Europe
IMO 2020 stability and compatibility headaches
The year 2020 will be a mess from the fuel oil stability and compatibility points of view. The year will be price-driven, so the temptation to “cut corners” is great—meaning that a highly variable number of blend components to manufacture the fuel oil will open a “Pandora’s box” of complex and questionable fuel formulations.
Industry Perspectives: There’s still time to vote for the best!
The nominees for the 2019 Top Project awards are out. Using <i>Hydrocarbon Processing’s</i> Construction Boxscore Database, the editors have identified nine projects that are anticipated to significantly impact the global or regional downstream industries.
Editorial Comment: Honoring the industry’s best … take 2!
Due to Tropical Storm Imelda, Hydrocarbon Processing issued its first force majeure in postponing the third annual HP Awards.
FCC catalyst deactivation studies to mimic refinery conditions for high-propylene applications
The fluid catalytic cracking unit (FCCU) is a conversion unit located at the heart of many refineries. Its main purpose is to crack crude oil-derived feedstocks into valuable liquid products, primarily LPGs (propylene and butylenes), and gasoline and light-cycle oil (LCO) precursors. The process uses a fluidizable catalyst, comprising an alumina-silica framework and tailored for each refinery to meet its specific needs. Often, the changing of a catalyst includes catalyst testing evaluations, employed by about 50% of the FCCUs in the world. The testing process is cumbersome, in which multiple methods are available to refineries.
Hydrocarbon Processing Awards Winners
<i>Hydrocarbon Processing,</i> the downstream processing sector’s leading technical publication, has announced the winners for its third annual awards. The <i>HP</i> Awards celebrate innovative technologies and people that have been instrumental in improving facility operations over the past year.
Pay attention: LockerGoga and Trisis/Triton demand an improved cybersecurity strategy
The need for a solid cybersecurity strategy has been discussed and debated for nearly half a century. However, the basic worm-type attacks first documented in 1972 are still with us today. Why? The reason is because even the most basic measures to protect control systems from these types of attacks are still not systematically employed.
Business Trends: One downstream—Strategic imperatives for the evolving refining and chemical sectors
Downstream executives will remember the present decade as a golden age for the industry, driven by low feedstock prices and healthy end-use demand.
Reliability: Viewing issues out of context may be a waste of time
An alternative to the above title would be “Test your rotating equipment engineers’ IQ.”
Editorial Comment: Hydrocarbon Processing’s 2019 Top Project award nominees revealed
It’s that time again! <i>Hydrocarbon Processing</i> has announced the nominees for its annual Top Project awards.
Securing industrial systems in a digital world
The development of industrial control systems (ICS) over the past two decades has changed the face of many industries.
- Topsoe and Sasol bring advanced SAF technology to Allied Biofuel’s landmark project in Uzbekistan 7/14
- Siemens Energy begins preparations for the launch of an independent brand 7/14
- Emerson helps Romania’s largest refinery reduce control system alarms by over 95% 7/14
- Bunker One executes Latin America's first bioethanol bunkering of a deep-sea container vessel 7/14
- Kognitiv Spark advances the future of connected field worker collaboration 7/14
- EIA: Global LNG trade volumes reached record high in 2025 7/14
