Equipment
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.
Inspection: Establish an inspection plan for flare burners
Flares are prominent in hydrocarbon processing operations. From afar, they can be spotted burning with a high or low flame, supported by a tall steel structure
Reliability: A good time to do reliability upgrading from home
An experienced writer of technical procedures for many years, “KM” recently gave us a stunning glimpse of the probable volume of “ripe, low-hanging fruit” that still exists in some hydrocarbon processing facilities, ready to be harvested from home.
Selecting the right gas analyzer to optimize monitoring of NOx and other emissions
Combustion processes of all types generate emissions of one kind or another.
Business Trends
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.
Doing more with less: Extending critical fluid system resources
Fluid system operators are tasked with maximizing value from their systems to enhance plant and refinery operations.
Use CFD modeling to improve burner design and operation
Process heaters are essential pieces of equipment in the refining and petrochemical industry that are used to heat hydrocarbons to a desired temperature.
Innovations
BASF has commercially launched Fourtune, a new fluid catalytic cracking (FCC) catalyst product for gasoil feedstock.
Water Management: Minimize white rust in galvanized cooling systems
Galvanized coatings for cooling tower systems (cooling towers, evaporator tube bundles, etc.) have been used in the industry since the 1950s due to their relatively low cost and long service life.
Refining: Despite decline, Group 1 base stocks are here to stay
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.

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- Sumitomo Chemical achieves scale-up of its process for producing propylene directly from ethanol 8/20
- EcoCortec, Jakob Schober GmbH awarded sustainability award for closed-loop circular films solution 8/20
- Addverb reinvents its factory automation development with Siemens Xcelerator 8/20
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