Production of 0.05 wt% S diesel for an acceptable period of time can present challenges.  This article quantifies the effect of a properly designed distributor to enhance catalyst contacting efficiency which, in the refinery discussed here, produced a 45'F lower reactor temperature and double the run length.
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Light paraffin isomerisation technology traditionally has used either zeolite or chlorided alumina catalysts, each with certain weaknesses.  This article reviews a new isomerisation process, Par-Isom, based on a high performance sulphated metal catalyst which is robust and regenerable.
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Hydrogen demand for bottom-of-the-barrel upgrading and fuel reformulation, together with the power-for-sale opportunities created by deregulation and the potential for converting natural gas to liquid products, are raising new and widespread interest in synthesis gas generation and utilisation.
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The new multivariable controller at Chevron's El Segundo delayed coker, now online for over a year, has increased unit profitability by some $1 million a year.  The benefits achieved by the new fractionator and gas recovery system multivariable predictive controler include a more profitable yield structure.
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The economic impact of poorly designed and maintained instrumentation and control systems is examined in this article, together with methods for improving and continuously maintaining their performance.
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Advanced Recovery System technology has been widely adapted, with some 4 million tons a year of new ethylene capacity committed to it and 6 million tons of revamp capacity operating or being prepared.  This article examines results to date and highlights revamp projects in progress.
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The basis of Borstar polyethylene technology, which offers bimodal PE grades for many applications requiring combined strength and processability, is a proprietary catalyst and loop-gas phase reactor process, described in this article.
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A research project aimed at developing an FCC catalyst additive to promote octane enhancement has resulted in MAG-O - an additive with high ZMS-5 content, making it easier for refineries to meet new gasoline specifications.
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Initiatives towards the improvement of gasoline motor fuel quality means refiners must modify their processing facilities to meet higher standards.  Catalytic distillation, discussed here, offers flexibility in fitting to existing facilities new technologies for treatments such as gasoline sulphur reduction.
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A review of the method for combining opportunities for profit improvement, together with processing and maintenance requirements, with engineering practices, technologies and expertise.
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First tests are due to be carried out this year on a newly developed catalyst.  An offshore demonstration unit is to be used to recover sulphur from acid gas containing H2S, currently being sent to flare.  The TDA catalyst is expected to convert about 90 per cent of this H2S in the reactor.
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Oxygen is known to cause colour and degradation in alkanolamines used in gas treating, but so far no studies have been reported measuring oxygen solubility in these systems.  this article examines the solubility in water and alkanolamine/water mixtures at temperatures between 60 and 180'F.
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Along with refiners' economic needs for long, maintenance-free runs goes the requirement for high pressure, high temperature operation in large reactors.  The author describes developments in Cr-Mo steels to meet the increased stresses.
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Methyl-isobutyl-ketone (MIBK) is a widely used solvent in the medium pressure boiling range.  Over 30 years, the single-stage MIBK process, using acetone as a feedstock, has been developed to a state-of-the-art technology.  This article examines the process.
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A new crystallisation process for paraxylene, which is a parent material for PET, is based on Sulzer Chemtech's heat pump crystalliser technology, and features two crystallisers and a refrigeration plant.  Energy consumption and investment costs are claimed to be lower than with conventional systems.
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It made economic sense to combine two adjacent German refineries, owned by OMW and ESSO, into one unified operation, particularly at a time of tight margins and changing market demands.  The authors describe the decisions and engineering that went into the making of the MiRO, Karlsruhe, refinery.
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FCC feed injector technology has advanced from being virtually a centrally mounted pipe stub at the base of the riser to an arrangement of complex radially mounted spray generators.  The parameters that affect feed injector design are discussed in this article.
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In the heating oil season, many refiners switch from a gasoline to a distillate mode of operation of the FCC unit, to increase light cycle oil yield.  There are various steps to maximise distillate production; some are discussed here.
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Existing crude/vacuum unit capacity can be increased by revamping heat transfer, distillation columns and other equipment, applying Process Integration concepts.  The authors discuss new approaches to revamping crude columns, incorporating recent innovations in tray technologies.
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BP Oil's Grangemouth refinery has completed an extensive revamp of its hydrocracker and FCC, reducing production of fuel oil and upgrading to middle distillates to meet a growing market need. A case history of the project is given.

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A case study of new wastewater treatment facilities at Conoco's Humber refinery, in the UK, which has won two environmental awards.  An integrated approach to the development of the scheme is described, including waste minimisation and pilot scale studies.
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Integrating a human factors engineering strategy in the early phases of preparations for a new project has been shown to produce significant financial and work-related benefits, not least in reduced capital expenditure.
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Recent economic studies have indicated that Fluidised Bed Coking could be an attractive option for maximising use of the bottom of the barrel.  It is described as a continuous and relatively low cost thermal conversion process.
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An innovative approach to eliminate bottlenecks on a residue FCC unit has resulted in much-increased tapping capacity.  The fluidisation quality and catalysis circulation after the revamp, together with the technical transformation and an economic analysis, are discussed in this article.
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Commercial tests have been completed on a system which presulphides hydroprocessing catalyst before it is loaded.  XpresS-treated catalyst is loaded in air into the hydroprocessing unit.  Startup is simplified, and results show the presulphided catalyst is as active as those sulphided in-situ.
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Two examples are used in this article to illustrate how changes in the process flow scheme can increase preheat train heat recovery.  While each refinery's crude unit design, operation and equipment constraints differ, a practical approach can be applied to any crude unit revamp.
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Indirect heating of amine has been the traditional method in order to minimise the risk of overheating.  Two amine waste heat reboilers, which heat amine directly, have been supplied to Tunisia by Foster Wheeler.  They incorporate a number of features to ensure uniform heating, based on a flow model study.
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Since its discovery in 1933 the history of polyethylene (PE) has been one of continuous development in areas such as products, process and catalysis.  These developments continue today as new product applications are sought in an ever-growing marketplace.
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The authors describe the upgrading of a purge gas stream from an acetylene production unit to pure hydrogen and carbon dioxide.  Both products were routed back into the main process in the chemical complex, achieving a better process integration and reducing the amount of wastes generated.
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