Environment & Safety Gas Processing/LNG Maintenance & Reliability Petrochemicals Process Control Process Optimization Project Management Refining

Information Systems

Enhance PSM design with metrics-driven best practices

Michael Marshall LLC: Marshall, M.

This study shows the attributes and benefits of a data- and metrics-driven system focused on the process safety design integrity, reliability and control of process plant flares and pressure relief systems.

Utilize APC solutions to resolve hydrocracker conversion optimization challenges

PKN ORLEN S.A.: Bożek, M.
Honeywell Advanced Solutions: Oleszczuk, G.

Improving profits and reducing costs remain priorities for owner/operators and management.

Innovations

Hydrocarbon Processing Staff: Blume, Adrienne

In a market with reduced capital investment budgets, revamps and upgrades are becoming increasingly prevalent to extend asset service life.

Use discrete event simulation as decision support for storage and shipping—Part 1

Over the past decades, one engineering firm has been using discrete event simulation (DES) to study shipping and storage as an integral part of project execution throughout all phases of a process facility’s design, construction and operations.

Control fouling on preheat trains with a two-stage approach

Fouling in heat exchanger preheat trains is a well-known problem in the refining industry.

Innovations

Hydrocarbon Processing Staff: Blume, Adrienne

Pepperl+Fuchs’ VisuNet RM Shell 4.0 remote monitor firmware for industrial thin client work stations offers significant enhancements through an optimized touchscreen user interface, advanced security features, Windows Embedded Standard 7 and plug-and-play startup capabilities.

Optimize alkylation unit operation by using response surface methods

Valero Energy Corp.: Bird, J.  |  Seillier, D.  |  Teders, M.  |  Jacobson, G.

A new methodology can be used to optimize the operations of an alkylation unit based on response surface methods.

HP Automation Strategies: A portfolio approach to operations IT solutions management

ARC Advisory Group: Cosman, E. C.

The need for more automated and efficient operations has led end users to accumulate large and increasingly complex collections of operations-related information technology (IT) solutions.

HP Innovations

Hydrocarbon Processing Staff: Blume, Adrienne

The FM-approved FireChek thermal shutoff valve with resettable memory shape alloy can now be used to automatically shut down a pneumatic control system when a nearby fire occurs, or when the ambient temperature reaches 135°F, 150°F or 165°F.

Effectively track personnel in hazardous environments

Tata Consultancy Services: Sur, S.

This article describes the strengths and weaknesses of various tracking technologies and their efficacy in a metallic equipment environment.