Octane

Reduce gasoline blending giveaway with inline blending and online analyzers

Curcio, E., Barsamian, A., Refinery Automation Institute, LLC

With best available technology, how much practical reduction in giveaway can be achieved, with the caveat that there is no such thing as “zero error” in value measurements? Also, can those numbers change if inline blending is used? This article seeks to answer both questions.

Hydrocarbon Processing 2020 Awards WINNERS

Hydrocarbon Processing, the downstream processing sector’s leading technical publication, has announced the winners for its third annual awards.

Hydrocarbon Processing Awards 2020—FINALISTS

This special section details all finalists within each category for the fourth annual HP Awards. The winners will be announced on Oct. 1.

Intensification of sulfur processing units by oxygen enrichment and process flowsheet optimization

Yang, W., Hyundai Oilbank Co. Ltd.; Lewis, J., Racz, A., Advisian, a Worley Company

The consistent global trend toward improvements in air quality and tighter regulations on emissions, as well as the International Maritime Organization’s shipping regulations, continue to mitigate sulfur levels—not only in conventional transport fuels (petrol and diesel), but also in jet fuels, fuel oils and other heavier distillates.

Maximizing diesel hydrotreater profit by multivariable optimization: A case study

A diesel hydrotreater (DHT) is a critical unit within an oil refinery. A DHT processes the diesel range fractions obtained from different units of the refinery—such as from the crude distillation unit and the delayed coker unit—to adhere to diesel fuel market specifications.

Business Trends

Nichols, Lee, Hydrocarbon Processing Staff

Rovuma LNG, a JV comprised of ExxonMobil, Eni and China National Petroleum Corp., will likely delay its final investment decision (FID) on the group’s $30-B Mozambique LNG project.

Refining: Despite decline, Group 1 base stocks are here to stay

Nadasdi, T., ExxonMobil

Given increasingly stringent automotive specifications and the advent of the International Maritime Organization’s 2020 sulfur regulations, the continued decrease in Group I base stocks demand should come as no surprise for anyone in the industry.

Octane enhancement avoiding both high reformer severity and alkylation

Kauders, P., CDE Projects Ltd.

An innovative refinery process arrangementa converts butane-rich, light paraffinic streams—preferably containing a high proportion of isobutane—into butylene by dehydrogenation.

Cost-effective naphtha hydrotreating unit revamp to increase high-octane reformate production

Ramesh, K., Phukan, D., Indian Oil Corp. Ltd.

India, which is the third-largest economy in the world, is home to nearly 18% of the world’s population (nearly 1.4 B).

Safe and sustainable alkylation: Performance and update on composite ionic liquid alkylation technology

Chung, W., Well Resources Inc.; Zhang, R., Beijing Zhongshi Aojie Petroleum Technology Co.; Song, D., PetroChina Harbin Petrochemical Co.

Market and regulatory factors are pressuring refiners to adopt safe and sustainable processes for the production of clean-burning and environmentally friendly fuels.