December 2022

Archive

Special Focus: Catalysts

Solving maldistribution: Catalyst loading and why it matters
Maas, E. , Sigaud, J. , Shell Catalysts & Technologies; Poussin, G. , Caldas, T. , CREALYST-Oil

Are your reactor yields lower than forecast? Does your fixed-bed catalytic reactor suffer from hotspots?

Partners maximize profitability during the pandemic
Zhan, B.-Z. , Advanced Refining Technologies (ART)/ Chevron Lummus Global (CLG); Fritz, J. , Chevron Lummus Global; Somers, D. , Advanced Refining Technologies

The COVID-19 pandemic can be viewed as one of the most challenging periods in the history of the oil and gas sector. Refineries worldwide faced difficult times operating at their turndown capacities or even temporarily shut down units at the refinery.

Flexibility in catalyst technology for improved bottoms upgrading

Bottoms product from fluidized catalytic cracking (FCC) is typically one of the least valuable products from a refinery.

Development/industrial application of FCC catalyst for boosting high-octane gasoline production
Sha, Y. , Han, L. , Wang, P. , Research Institute of Petroleum Processing (RIPP)

Globally, crude oil is trending toward being heavier; the proportion of heavy crude oil reserve is expected to be 50% of the entire recoverable oil reserve moving forward from 2020.

Refinery catalyst selection: Facts and fictions every refiner should know
Pongboot, N. , Avantium; Upienpong, T. , PTT Global Chemical

Most refiners carefully evaluate their refining catalysts to ensure maximum benefits over the catalyst cycle length.

Process Optimization

The other sulfides: Organic sulfur species in amine solvents

This article examines the behavior of carbonyl sulfide (COS), C1–C5 mercaptans (R1SH–R5SH), methyl ethyl sulfide (MES), dimethyl sulfide (DMS) and dimethyl disulfide (DMDS) in amine solvent systems.

New state-of-the-art in sulfur recovery?—Part 1
Lewis, J. , Njuguna, H. , Worley Comprimo; Jensen, F. E. , Topsoe

It is widely accepted that state-of-the-art sulfur recovery technologies utilize the modified Claus process as well as some extension technology on the tail gas.

Process Engineering

The heavy toll on sulfur blocks

The tightening of environmental norms and emissions specifications provides additional challenges to refining.

Refinery-Petrochemical integration

A novel deep catalytic cracking technology for residue-to-chemicals processes
Cao, D. , China Petroleum and Chemical Corp.; Ma, Q. , SINOPEC Anqing Co.; Gong, J. , Zhang, J. , Zhang, Z. , Wei, X. , Chang, X. , Zhu, J. , SINOPEC Research Institute of Petroleum Processing; Wu, L. , SINOPEC Engineering Inc.

Over the past two decades, annual global demands for refined products and basic petrochemicals have increased by approximately 1.3% and 3.5%, respectively.

Heat Transfer

Cut emissions and fuel while increasing capacity in fired heaters

According to a recent digital refining article,1 fired heaters are responsible for an estimated 400 MMtpy–500 MMtpy of CO 2 , with at least 73% of average refinery CO 2 emissions coming from combustion.

Plant Safety and Environment

Combustible dust hazards overview
Parsons, P. , Baker Engineering and Risk Consultants Inc.

There has been a significant increase in the use of biomass as alternative energy or green fuel in the last two decades.

Valves, Pumps and Turbomachinery

Hot oil pump warm-up system best practices and failure case study

Many industries utilize pumps in hot applications, including oil and gas facilities.

Columns

Editorial Comment: The Top Projects winners of 2022 have been announced
Nichols, Lee , Hydrocarbon Processing Staff

Each year, Hydrocarbon Processing honors the top refining and petrochemical projects of the year.

Executive Q&A: Creating trusted environments
Sanjay, F. , Eaton

Hydrocarbon Processing sat down with Frank Sanjay, Manager of the Product Cybersecurity Center of Excellence at Eaton, an intelligent power management company.

Industry Perspectives: Despite reaching $180 B, new project announcements are down year-over-year
Nichols, Lee , Hydrocarbon Processing Staff

Over the past year, the Global Energy Infrastructure database has tracked more than $180 B in new project announcements.

Business Trends: Quality in construction: Taking a holistic approach

When it comes to quality in construction projects, it is easy to focus only on materials and installation—it makes sense that high-quality components lead to a high-quality end product.

Innovations
Rhodes, Mike , Hydrocarbon Processing Staff

N’GENIUS Materials Technology has developed a new series of high-strength austenitic stainless steels that the company says will transform how materials are specified and utilized across the oil and gas sector.

People
Rhodes, Mike , Hydrocarbon Processing Staff

Beckhoff USA names Daymon Thompson as Director of Product Management

Digital Feature

Highlights of API 685 3rd Edition, Sealless Pumps—Part 2
Korkowski, F. , Applied K3nowledge Consulting; Hess, T. , The Equity Engineering Group, Inc.; Cooper, J. , Bechtel Inc.; van den Heuvel, M. , BP

Part 2 of the article on API 685 has highlighted most of the “other changes of interest to the reader” and provides insights into the various other points of discussion the API 685 task force addressed, along with the rationale behind changes found in the July 2022 published 3rd Ed. of the standard.