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

Process Control

The lost art of proportional band, and the accidental art of performance monitoring

APC Performance LLC: Kern, A.

Most control engineers know that proportional band and controller gain are largely interchangeable terms—both terms refer to the proportional setting of a proportional-integral-derivative (PID) controller and are commonly used by control system manufacturers.

Identify the cause of liquid maldistribution inside packed beds

Tracerco: Pless, L.

Diagnosing liquid maldistribution problems inside packed beds that can cause mass transfer efficiency loss is a challenge to process engineers.

Automation Strategies: Navigating automation in oil and gas—Lessons learned from other industries

Stratus Technologies: Fryer, J.

In today’s economy, industrial automation has become absolutely essential for refiners, petrochemical producers and pipeline owners looking to maintain profitability and competitive advantage as market pressures bear down on them.

Quanta Services acquires services company Stronghold

HOUSTON — Quanta Services, Inc. announced that it has completed the acquisition of Stronghold, Ltd. and Stronghold Specialty, Ltd., a specialized services company that provides high pressure and critical path solutions to the downstream and midstream energy markets.

Honeywell invests in cyber security innovation center in Asia Pacific

SINGAPORE — Honeywell Process Solutions, with the support of the Singapore Economic Development Board (EDB), will establish a new industrial cyber security center of excellence (COE) for Asia Pacific in Singapore. The COE will feature a cyber security research and development lab, an advanced training facility and a security operations center that provides managed security services.

Improve H2O measurement in catalytic reformer H2 recycle streams

SpectraSensors: Engelhart, W. G.

Catalytic reformer units convert naphtha into high-octane aromatic compounds called reformates, which are used in gasoline blending and formulation. UOP developed the catalytic reforming process and brought the first unit into operation in 1949.

Innovations

Hydrocarbon Processing Staff: Andrew, Bob

Siemens has been working closely with the National Cybersecurity Center of Excellence (NCCoE) at the National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST) on a cyber security project.

Industry Perspectives: The digitalization of the downstream industry

Hydrocarbon Processing Staff: Nichols, Lee

The digitalization of the hydrocarbon processing industry (HPI) is in full swing. Numerous companies have created, and are optimizing, digital technologies to improve plant operations, increase energy efficiency and lower costs.

Automation Strategies: Looking to the future of process control staffing

ARC Advisory Group: Gupta, M. S.

Technology is changing, and fast. Labor availability and skillset requirements are changing, as well. Process control personnel makeup and skillsets have evolved over decades of iterations. The process industries are challenged to continue to operate efficiently in an increasingly competitive environment.

Emerson completes acquisition of MYNAH Technologies

AUSTIN, Texas — Emerson announced it has completed the purchase of MYNAH Technologies, a long-time Emerson alliance partner and a provider of dynamic simulation and operator training software.