Refining
Automation Strategies: Top technology trends in automation for 2018
The last several years have seen significant advances in, and acceptance of, new automation technologies.
Reliability: Consider stainless steel tubing for mechanical seal connections
If, in days past, you have questioned why hard piping was used for mechanical seal flush lines and seal support configurations in process pumps, you are certainly not alone.
Editorial Comment: The future of refining—sulfur need not apply
According to multiple industry reports, crude oil consumption will continue to increase over the short term.
Simulation model of a vacuum heater transfer line
The vacuum tower is a critical part of many crude distillation units, and the vacuum heater transfer line is a critical part of vacuum tower operation.
Flexibility in desalting operations for opportunity crudes
Typically, opportunity crudes require more rigorous desalting to yield high-quality products due to high levels of naphthenic acids, basic sediment and water (BS&W) and filterable solids, among others.
Upgrading the bottom of the barrel
In the past few decades, new technologies, including both carbon rejection methods and catalytic conversion methods, have emerged.
Composite ionic liquid alkylation technology gives high product yield and selectivity
Global sentiment has been moving toward a call to develop innovative technologies that address environmental preservation and limit the use of hazardous materials.
How the “LLF” condition monitoring technique can improve manufactured product profitability
Technological advances have allowed predictive maintenance (i.e., condition-based maintenance) to overtake preventive maintenance in plant operations. “Look, listen and feel (LLF)” is a condition monitoring technique that improves the reliability of equipment and machinery in manifolds.
Metallurgy solution to prevent polythionic acid stress corrosion cracking in hydroprocessing
Hydrotreating is a staple process found in nearly every refinery. The process removes undesirable feed contaminants, such as sulfur, nitrogen and metals, and saturates olefins and/or aromatics to produce high-quality products.
Reliability: Include pump wear rings in your upgrade efforts
Most centrifugal pump designs include replaceable rotating wear rings on the impeller (impeller wear rings) and stationary wear rings inside the casing (case wear rings). Although pump wear rings are simple components, they can have profound impacts on pump reliability, efficiency and safety. These wear rings serve three purposes:

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