An account of the problems encountered - and lessons learned - during a major upgrade of a reduced crude conversion unit, and the efforts of an alliance of specialists that finally brought about a successful revamp.
More

A comparison of the standard versus practical approach to the revamping of a crude unit.  In this article the focus is on optimising the use of existing equipment, changing the process flow scheme to minimise flash zone pressure and thereby maximising the yield.
More

The emphasis in the planning of a plant overhaul was that everybody should feel personally responsible for safety on the project: the result has been more than a million manhours without one serious accident.
More

Designing a new crude unit is an unconstrained process, limited only by capital investment targets, while revamping an existing unit to optimise product yields is constrained by the existing equipment performance and design.
More

Revamp case studies have been made for a North American refinery using Freon-12 to cool the reaction zone of its sulphuric acid alkylation unit.  Supply of Freon-12 is running out now that manufacture of the CFC-based chemical has been banned, and the refinery is having to seek alternative methods.
More

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.
More

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.

More

The authors describe how the profitability of two plants have been enchanced by programmes for getting the best out of existing facilities, and without the need for heavy investment.

More

Revamping high pressure distillation columns has become prevalent, with increasing throughput and concerns to keep production costs down.  Two case studies of revamps are presented here: of a C3 splitter and a debutaniser.

More

Detailed case studies are presented, illustrating the planning and working methods that were followed in revamping the hydrocrackers at two refineries, in Germany and Canada.

More

Part of pushing plant productivity is successful use of technology, says the author, and achieving revamp objectives means moving outside the experieince base - making good use of technology separates the survivors from the failures.

More

Optimisation of flash zone pressure and temperature can improve feedstock quality to downstream units.  This article discusses control of column flash zone pressure through the first stage ejector pressure control system.

More

An examination of the issues facing European producers and the way they are being resolved, particularly with the options available for steam cracker revamps.  Two case studies are presented.

More

To revamp vacuum units, process modelling and equipment design know-how are needed, and the understanding of connected equipment performance can lead to higher gasoil quality and yields, with fewer unscheduled shutdowns.

More

An account of a risk based model for quantifying the probability and cost of an unplanned outage.  The result is that a defined risk based analysis of turnaround costs and timing is a useful tool for both plant and business management.

More