Fired Package Boilers / Wasteheat Boilers / HRSG Maintenance & Service Strategies / Boiler Repair Services / SCR and CO Systems
Some folks called it “the devil’s rope,” but there’s no denying that barbed wire revolutionized the American west in the 1860s. And RENTECH Boiler Systems has revolutionized the boiler industry with its direct fired boilers, headered membrane waterwall design, and customer service. We think you will cotton to our boilers because they will lower operating costs, reduce shutdowns and cut emissions. So carve G.T.T. (gone to Texas) on your door and head to Abilene to discover solutions to your boiler needs.
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BOILERS FOR PEOPLE WHO KNOW AND CARE
AUGUST 2010
HPIMPACT
SPECIALREPORT
SPECIALSUPPLEMENT
MIT studies natural gas future
FLUID FLOW AND ROTATING EQUIPMENT
PROCESS CONTROL AND INSTRUMENTATION
PLC market to rebound
Pumps, valves, drives and compressors
Report includes 2010 trends and spending forecasts
www.HydrocarbonProcessing.com
Select 83 at www.HydrocarbonProcessing.com/RS
AUGUST 2010 • VOL. 89 NO. 8 www.HydrocarbonProcessing.com
SPECIAL REPORT: FLUID FLOW AND ROTATING EQUIPMENT Prevent electric erosion in variable-frequency drive bearings
29
Here are the reasons and remedial actions H. P. Bloch
37
Valve design reduces costs and increases safety for US refineries The goals were achieved by using alloys with superior corrosion resistance R. D. Johnson and B. Lee
41
Pump aftermarket offers solutions for abrasive services
45
How the inertia number points to compressor system design challenges
Upgrades substantially increased MTBR S. McPherson
C o v e r L . A . Tu r b i n e p r o v i d e s Turboexpander service for clients worldwide. Here on location at Total’s LPG N’Kossa Offshore Processing Plant in the Republic of Congo, L.A. Turbine remanufactured two Turboexpanders with Active Magnetic Bearings which are being re-installed supervised by experienced field service personnel. Photo courtesy of L.A. Turbine
It facilitates predicting compressor system performance M. Kapadia, R. Tellez-Schmill and I. Ajdari
ENVIRONMENT/LOSS PREVENTION Gas refineries can benefit from installing a flare gas recovery system
51
Take a look at these environmental and economic paybacks O. Zadakbar, A. Vatani and S. Mokhatab
STORAGE/LOSS PREVENTION Estimating tank calibration uncertainty
55
63
Better recovery definition of C3s and C4s from gas absorber/stripper can lower costs J. Nava
PROCESS CONTROL AND INSTRUMENTATION 2010—SUPPLEMENT Process Control and Instrumentation 2010 Report includes trends and spending forecasts
HEAT TRANSFER Increase crude unit capacity through better integration
79
15 PLC and PLC-based PAC market poised to rebound
Use these calculations for a specific tank calibration S. Sivaraman, A. Bertotto and D. Comstock
GAS PROCESSING DEVELOPMENTS Optimize operating parameters of absorbers/strippers in gas plants
67
HPIMPACT 15 MIT studies the future of natural gas
In revamp projects, better energy integration provides more benefits with less capital investment and lower operating costs A. S. Aseeri, M. S. Amin and M. S. Ibrahim
DEPARTMENTS 7 HPIN BRIEF • 17 HPINNOVATIONS • 21 HPIN CONSTRUCTION 25 LETTERS TO THE EDITOR • 26 HPI CONSTRUCTION BOXSCORE UPDATE 82 HPI MARKETPLACE • 85 ADVERTISER INDEX
HP ONLINE EXCLUSIVES Petrochemical Processes 2010 Just released, HP’s Petrochemical Processes 2010 handbook is an inclusive catalog of established and leading-edge licensed technologies for existing and grassroots facilities. Over 191 petrochemical technologies from 40 licensing companies are presented in this handbook. Features include flow diagrams, process descriptions, economic data and more. A free PDF copy is available to subscribers for a limited time at www.HydrocarbonProcessing.com.
COLUMNS 9 HPIN RELIABILITY Consider bearing protection for small steam turbines 11 HPIN ASSOCIATIONS International Refining Conference debuts in Rome 13 HPIN CONTROL Process control practice renewal 2010—purpose 86 HPIN AUTOMATION SAFETY Cyber security certification for automation products and suppliers
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[email protected] www.HydrocarbonProcessing.com
MAGAZINE PRODUCTION Director—Editorial Production Sheryl Stone Manager—Editorial Production Angela Bathe Artist/Illustrator David Weeks Manager—Advertising Production Cheryl Willis
Publisher Bill Wageneck
[email protected] EDITORIAL Editor Les A. Kane Senior Process Editor Stephany Romanow Process Editor Tricia Crossey Reliability/Equipment Editor Heinz P. Bloch News Editor Billy Thinnes
European Editor Tim Lloyd Wright Contributing Editor Loraine A. Huchler Contributing Editor William M. Goble Contributing Editor Y. Zak Friedman Contributing Editor ARC Advisory Group (various)
ADVERTISING SALES See Sales Offices page 84. CIRCULATION +1 (713) 520-4440 Director—Circulation Suzanne McGehee E-mail:
[email protected] SUBSCRIPTIONS
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Because Hydrocarbon Processing is edited specifically to be of greatest value to people working in this specialized business, subscriptions are restricted to those engaged in the hydrocarbon processing industry, or service and supply company personnel connected thereto. Hydrocarbon Processing is indexed by Applied Science & Tech nology Index, by Chemical Abstracts and by Engineering Index Inc. Microfilm copies available through University Microfilms, International, Ann Arbor, Mich. The full text of Hydrocarbon Processing is also available in electronic versions of the Business Periodicals Index.
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HYDROCARBON PROCESSING (ISSN 0018-8190) is published monthly by Gulf Publishing Co., 2 Greenway Plaza, Suite 1020, Houston, Texas 77046. Periodicals postage paid at Houston, Texas, and at additional mailing office. POSTMASTER: Send address changes to Hydrocarbon Processing, P.O. Box 2608, Houston, Texas 77252. Copyright © 2010 by Gulf Publishing Co. All rights reserved. Permission is granted by the copyright owner to libraries and others registered with the Copyright Clearance Center (CCC) to photocopy any articles herein for the base fee of $3 per copy per page. Payment should be sent directly to the CCC, 21 Congress St., Salem, Mass. 01970. Copying for other than personal or internal reference use without express permission is prohibited. Requests for special permission or bulk orders should be addressed to the Editor. ISSN 0018-8190/01.
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