The September issue of Hydrocarbon Engineering includes a number of articles looking at the global petrochemical sector. Other features include catalyst technology, additives, automation, reliability and maintenance. Gordon Cope also reports on the latest developments in the US Gulf Coast.
Stronger after the storm
Gordon Cope, Contributing Editor, reports that the US Gulf Coast is roaring along, both onshore and offshore.
Mapping the ethylene industry
Patrick Kirby, Wood Mackenzie, UK, shares a global outlook of the ethylene industry.
Petrochemicals: the future for crude oil?
Sanjeev Kapur, Apex PetroConsultants, USA, reviews whether petrochemicals could be the answer to crude oil demand.
Making a difference
Heikki Voutilainen, Metso, Finland, explains how valves can be utilised effectively in ethylene project engineering.
Chemicals revival
Rahul Iyer and Guido Radaelli, Siluria Technologies Inc., USA, outline the benefits of oxidative coupling of methane (OCM) technologies for olefin production.
Boosting butylene production
Kitty Cha, Tiffany Clark and Melissa Clough Mastry, BASF, USA, explain how new additive and catalyst technologies can help improve output in LPG olefins and butylenes in particular.
Push to the limit
Miray Genç, Utku Karani, Ibrahim Çagri Emiroglu and Ilay Er, Tüpras Izmir Refinery, Turkey, discuss the incentives for increasing propylene yields from fluid catalytic cracking units.
Cutting caustic costs
Colin Baillie and Christophe Chau, W.R. Grace & Co., explain how to improve wet gas scrubber economics using FCC SOX reduction additives.
Stretching the limits
Dr Werner Reimann, Clariant, Germany, looks at how low temperature handling of cold flow additives can aid economic production of diesel fuel.
Human interaction: the key to automation
Ron Byrd and Kevin Solomon, Athlon, USA, explain why effective specialty chemical automation starts with people and service.
A fresh look at maintenance
Andrew Normand, KBC, UK, presents the fundamental objectives for challenging maintenance assumptions in a structured change management programme.
Advising a new way forward
Alberto Rostagno and Alessandro Delton, Baker Hughes, a GE company, explain how an advisory service process can help end-users to make better use of the rotating equipment fleet installed in their plants.
Creating a bond
John Natarelli, T.A. Cook, USA, outlines the importance of adopting a holistic approach to maintenance, turnarounds and reliability.
Inspect to detect
Marco Michele Sisto, Vincent Demers-Carpentier and Andréanne Potvin, Eddyfi Technologies, Canada, outline the importance of an effective inspection technique to monitor the condition of equipment and piping susceptible to corrosion in downstream facilities.
Monitor to maintain
Matthias Schopf, Eastman, Germany, shares the importance of including a fluid monitoring system when designing and operating heat transfer fluid systems.
Bucking the trend in heat transfer
Rishikesh Mandawad, Sulzer, India, looks at an innovative solution that can boost heat exchanger performance in demanding applications.
Testing temperatures
Scott Boehmer and Mike Bange, Watlow, USA, explain how better prediction of terminal enclosure temperature can help to improve heater reliability.
Location, location
Stephen Karns, HarbisonWalker International, USA, explains why refractory selection is dependent on where in the FCCU process the refractory is to be located.
Entering a millennial matrix
Youssef Mestari, Honeywell Connected Plant, USA, explores new technologies to enhance the competency of a new generation.
Not just a game
Pekka Qvist, Ari Vepsäläinen and Prateek Agarwal, NAPCON, Neste Engineering Solutions, Finland, discuss the future of operator training, and best practices for training organisations to save money and increase safety in the long-term.
Keeping attackers at bay
Andrea Carcano, Nozomi Networks, USA, explores the increased cyber threat to the energy sector.
Flaring Q&A
Hydrocarbon Engineering questions a number of flaring experts on safety, environmental regulations, R&D, operator training and the future of the market.