“The Falklands
thing was a fight between two bald men over a comb.” -- Jorge Luis Borges (Argentinian Poet and
Essayist, 1899-1986)
TIP:
Comb conference programs for the names of
companies to search in Google Patents.
Take, for example, the Asia Refining
& Technologies Conference-ARTC 17th Annual Meeting,
scheduled for Singapore, 5-6 March 2014 (http://events.gtforum.com/artc-annual-meeting). Reading through the program, I noted a
category of presentations labeled “Residual Upgrading and Heavy Oil.”
I then searched several of the companies in Google Patents, using the following
search string pattern.
desulfurization OR dibenzothiophene inassignee:albemarle
Several interesting patents came up, including …
Catalytic cracking and hydroprocessing process for high
diesel yield with low aromatic content and/or high propylene yield
Take a look at the ARTC program and search for some of the other companies on
the presentation list.
Tuesday, November 26, 2013
Tuesday, November 19, 2013
A Sulfur Master Plan
“There's no master plan! I'm just gonna be me and
hope it all works out!” -- Britney Spears (American Singer. b.1981,
Kentwood, Louisiana, USA)
I ran across this eye opening article and thought that some of my readers might be interested. I’ve quoted a few paragraphs here … you can read the whole thing at http://www.shell.com/global/products-services/solutions-for-businesses/globalsolutions/special-supplements/co-create-integrate-innovate/sulphur-master-plan.html
///////
Developing A Sulphur Master Plan.
By: Sathish Balasubramanian, Senior Engineer, Shell India Markets Pvt. Ltd
Despite having a strong track record of applying innovative solutions to meet environmental legislation, a South-East Asian refinery faced a particularly severe challenge in 2006. The regulator that sets the environmental emissions limits for the country’s industrial facilities had indicated that the refinery’s emission limits were going to be acutely curtailed. The regulator had been reducing SO2 emissions limits by 15% every three years, but now it was warning of a step change. It was going to adopt the World Bank guidelines of 500 mg/Nm3 for fuel burning equipment and 150 mg/Nm3 for SRUs. As the SO2 emissions from the SRUs were, at the time, substantially higher at about 30,000 mg/Nm3, this would require a change in operating philosophy.
The refinery was already operating close to its current limits, so much so that it had to process more expensive, low-sulphur crudes to avoid exceeding its limit.
The challenge was exacerbated because the refinery had plans to install a new hydrodesulphurisation unit to produce ULSD, as even better sulphur recovery capabilities would be required.
Moreover, sulphur was not the only challenge. Although the plant’s carbon monoxide (CO) emission limit was unlikely to change, the plant had difficulty meeting its existing CO emissions limit because of the gas treating configuration at that time. Any solution would have to factor this in as well.
The refinery’s response was to commission a sulphur master plan study. This involved site technologists, and gas processing specialists and process engineers from Shell Global Solutions. Working closely as an integrated on-site team, they conducted brainstorming sessions and technology selection studies before delivering detailed proposals for how the refinery could reduce its sulphur emissions. The team also spearheaded the implementation of these proposals, including the installation of new units.
Free Full Text Source: http://www.shell.com/global/products-services/solutions-for-businesses/globalsolutions/special-supplements/co-create-integrate-innovate/sulphur-master-plan.html
///////
Mr. Balasubramanian has a LinkedIn presence at http://in.linkedin.com/pub/sathish-balasubramanian/40/73a/2b4
I ran across this eye opening article and thought that some of my readers might be interested. I’ve quoted a few paragraphs here … you can read the whole thing at http://www.shell.com/global/products-services/solutions-for-businesses/globalsolutions/special-supplements/co-create-integrate-innovate/sulphur-master-plan.html
///////
Developing A Sulphur Master Plan.
By: Sathish Balasubramanian, Senior Engineer, Shell India Markets Pvt. Ltd
Despite having a strong track record of applying innovative solutions to meet environmental legislation, a South-East Asian refinery faced a particularly severe challenge in 2006. The regulator that sets the environmental emissions limits for the country’s industrial facilities had indicated that the refinery’s emission limits were going to be acutely curtailed. The regulator had been reducing SO2 emissions limits by 15% every three years, but now it was warning of a step change. It was going to adopt the World Bank guidelines of 500 mg/Nm3 for fuel burning equipment and 150 mg/Nm3 for SRUs. As the SO2 emissions from the SRUs were, at the time, substantially higher at about 30,000 mg/Nm3, this would require a change in operating philosophy.
The refinery was already operating close to its current limits, so much so that it had to process more expensive, low-sulphur crudes to avoid exceeding its limit.
The challenge was exacerbated because the refinery had plans to install a new hydrodesulphurisation unit to produce ULSD, as even better sulphur recovery capabilities would be required.
Moreover, sulphur was not the only challenge. Although the plant’s carbon monoxide (CO) emission limit was unlikely to change, the plant had difficulty meeting its existing CO emissions limit because of the gas treating configuration at that time. Any solution would have to factor this in as well.
The refinery’s response was to commission a sulphur master plan study. This involved site technologists, and gas processing specialists and process engineers from Shell Global Solutions. Working closely as an integrated on-site team, they conducted brainstorming sessions and technology selection studies before delivering detailed proposals for how the refinery could reduce its sulphur emissions. The team also spearheaded the implementation of these proposals, including the installation of new units.
Free Full Text Source: http://www.shell.com/global/products-services/solutions-for-businesses/globalsolutions/special-supplements/co-create-integrate-innovate/sulphur-master-plan.html
///////
Mr. Balasubramanian has a LinkedIn presence at http://in.linkedin.com/pub/sathish-balasubramanian/40/73a/2b4
Friday, November 15, 2013
RefinerLink
“A man who pays
his bills on time is soon forgotten” -- Oscar Wilde (Irish
Poet, Novelist, Dramatist and Critic, 1854-1900)
Refinerlink (www.refinerlink.com) bills itself as an "Oil Refiner Knowledge Portal." It is worth bookmarking. It is a useful source of information on events, jobs, discussions, blogs, and experts.
Here is an excerpt from a recent articles published on RefinerLink ...
///////
Truly Optimize FCC Gasoline Distillation
By Optimization Specialist Robert (Nov 11, 2013)
This article uses FCC gasoline property optimization to discuss a complex issue, and how to leverage cross-functional team-work to tackle the problem.
Light Cat Naphtha
We will begin our analysis by focusing on the Light Cat Naphtha stream. How many variables do you control related to the LCN stream? If you are a process engineer worth your salt, you will say at least half a dozen for this one stream alone!
If this response surprises you, let’s work through my series of questions above to frame the analysis.
1. What is the value of the molecules in the stream above?
A sub-optimal cut between Olefins and LCN will either leave too many olefins in the LCN stream, or not enough. The value of olefin stream above the LCN will be governed by downstream unit capabilities, as well as market conditions. Is there an alky unit downstream of the FCC, and if so, does the Alky have capacity to take more feed?
Also, consider the type of Alky downstream of the FCC. If your refinery has a Sulfuric Alky, you have greater ability to cut deeper in the olefin draw to capture C5= olefins. If your refinery has a HF Alky, olefin recovery will be limited by acid strength concerns.
As for market conditions, you should next consider if it is summer or winter. During the summer time, Alkylation economics strength as isobutane prices deflate and the value of octane strengthens.
2. What is the value of the molecules in the stream below?
Below the LCN stream is HCN. When gasoline prices are above that of distillate prices, some refiners may be indifferent to the LCN/HCN cutpoint distillation as both streams end up in gasoline product. When distillate prices are above that of gasoline, most refiners try to minimize the LCN endpoint to maximize distillate production.
source: http://www.refinerlink.com/blog/Truly_Optimize_FCC_Gasoline_Distillation/
///////
Another site worth bookmarking is the Desulfurization Blog (www.desulf.blogspot.com) ... just another of my time-saver hints.
Refinerlink (www.refinerlink.com) bills itself as an "Oil Refiner Knowledge Portal." It is worth bookmarking. It is a useful source of information on events, jobs, discussions, blogs, and experts.
Here is an excerpt from a recent articles published on RefinerLink ...
///////
Truly Optimize FCC Gasoline Distillation
By Optimization Specialist Robert (Nov 11, 2013)
This article uses FCC gasoline property optimization to discuss a complex issue, and how to leverage cross-functional team-work to tackle the problem.
Light Cat Naphtha
We will begin our analysis by focusing on the Light Cat Naphtha stream. How many variables do you control related to the LCN stream? If you are a process engineer worth your salt, you will say at least half a dozen for this one stream alone!
If this response surprises you, let’s work through my series of questions above to frame the analysis.
1. What is the value of the molecules in the stream above?
A sub-optimal cut between Olefins and LCN will either leave too many olefins in the LCN stream, or not enough. The value of olefin stream above the LCN will be governed by downstream unit capabilities, as well as market conditions. Is there an alky unit downstream of the FCC, and if so, does the Alky have capacity to take more feed?
Also, consider the type of Alky downstream of the FCC. If your refinery has a Sulfuric Alky, you have greater ability to cut deeper in the olefin draw to capture C5= olefins. If your refinery has a HF Alky, olefin recovery will be limited by acid strength concerns.
As for market conditions, you should next consider if it is summer or winter. During the summer time, Alkylation economics strength as isobutane prices deflate and the value of octane strengthens.
2. What is the value of the molecules in the stream below?
Below the LCN stream is HCN. When gasoline prices are above that of distillate prices, some refiners may be indifferent to the LCN/HCN cutpoint distillation as both streams end up in gasoline product. When distillate prices are above that of gasoline, most refiners try to minimize the LCN endpoint to maximize distillate production.
source: http://www.refinerlink.com/blog/Truly_Optimize_FCC_Gasoline_Distillation/
///////
Another site worth bookmarking is the Desulfurization Blog (www.desulf.blogspot.com) ... just another of my time-saver hints.
Tuesday, November 5, 2013
Conference Alert: International Petroleum Technology Conference
“The axis of the
earth sticks out visibly through the centre of
each and every town or city.” -- Oliver Wendell Holmes (American
Physician, Poet, Writer, Humorist and Professor at Harvard, 1809-1894)
The next International Petroleum Technology Conference is scheduled for two locations, on two different dates:
International Petroleum Technology Conference, 19-22 January 2014, Doha Qatar
The eighth International Petroleum Technology Conference (IPTC) will be held 10–12 December 2014 at the Kuala Lumpur Convention Centre in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia.
For more information on either event, go to:
http://www.iptcnet.org/2014/
The next International Petroleum Technology Conference is scheduled for two locations, on two different dates:
International Petroleum Technology Conference, 19-22 January 2014, Doha Qatar
The eighth International Petroleum Technology Conference (IPTC) will be held 10–12 December 2014 at the Kuala Lumpur Convention Centre in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia.
For more information on either event, go to:
http://www.iptcnet.org/2014/
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