Loss Prevention
Continuous monitoring of creep in equipment
In this article, the development of a customized program—designed by the author and used at Raffineria di Milazzo—for the continuous monitoring of creep in vessels and piping is explained.
MAA refinery—Bunker fuel oil challenge: Stable and compatible VLSFO production
Studies have been conducted on strategies for bunker fuel oil (BFO) production with reduced sulfur and catalytic fines concentration limits.
Dual-mechanical seal arrangement for hot pump service
Selecting mechanical seals for hot services in an oil refinery or petrochemical plant is always a challenging task—and it is a task that needs careful attention, since the wrong seal selection can have a significant impact on pump reliability and availability.
Keeping fugitive emissions costs down with low-E valves
Fugitive emissions have become an increasingly critical area of interest for chemical processing and refining facilities.
If you want AI to overcome limitations, give it more scalability
Artificial intelligence (AI) has caused a significant buzz not only within the hydrocarbon processing industry but also in everyday activities.
Integral vs. proportional gap for averaging level control
In process plants, many instances of level control are required to keep the material balance of the plant from integrating to undesired operating conditions.
Why EPC firms are accelerating digitalization
Even before the challenges of the COVID-19 pandemic emerged, engineering, procurement and construction (EPC) firms were already under considerable stress.
Project Optimization: Improve propylene recovery at FCC and DCU gas plants with mobile industrial refrigeration
Polypropylene demand remained strong through the 2020 pandemic crisis and is booming in the Asia region, driven by strong Chinese import growth.
Reliability: Thinking outside of the box
In late 1989, the Milwaukee Metropolitan Sewage District asked the author to present a three-day equipment maintenance course at one of its large effluent treatment facilities.
Analyze pressure loss during FCC standpipe catalyst transfer
The fluid catalytic cracking unit (FCCU) is the primary conversion equipment for modern refineries to obtain clean transportation fuels, along with high-grade petrochemical feedstock.

- Vioneo awards Lummus polypropylene contract for world's first industrial scale fossil-free plastics from green methanol facility 8/19
- Research: Developing an energy-saving, carbon-capturing method for making ethylene glycol 8/19
- Emerson announced the release of its new Rosemount 3144S temperature transmitter 8/19
- Chinese refiners sweep up Russian oil after Indian demand falls 8/19
- Indonesia plans quick-to-build oil refineries for U.S. crude 8/19
- Russia's ultra low-sulfur diesel exports from Primorsk scheduled to rise in August 8/19