Refining
Innovations
What are the latest advancements in HPI technologies? This month’s Innovations section details the tools and technologies that are optimizing plant operations.
Separating from the competition: Recovering profits after the pandemic
As recovery from the COVID-19 pandemic begins, so will a return to normal life.
Good distributor design for high-velocity feed debottlenecks a crude preflash tower
Bazan Group’s crude unit No. 3—not designed by any of the authors’ companies—was bottlenecked by the preflash tower.
Vapor velocity guidelines for horizontal flare knockout drums
Flare knockout (KO) drums are important components of effluent handling systems.
Thick-wall reactor shell repair procedure after damage detection at an interface in a hydrocracking unit
The vessel and reactor operating in a refinery may undergo various deteriorations due to their operating conditions.
Double-tubesheet heat exchangers: Necessities and challenges
Among all types of heat exchangers, shell-and-tube heat exchangers are in huge demand for industrial applications.
Engineering Case Histories: Case 112: Remote failure analysis consulting
An article on “Remote training of personnel”1 is interesting and appropriate at this time of COVID-19. It outlines the difficulties in presenting remote training courses and suggests methods that can help.
Understanding HCN in FCC: Formation, effects and mitigating options
In these challenging times, fluidized catalytic cracking units (FCCUs) aim to improve margins by processing poorer- or different-quality feeds, while maintaining good yield performance.
Executive Viewpoint: Technology to drive decarbonization of the oil and gas industry
<i>Hydrocarbon Processing</i> (HP) was pleased to speak with Thorbjoern Fors (TF), EVP of Industrial Applications, Siemens Energy, to discuss the decarbonization of the oil and gas industry and the technologies that are helping companies meet their sustainability goals.
Editorial Comment
Over the past several decades, the hydrocarbon processing industry has invested heavily in new processing units to produce low-sulfur and ultra-low-sulfur (ULS) transportation fuels.

- Lummus Technology completes acquisition of NAPCON from Neste, expanding digital and AI capabilities 6/2
- IATA expects sustainable aviation fuel production to double in 2025 6/2
- RIC Energy and Siemens to jointly develop renewable H2, green ammonia and eFuels 6/2
- Trump administration (U.S.) axes $3.7-B in green energy projects 6/2
- European chemical industry pessimistic for 2025, recovery not until 2026 says new report 6/2
- U.S. ethanol output eases off record pace as summer travels heat up 6/2