Petrochemicals
Westermo switches used in control networks at Czech petrochemical plant
Unipetrol’s Chempark Záluží has installed a new network for power control and distribution using Westermo switches to support applications in the ethylene unit.
Jacobs to provide EPCM services to Olin Gulf Coast chemical plants
Jacobs Engineering Group Inc. has received a multi-year contract from Olin Corp. to provide EPCM services to several US facilities.
Lessons learned in commercial scale-up of new chemical processes
Commercializing a new chemical process can be as simple as installing one or more homogenous batch reactor(s), or as complex as designing a fully integrated chemical complex requiring one or more heterogeneous reaction steps processing gas, liquid and/or solids, with other units required to prepare feeds, recover products/byproducts and recycle streams.
Measure naturally occurring radioactive material in polypropylene plants
In the petrochemical industry, process plants often rely on radiation-based level and density detectors.
The history, and possible future, of model-less multivariable control
Terms such as “model-less,” “small-matrix” and “operational” do not, as yet, evoke the same excitement that accompanied the historic arrival of model-based predictive multivariable control three decades ago.
Optimize a CDU using process simulation and statistical modeling methods
A methodology was implemented to optimize the operation of a refinery crude distillation unit (CDU) using a combination of process simulation and statistical modeling methods.
People
Dr. Christoph Wegner will become president of BASF’s Information Services and Supply Chain Operations division, effective December 1, 2016.
Innovations
Where large machines are in use and the overall processes depend on a smoothly functioning plant, companies often rely on fixed maintenance schedules and diagnostic tools.
Global Project Data
New project announcements have hovered in the low teens for several months.
Industry Metrics
US gasoline demand contributed to falling inventories. Operational problems at several refineries and the potential impact of a tropical storm strengthened margins.
- China's first coal-to-chemicals project with green hydrogen starts commercial operations 11/20
- Norsk e-Fuel and Braskem partner to turn captured carbon into long-lasting products 11/20
- Nigeria's Dangote refinery delays CDU maintenance to end of January 2026 11/20
- Technimont attends ground-breaking ceremony of Tengiz Gas separation Complex in Kazakhstan 11/20
- 42% of U.S. energy/critical infrastructure providers exposed to weaponized AI and email attacks 11/20
- EIA: U.S. crude stocks fall on higher demand, fuel inventories rise 11/20
