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

Motors

Analyzing axial cooling fans’ high noise, vibration and failures

Saudi Aramco: Allah, W. K.

Shipping pumps with 1,800 hp are equipped with five cooling fans that cool the oil going to the lube oil pumps to lubricate the bearings.

Equipment critical analysis: The need for an effective maintenance program

Toyo Engineering Canada Ltd.: Zardynezhad, S.

Oil refineries and large petrochemical plants contain thousands of pieces of process and utilities equipment that are subject to wear, erosion, deterioration, aging, etc., resulting in increasing breakdowns and outages. Imagine being a maintenance engineer and receiving 50 work orders during an overhaul with a limited budget, time, labor, spare parts, tools, machines, etc. How does that engineer prioritize the work?

Root cause analysis on bearing failure on an induced draft fan

Saudi Aramco: Allah, W. K.

This case study aims to provide the root cause analysis behind bearing failure of an induced (ID) fan at a new refinery startup in 2015.

Implement proactive asset management techniques

T.A. Cook Consultants Inc.: Natarelli, J.

The drop in crude oil prices since 2014 has impacted both upstream producers and downstream players. Upstream producers—those responsible for exploration, drilling and production—were the first to feel the effects. While refining margins benefitted from the drop in crude oil pricing, they began to suffer when record surpluses of gasoline and diesel flooded the market a year later.

Buyer beware: Are diamond-coated seal faces the solution to dry running?

Engineering & Quality Systems: Seymour, M.

A scientific study was undertaken to evaluate the performance, under dry running conditions, of two types of diamond coatings applied to silicon carbide faces of mechanical seals.

Build a diesel fuel performance additive for optimum winter operability, the right way—Part 2

Amalgamated, Inc.: Pipenger, G. G.

Part 1 in this series, “Build a diesel fuel performance additive, the right way,” (Hydrocarbon Processing, October) detailed the required chemical additives and test methods for achieving ideal engine performance and fuel economy.

HP New Developments

Hydrocarbon Processing Staff: Meche, Helen

NEO Monitors’ mid-infrared (IR) sensors will help global industries better control emissions of nitrogen oxides and sulfur oxides.

HP Engineering Case Histories: Case 85: Learnings on hydraulically fitted hubs

Consulting Engineer: Sofronas, A.

Hubs connect one piece of machinery to another, usually with some flexible coupling between them. Installers have only limited time to work with the hot hub. When incorrectly positioned, it may have to be removed, which has the potential of damaging the shaft end.

Consider new labyrinth seals to optimize compressor operations

Flexware, Inc.: Gresh, M. T.
John Crane Engineered Bearings: Whalen, J. K.

Degradation of labyrinth seals in centrifugal impellers can have a significant impact on not only compressor power consumption but also on plant production rate. Upgrading to rub-tolerant seals can be..

Maximize energy recovery with small steam turbines

Energent: Kaupert, K.
Energent Corp.: Krull, R.  |  Iles, R.

Using smaller turbines (50 kW to 300 kW) can aid system efficiency and help conserve energy. We investigate examples in which the application of smaller steam turbines provided return on investment within two years.