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Maintenance & Reliability

Improve sour water stripper unit performance via feed sour water preconditioning

Nexo Solutions: Engel, D.  |  S. Engel  |  S. Williams  |  C. Ridge

Sour water stripper (SWS) units in refinery operations are often exposed to several challenges, such as corrosion, low efficiency, decreased capacity, solids fouling and equipment plugging. This article explores some of those challenges.

Causes and countermeasures for a compressor lube oil system failure due to delayed oil pressure recovery by an auxiliary lube oil pump

SK Energy: H. Jeong  |  W. Eom

This article shares insights from a lube oil system issue and recommends key points to consider when operating oil systems. 

Application of systems engineering principles in a reliability assessment of air-cooled heat exchangers

Contributing Author: D. R. Narang

This article proposes a holistic remaining life assessment and reliability engineering framework developed based on systems engineering principles to cover both mechanical integrity (header boxes and fin tubes) and dynamic reliability aspects (fin blades, electrical motors, gearboxes and propellers).

Case study: Reduce failure in critical motor applications

Indorama: S. Kumar

This article provides a case study on methods how premature failure in new motors can be substantially reduced, thereby improving their longevity and reinforcing their operational durability in industrial environments. 

bp restarts catalytic reformer at Rotterdam oil refinery, crude unit remains offline

bp has restarted a 32,000-bpd catalytic reformer at its Rotterdam oil refinery after maintenance that began on April 16.

Update: Venezuela's second largest refinery restarting units after blackout

Venezuela's state-run PDVSA was on Wednesday restarting several operational units at its 310,000-bpd Cardon refinery.

Yokogawa collaborates with Shell on robotics and AI technology for plant maintenance

Yokogawa Electric Corporation announced that it has formalized a long-term agreement with Shell Global Solutions International B.V. to integrate and further develop technologies for utilizing robots and drones in plant monitoring and maintenance.

China's May refinery throughput at 9-month low on plant overhauls

China's crude oil throughput declined by 1.8% in May from a year earlier to the lowest level since August, official data showed on Monday, as maintenance at both state-owned and independent refineries curbed operations.

Russia's offline primary oil refining capacity revised up 21% in July

Russia's offline primary oil refining capacity expected in July has been revised up by 21% from the previous plan to 3.2 MM tonnes (t) due to adjustments to maintenance plans.

ANDRITZ to acquire Diamond Power Intl. businesses

International technology group ANDRITZ has signed an agreement to acquire Diamond Power Intl. LLC (Diamond Power) businesses, including its subsidiaries and manufacturing locations, from U.S.-based Babcock & Wilcox Enterprises Inc. (B&W).