This issue of Hydrocarbon Engineering opens with Contributing Editor Gordon Cope’s examination of how various South American countries are dealing with current upheavals across the oil and gas industry. The issue then explores a number of key topics affecting downstream operations today, such as catalysts, alternative fuels and SAF, separation technology, filtration, heat technology, AI, digital solutions, and much more.
This month's front cover is brought to you by WONDER®.
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Smooth sailing for South America?
Gordon Cope, Contributing Editor, explores how South America is experiencing a strong current of events, and considers the impacts for both the continent and the wider world.
Rethinking MOV actuators in the AI era
Michael Li Panfeng, Wonder Engineering Technologies Pte Ltd, Singapore, examines the transition of motor-operated valve (MOV) actuator development from hardware-centric design to application intelligence, digital integration, and service-oriented engineering.
A unique approach to alkylation – part 1
In the first of this two-part article, Bhavdip Kalaria, KBR, discusses how solid acid alkylation technology can be used to modernise and revamp alkylation units within refineries.
A changing lubricants landscape
R. Jesina and X. E. Ruiz Maldonado, Topsoe North America, alongside J. Park, Chemical Engineering Partners, explore how integrating pretreatment technologies with advanced catalyst grading design can aid re-refining operations.
Adapting to a new refining landscape
Junghwa Yoon, Ketjen, and Dohyun Nam, SK Energy, consider catalyst solutions that can help refiners across the Asia-Pacific region optimise FCC yield.
When failure sparks breakthrough
Frederik Rüther, Sebastian Böcklein, Gerhard Mestl, Stefan Maier, and Catherine Basilides-Schwarz, Clariant, discuss how abandoning conventional wisdom and embracing cross-disciplinary thinking can revolutionise maleic anhydride catalyst development.
Screening out trouble
Tzong-Bin Lin, Fu-Ming Lee, and Chi-Yao Chen, Shin Chuang Technology Co. Ltd, alongside Kevin Gagen, Sergio Robledo, and Ethan Jones, UNICAT, explore how magnetic filtration can be used to upgrade conventional basket filters.
Refined and revealed filtration
Arlinda Furtado, Amazon Filters, explains the critical role filtration plays in engineering-led approaches to hydrotreating applications.
Advancing slurry oil clarification
Victor Scalco, General Atomics Electromagnetics Systems, discusses the benefits and limitations of different methods of solids removal from slurry oil.
Revamp to new heights
Lee Ming Yang, Vinit Kale, Chandrakant Joshi, Goh Shwu Tyng, and Shen Sha Li, Sulzer Chemtech, discuss the improved performance of a drying column post-revamp in an ethylene glycol plant.
Optimising fired heater performance
Larry Emch, Integrated Global Services (IGS), explores how operators can drive efficiency through targeted in-situ maintenance, which allows refinery and petrochemical operations to remain online.
From ambition to implementation
Tim Bruewer, Watlow, considers how operators can implement electrification across the oil and gas industry despite infrastructure and economic constraints, as part of decarbonisation tactics.
Flying into a sustainable future
Ghoncheh Rasouli, KBC (A Yokogawa Company), explores emissions and energy analysis for the SAF production process via Fischer-Tropsch, which offers a pathway for producing SAF amid increasing pressure to decarbonise the aviation sector.
The future of pyrolysis and gasification
Dr. Miriam Jackson, PowerHouse Energy Group Plc, considers how advanced thermal conversion technologies, such as pyrolysis and gasification, can be used to unlock value from waste streams as part of decarbonisation and circular economy strategies.