Maintenance & Reliability
Successes and challenges installing the first proprietary closed-coke slurry system
The authors’ company<sup>a</sup> licensed a two-drum delayed coking technology process unit to Grupa LOTOS in Gdansk, Poland.
Smart manufacturing standardization: Driving global interoperability for enabling factories of the future
Smart manufacturing is a topic that has generated considerable discussions within industry and standards organizations.
A compliant solution for repairing corroded acid lines with composite materials
Composite materials have been utilized for the repair of corroded or damaged piping in refineries, chemical plants and other highly aggressive operating and production plants around the world for decades.
Reliability: Plan startups wisely and involve SMEs
DE, a retired former colleague of mine, recounted his experience as an expert witness for ABC in litigation against XYZ. (Note that I picked the letters A through M for the plaintiff’s side; N through Z are assigned to the defendants.)
Troubleshoot flooding problems in a crude distillation column
Crude oil is separated into more valuable products, such as naphtha, kerosene, light diesel, heavy diesel and atmospheric residue, in crude distillation units (CDUs).
Editorial Comment: The tools advancing the HPI into the digital age
The HPI has been going through a digital transformation, increasingly adopting digital technologies to improve existing processes and structures to improve performance.
Reasons for vibration issues in boilers and furnaces
A conversation with a long-time colleague at an industry trade show inspired me to think about one of the most confounding problems that occur in boilers and furnaces: vibration.
Improving asset utilization by closing the corrosion window
Driving profitable refinery operations often requires owner-operators to balance production flexibility and product optimization with asset availability and equipment reliability.
Valves, Pumps and Turbomachinery: Use the correct lube oil grade to avoid equipment failures
Lubrication is imperative to the performance of rotating equipment.
Reliability: Viewing every maintenance intervention as an upgrade opportunity
When a long-time maintenance supervisor was promoted to the head of his refinery’s reliability department, he wanted to make “Precision Maintenance is Our Passion” his banner and headline.

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