desalting

Process Corrosion Consultants: Gutzeit, J.

Here are benchmark values for evaluating the effectiveness of existing units

HP Reliability: Specifications for special-purpose machinery

Hydrocarbon Processing Staff: Bloch, Heinz P.

It is not the purpose nor is it within the scope of this column to give detailed field erection and installation specifications for the many rotating machines found in modern process plants. However, ..

Case 42: Torsional vibration problems can be costly

Consulting Engineer: Sofronas, A.

The results are hammering of the gears and fretting of the splines

Eliminate risky trends in reliability management

Hydrocarbon Processing Staff: Bloch, Heinz P.
Meridium, Inc.: Mitchell, J. S.

Follow these guidelines to improve process safety and reduce maintenance costs