Process Control
Fieldbus reinstrumentation project yields significant benefits
Here's how Shell upgraded from a pneumatic instrumented plant to a fully digital control system
OPC enables interoperability
The latest enhancement improves communication from the field to enterprise levels
Consider a satellite-based communications backup system
This refiner lost communications during a hurricane. Here's how it solved the problem
EDDL: improved interoperability, better integration
Industry standard technology offers powerful new features
HP Control: Inferential models that correlate but do not predict
A friend has asked me to help solve a dilemma. A neural net model developed in his plant had a near perfect fit against lab values but in spite of that the model's prediction ability was poor. I was s..
Perform automated distillations with fast gas chromatography
Using this analytical technique can increase productivity
An online sulfur monitoring system can improve process balance sheets
A Canadian gas processor used this technology to meet environmental regulations
Multivariable predictive control without step testing
Other benefits of this BP project included increased production and reduced energy consumption and emissions
HP Control: Audit your APC applications
I was one of the first control industry whistleblowers, pointing out that half of the advanced process control (APC) applications implemented over the years do not work. We APC engineers have the resp..
HP Control: Jim Ford's views on advanced process control
C. F. Picou Associates, Inc. (CFPA), an affiliate of Maverick Technologies, was founded in 1974 by Dr. Courtney Picou. Originally aiming to provide process engineering consulting to the refining indus..
- Carbon capture tops agenda at GPAE Conference 2025 6/17
- INEOS to cease phenol production at German site, cites high European energy costs and CO2 tax policy 6/17
- Petrobras signs $892 MM in contracts to complete RNEST Train 2 refinery expansion 6/17
- China's May refinery throughput at 9-month low on plant overhauls (1) 6/17
- bp completes turnaround work at 250,000-bpd refinery in Washington (U.S.) 6/17
- Japan's Eneos restarts 77,000-bpd Kawasaki CDU after unplanned shutdown 6/17
